The 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores semifinals already have reserved dates and a fixed path: there will be no new draw after the quarterfinals. The four qualifying teams will simply fill the slots created by the knockout bracket established from the round of 16. According to the official CONMEBOL calendar, the semifinal first legs will be played on October 13 and 14, with the second legs on October 20 and 21.
2026 Libertadores semifinal dates
| Stage | Official dates | What is already set |
|---|---|---|
| First legs | October 13 and 14, 2026 | The match window is set; the exact matchup date and kickoff time depend on the confirmed qualifiers. |
| Second legs | October 20 and 21, 2026 | The match window is set; home advantage for the second leg follows the ordering established for the knockout stage. |
| Final | November 28, 2026 | A single match in Montevideo, according to the official CONMEBOL announcement. |
These are the competition's official date windows. The detailed semifinal schedule — including the specific day within each window and kickoff time — is expected to be confirmed by CONMEBOL after the quarterfinals are decided.
How the bracket will be set after the quarterfinals
The key point is straightforward: there is no new semifinal draw. The 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores Club Manual fixes the matchups as S1 vs S4 in one semifinal and S2 vs S3 in the other. When a team wins its quarterfinal tie, it inherits that tie's place in the bracket.
- Semifinal F1: winner of Estudiantes vs Corinthians against the winner of Flamengo vs Independiente del Valle.
- Semifinal F2: winner of LDU vs Palmeiras against the winner of Platense vs Fluminense.
This means the bracket can be updated as results come in without changing its structure: each quarterfinal series is simply replaced by its winner.
The four quarterfinal slots feeding the semifinals
Going into the decisive quarterfinal week, CONMEBOL published the first-leg scores and second-leg dates. The table below shows where each winner will enter the semifinal bracket.
| Slot | Quarterfinal tie | Status after the first leg | Second leg | Destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | Estudiantes vs Corinthians | 1-1 on aggregate | Sep. 16 | Semifinal F1 |
| S4 | Independiente del Valle vs Flamengo | Flamengo won the first leg 2-0 | Sep. 17 | Semifinal F1 |
| S2 | LDU vs Palmeiras | Palmeiras won the first leg 1-0 | Sep. 16 | Semifinal F2 |
| S3 | Platense vs Fluminense | Fluminense won the first leg 2-0 | Sep. 15 | Semifinal F2 |
Who hosts the second leg?
Home advantage is not decided by the quarterfinal score or by another draw. The competition manual states that, in the semifinals, the team with the better performance in the 1-to-16 ordering established after the round-of-16 draw — meaning the lower number in that ordering — hosts the deciding second leg.
In practice, the two qualifiers for each semifinal must be known first. Their numbers in that ordering are then compared, and the lower-numbered club closes the tie at home. The rule therefore removes the need for any new draw to assign the second leg.
What is still to be decided
- the four semifinalists, after the quarterfinal second legs from September 15 to 17;
- which tie is assigned to October 13 or 14, and which second leg is played on October 20 or 21;
- the official kickoff times for each match;
- the second-leg host in each semifinal, which depends on the qualifying clubs and their knockout-stage ordering number.
How to read the bracket without mixing up bracket position and home advantage
The bracket determines who can face whom: S1 meets S4, while S2 meets S3. Home advantage determines who hosts the second leg: between the two clubs in each semifinal, the lower-numbered team in the 1-to-16 ordering closes at home. These are separate rules and were established before the quarterfinals were completed.
That makes updates simple. Once the winner of Estudiantes vs Corinthians is known, for example, that club automatically enters F1 and waits for the winner of Flamengo vs Independiente del Valle. On the other side, the winner of LDU vs Palmeiras waits for the team that advances from Platense vs Fluminense.
Quick summary for following the semifinals
The 2026 Libertadores semifinals will have first legs on October 13 and 14 and second legs on October 20 and 21. There will be no new draw: F1 is already defined as S1 vs S4, and F2 as S2 vs S3. Once the four qualifiers are known, CONMEBOL can finalize the detailed schedule, while second-leg hosting will follow the ordering set for the knockout stage.
