Race for Copas: who gains if spots open up, latest on the battle

The battle for spots in the 2026 international cups is intensifying in Argentine football, with teams such as River Plate, Boca Juniors, Riestra, and Argentinos Juniors actively competing for qualification.

Platense has already secured a place in the 2026 Copa Libertadores by winning the Torneo Apertura, and Rosario Central qualified through the annual table after a victory over Sarmiento. Initially, 12 Argentine clubs are set to participate internationally in 2026, with six slots allocated to the Copa Libertadores and six to the Copa Sudamericana, though some spots remain undecided and additional openings may arise in the coming weeks.

Of the six available slots for the Copa Libertadores, two have been confirmed: one for Platense as Torneo Apertura champion and one for Rosario Central via the annual table. The remaining four slots will be determined as follows: two through the annual table (with the third-placed team entering the preliminary phase), one for the champion of the Torneo Clausura, and one for the winner of the Copa Argentina, which will be contested between Argentinos Juniors and Independiente Rivadavia.