Road to Glory: How Did Boca Juniors Reach the 2026 Copa Sudamericana Final?
The Argentine giants survived a penalty shootout, eliminated São Paulo, and staged a remarkable comeback at the Maracanã. Here's how Boca Juniors secured its place in another international final.
Boca Juniors turned a challenging international campaign into another opportunity to conquer South America. After being eliminated from the Copa Libertadores in the group stage, El Xeneize found a second chance in the Copa Sudamericana, overcoming four knockout rounds to book a place in the final.
The Argentine side had to overcome defeats, penalty shootouts, and a semifinal deficit. Their comeback against Vasco da Gama at the Maracanã was the defining moment of a campaign that could end with a historic third Copa Sudamericana title.
COPA LIBERTADORES: A PROMISING START ENDS IN ELIMINATION
Boca began its continental campaign in Group D of the Copa Libertadores, alongside Universidad Católica, Cruzeiro, and Barcelona SC.
Their start was encouraging. Boca defeated Universidad Católica 2-1 in Chile, with goals from Leandro Paredes and Adam Bareiro, before cruising to a 3-0 victory over Barcelona SC thanks to goals from Lautaro Di Lollo, Santiago Ascacíbar, and Ander Herrera.Boca began its continental campaign in Group D of the Copa Libertadores, alongside Universidad Católica, Cruzeiro, and Barcelona SC.
Their start was encouraging. Boca defeated Universidad Católica 2-1 in Chile, with goals from Leandro Paredes and Adam Bareiro, before cruising to a 3-0 victory over Barcelona SC thanks to goals from Lautaro Di Lollo, Santiago Ascacíbar, and Ander Herrera.
A 1-0 defeat against Cruzeiro in Brazil marked their first setback.
Boca subsequently lost 1-0 to Barcelona SC in Ecuador, drew 1-1 with Cruzeiro at La Bombonera, with Miguel Merentiel finding the net, and finished the group stage with a 1-0 defeat against Universidad Católica, courtesy of a goal from Clemente Montes.
Boca finished third with seven points from two wins, one draw, and three losses, sending them into the Copa Sudamericana playoffs.
PLAYOFFS: O'HIGGINS PUSH BOCA TO A PENALTY SHOOTOUT
First Leg: Boca Juniors 1-0 O'Higgins
Miguel Merentiel scored in the 44th minute to give the Argentine side a narrow victory at La Bombonera. His goal provided Boca with an advantage heading into the return leg in Chile.
Second Leg: O'Higgins 1-0 Boca Juniors
Francisco González scored in the 71st minute to level the aggregate score. The tie went to a penalty shootout, where Boca prevailed 4-3. Leandro Paredes and Miguel Merentiel were among the successful spot-kick takers as El Xeneize kept its continental campaign alive.
ROUND OF 16: BOCA STAGE A COMEBACK AND ROUT DEPORTIVO RECOLETA
First Leg: Boca Juniors 3-1 Deportivo Recoleta
The Paraguayan side stunned Boca with Pedro Ríos' fifth-minute opener. However, the hosts responded after halftime. Santiago Ascacíbar equalized in the 49th minute, Milton Delgado completed the comeback two minutes later, and Leonel Flores sealed the 3-1 victory in the 62nd minute.
Wilfrido Báez's first-half red card proved crucial, while Deportivo Recoleta eventually finished the match with nine players following Dairon Mosquera's dismissal.
Second Leg: Deportivo Recoleta 0-4 Boca Juniors
In Paraguay, Boca underlined its superiority with a commanding victory, securing a 7-1 aggregate triumph. Rodolfo Arruabarrena's team capitalized on its advantage from Buenos Aires and gave its opponents no opportunity to turn the tie around.
The result strengthened Boca's title ambitions ahead of a much tougher challenge in the next round.
QUARTERFINALS: BOCA ELIMINATE BRAZILIAN GIANTS SÃO PAULO
First Leg: Boca Juniors 1-0 São Paulo
La Bombonera once again proved decisive. Miguel Merentiel scored the only goal of the match in the 51st minute with a finish from inside the box. Boca secured a valuable advantage against a São Paulo side that had reached this stage unbeaten.
Second Leg: São Paulo 1-1 Boca Juniors
At the Morumbis, Leandro Lozano put the Argentine side ahead, extending its aggregate advantage. São Paulo eventually found an equalizer through Domingos Duarte but could not score the goal needed to change the outcome of the tie.
Boca withstood the pressure and advanced with a 2-1 aggregate victory, eliminating one of Brazil's leading title contenders.
SEMIFINALS: MARACANÃ COMEBACK SENDS BOCA INTO THE FINAL
First Leg: Boca Juniors 0-1 Vasco da Gama
The opening leg delivered a major setback for El Xeneize. Adson scored in the 25th minute to silence La Bombonera. Vasco da Gama also saw Andrés Gómez sent off in the 64th minute but managed to protect its lead despite playing with 10 men during the final stages.
Boca headed to Brazil knowing it needed a victory to keep its hopes of reaching the final alive.
Second Leg: Vasco da Gama 1-3 Boca Juniors
The Maracanã witnessed Boca's defining performance of the tournament. Lautaro Di Lollo opened the scoring in the fourth minute, and Miguel Merentiel doubled the lead in the 34th minute. Vasco responded after the break, with José Luis Rodríguez pulling one back in the 66th minute to keep the tie alive.
Just when the semifinal appeared headed for a dramatic finish, Leandro Paredes delivered the decisive blow in the 88th minute. Boca secured a 3-1 victory and completed a 3-2 aggregate comeback to book its place in the final.
BOCA JUNIORS CHASE A THIRD COPA SUDAMERICANA TITLE
Boca Juniors will face Atlético Mineiro in the final on November 21, 2026, with the opportunity to claim its third Copa Sudamericana championship after lifting the trophy in 2004 and 2005.
El Xeneize is one win away from becoming the competition's first three-time champion. After beginning the year in the Copa Libertadores and having to rebuild its continental campaign in the Sudamericana, the Argentine giants will look to finish their journey with another international trophy.
BOCA JUNIORS ONE STEP AWAY FROM COPA SUDAMERICANA 2026 GLORY
- FROM LIBERTADORES ELIMINATION TO THE FINAL: Boca finished third in its group with seven points before finding a second chance in the Copa Sudamericana.
- COMEBACKS AND DRAMATIC FINISHES: El Xeneize defeated O'Higgins on penalties, routed Deportivo Recoleta, and eliminated São Paulo to reach the semifinals.
- MARACANÃ HEROICS: Boca overturned its deficit against Vasco da Gama with a 3-1 victory in Brazil. Now, Atlético Mineiro stands between the Argentine giants and a historic third Copa Sudamericana crown.
