Boca Juniors' History in the Copa Sudamericana: Chasing a Third Title
Boca Juniors is one victory away from making history in the Copa Sudamericana. After winning the competition in 2004 and 2005, the Argentine club will face Atlético Mineiro in the 2026 final, with the opportunity to become the first three-time champion in tournament history.
Boca Juniors has another opportunity to strengthen its international legacy when it faces Atlético Mineiro in the 2026 Copa Sudamericana final on November 21 in Barranquilla, Colombia.
The Argentine club has won the competition twice, lifting the trophy in 2004 and 2005, and shares the record for most titles with Independiente, Lanús, Liga de Quito, Athletico Paranaense, and Independiente del Valle.
A third triumph would make Boca the first club to win the tournament three times.
Copa Sudamericana 2004: Palermo and Tévez Lead a Historic Comeback
The first title came in 2004, when Boca Juniors, managed by Jorge Benítez, faced Bolívar in the final.
After suffering a 1-0 defeat in Bolivia, the Argentine side needed a comeback at La Bombonera.
Martín Palermo opened the scoring with a header before Carlos Tévez added the second goal to secure a 2-0 victory and the championship with a 2-1 aggregate score.
That memorable night also marked Tévez's farewell to the club before continuing his career with Corinthians.
Copa Sudamericana 2005: Abbondanzieri Decides Controversial Final Against Pumas
One year later, Boca Juniors returned to the final, this time under manager Alfio Basile.
Their opponent was Pumas UNAM, with both legs ending in 1-1 draws in Mexico and Argentina.
The final was overshadowed by a controversial incident in which Roberto Abbondanzieri brought down Ismael Íñiguez but received only a yellow card.
The Argentine goalkeeper later became the hero of the penalty shootout, saving attempts before converting the decisive spot kick.
Boca Juniors won the shootout 4-3 to secure its second consecutive championship.
Boca Juniors Returns to a Continental Final After Dramatic Comeback
The team managed by Rodolfo Arruabarrena reached the 2026 final after eliminating O'Higgins, Deportivo Recoleta, São Paulo, and Vasco da Gama.
The semifinal against the Brazilian club proved particularly dramatic.
After losing 1-0 at La Bombonera, Boca Juniors secured a 3-1 victory at the Maracanã thanks to goals from Lautaro Di Lollo, Miguel Merentiel, and Leandro Paredes.
Now, the Argentine side will look to overcome Atlético Mineiro to capture its third Copa Sudamericana title and end an 18-year drought without an international trophy.
Key Takeaways
- Boca Juniors won the Copa Sudamericana in 2004 and 2005.
- Martín Palermo and Carlos Tévez played decisive roles in the 2004 final.
- Roberto Abbondanzieri starred in the 2005 penalty shootout against Pumas.
- Boca Juniors eliminated Vasco da Gama with a comeback victory at the Maracanã.
- The final against Atlético Mineiro will take place on November 21, 2026, in Barranquilla.
