Argentina's 2026 football season: Race for 2027 Copa Libertadores and Sudamericana spots heats up

Argentina's Primera División annual standings are crucial for determining which teams will compete in the 2027 Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana. Nine berths to these continental tournaments are up for grabs, in addition to one relegation spot.

Belgrano de Córdoba has already secured a place in the Copa Libertadores by winning the 2026 Torneo Apertura. The champions of the ongoing Clausura tournament and the Copa Argentina will claim the other two direct Libertadores spots.

The remaining three Copa Libertadores berths will be awarded to the top three teams in the annual standings, which aggregate points from both the Apertura and Clausura tournaments. Currently, Independiente Rivadavia de Mendoza leads this classification with 42 points, followed by Argentinos Juniors (41) and Vélez Sarsfield (40).

The next six teams in the annual standings will qualify for the Copa Sudamericana. These include Rosario Central (38), Estudiantes de La Plata (37), Boca Juniors (36), Gimnasia de La Plata (35), Independiente, and Instituto de Córdoba (both with 34 points).

An important nuance is that clubs qualifying for international tournaments as champions of domestic competitions (Apertura, Clausura, or Copa Argentina) can free up their spot in the annual standings if they also finish within the top qualifying positions for South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) events. Belgrano, currently seventh with 36 points and in a Sudamericana spot, is an example, potentially opening a place for the tenth-placed team, Instituto.