Copa Libertadores 2026 Round of 16 draw set for today; Cerro Porteño the sole Paraguayan contender

The Copa Libertadores 2026 is set to draw the matchups for its Round of 16 today, with 16 teams vying for advancement in South America's premier club football competition. Among the qualified teams are prominent clubs such as Flamengo, Palmeiras, Corinthians, and Fluminense.

Cerro Porteño stands as the only Paraguayan team to reach this stage. The club secured its position by finishing first in Group F, notably defeating Sporting Cristal 2-0 in their final group stage match with goals from Pablo Vegetti and a penalty by Cecilio Domínguez. As group winners, Cerro Porteño will face a runner-up from another group, meaning they will play the first leg of their tie away from home before returning to their home stadium, La Nueva Olla, in Asunción for the decisive second leg.

The draw ceremony will be held at the headquarters of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) in Luque, Paraguay. The event is scheduled to commence at 12:00 local time and will also feature the draw for the Copa Sudamericana Round of 16. While the draw itself is a significant event, club directors and players will not be in attendance.

Paraguayan viewers can watch the Copa Libertadores draw live on the international Argentine channel ESPN. The Copa Sudamericana draw will also be televised on Tigo Sports within Paraguay. Cerro Porteño's potential opponents include second-place finishers like Rosario Central, Mirassol, Palmeiras, Cruzeiro, Platense, Deportes Tolima, and Fluminense.