River Plate now has no chance of qualifying for the Libertadores and will compete in the Copa Sudamericana in 2026

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The fate of the team coached by Marcelo Gallardo was confirmed with the elimination of Boca Juniors against Racing, in the semi-final of the Clausura Argentino, this Sunday, at La Bombonera. The Avellaneda team won 1-0, thanks to a goal from “Maravilla” Martínez, in the last part of the second half, and continued until the decision.

River needed Boca, its great rival, to win the Clausura to open a place for the next Libertadores thanks to the general classification of the Argentine Championship. It was the last possibility for the Millonarios.

The Monumental de Núñez team did not even qualify for the knockout stages of Clausura and is in fourth place in the general classification. Rosario Central, Boca Juniors and Argentinos Juniors qualified for the Libertadores via the annual Argentine Championship standings, and River needed one of them to beat Argentino’s second goal.

Three other places were taken by the winners of this season’s tournaments. Platense secured a place to be Apertura champions; Lanús, having won the Copa Sudamericana; and Independiente Rivadavia, for winning the Copa Argentina.

The Clausura champion will also have his place – Racing awaits the winner of the La Plata classic, between Gimnasia and Estudiantes, who face each other this Monday.

Argentinians in the Libertadores 2026*:

• Annual table: Boca Juniors, Rosario Central and Argentinos Juniors
• Opening champion: Platense
• Argentine Cup Champion: Independiente Rivadavia
• South American Cup Champion: Lanús
• *Clausura Champion: Racing, Gimnasia or Estudiantes

River has not participated in the Sudamericana since 2014, the first year in which Gallardo was coach of the club. That year, the team was champions and began golden years, which culminated with the Libertadores titles in 2015 and 2018, as well as a second place in 2019, for Flamengo. The streak of 11 consecutive appearances is over.