Copa Bolivia offers two international tickets

The Copa Bolivia, the second major football competition of the 2026 season, is set to kick off this week, providing teams with another pathway to international tournaments in 2027. The stakes are high, as the champion will earn a spot as Bolivia 3 in the 2027 Copa Libertadores, and the runner-up will secure Bolivia 1's place in the 2027 Copa Sudamericana. These coveted international berths could change if the qualified teams secure spots in the Libertadores through the domestic league's "Todos contra Todos" phase.

The tournament's opening match will feature San Antonio against Aurora, according to the schedule released by the Bolivian Football Federation's Competitions Directorate. Originally slated to begin after the World Cup, the Copa Bolivia's start was delayed due to social conflicts and subsequent road blockades that disrupted football activities across the country, preventing clubs from traveling. The final is now scheduled for Wednesday, December 2.

The group stage will comprise 64 matches, including traditional rivalries in Santa Cruz and La Paz, as well as inter-series clashes. The top two teams from each of the four groups will advance to the quarterfinals, after which the competition will shift to a direct elimination format. The first phase is expected to conclude by Thursday, October 8. The tournament will incorporate matches from the "Todos contra Todos" league, with the latter half of the group stage matches running concurrently with FIFA international breaks in September and October.

The path to the final is clearly defined in the 2026 Season Regulations. The winner of Group A will face the second-placed team from Group D, while the leader of Group C will play against the runner-up from Group B. Similarly, the first-placed team in Group B will compete against the second-placed team in Group C, and the winner of Group D will face the second-placed team in Group A. Group winners will play the first leg of their knockout ties away from home, with the deciding second leg played on their home turf. The FBF Competitions Directorate will determine the dates for the two semifinals, fitting them into the schedule between mid-October and early November.