A "hat-trick" of Flamengo versus Palmeiras finals?
Not this time!
The 2026 Copa Libertadores final will see Verdão face Estudiantes, who knocked out the Red and Blacks at the Maracanã itself.
The Argentine side had already eliminated Corinthians and will now chase their fifth Libertadores title, 17 years after their last—which came against Cruzeiro.
They will have the chance to end Brazilian football's DOMINANCE of the tournament.
Brazil boasts SEVEN consecutive titles. And a potential eighth trophy would see the country OVERTAKE Argentina in titles.
Verdão—who have secured their eighth final appearance—are chasing their fourth trophy.
And they could get revenge on the team that beat them in the 1968 final.
Find out everything about the November 28 final at the Centenário below.
Centenário to host a final match for the 22nd time
No venue has hosted more Libertadores final matches than the legendary Centenário.
The Uruguayan capital's biggest stadium was the most frequently used venue when the tournament's title was decided over three matches.
It has also hosted matches in two-legged finals and the single-match final in 2021.
📸 Ernesto Ryan - 2026 Getty Images
It hosted a Libertadores final match in the following years: 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1988, 2011 and 2021.
Eyes on the CASH! 💰
Reaching the final has guaranteed Palmeiras and Estudiantes at least $7 million each.
That is the amount Conmebol will pay the runners-up.
The champions will pocket $25 million for lifting the trophy—on top of the money earned in previous rounds.
👕 Palmeiras will wear their home kit
Their better group-stage record will give Verdão the right to be the designated home team in the single-match final.
That means Verdão will be able to wear their home kit.
Just as they did in the 2020, 2021 and 2025 finals.
The previous final Verdão played in, in 1999, was still contested over two legs.
And the Green and Whites were the home side in the second leg against Deportivo Cali.
Still Argentina 25 🆚 25 Brazil!
A potential final between Flamengo and Palmeiras would have guaranteed Brazilian football its 26th Libertadores title.
That would have taken it past Argentine football, which has led the title rankings since Estudiantes beat Palmeiras in the aforementioned 1968 final.
Unthinkable until the 1990s, Brazil taking the lead became a "matter of time" for clubs from other countries thanks to the financial disparity.
Brazilian football had ten FEWER titles than Argentine football up to 1991.
It then fought back before beginning its dominance in 2010.
Only River (2015 and 2018), San Lorenzo (2014) and Atlético Nacional (2016) have bucked the trend since then.
Brazil now has seven consecutive titles (and eight since 2017).
Titles by country up to 1991:
🇦🇷 Argentina: 15
🇺🇾 Uruguay: 8
🇧🇷 Brazil: 5
🇵🇾 Paraguay: 2
🇨🇴 Colombia: 1
🇨🇱 Chile: 1
Titles by country between 1992 and 2009:
🇧🇷 Brazil: 8
🇦🇷 Argentina: 7
🇺🇾 Uruguay: 0
🇵🇾 Paraguay: 1
🇨🇴 Colombia: 1
🇪🇨 Ecuador: 1
🇨🇱 Chile: 0
Titles by country since 2010:
🇧🇷 Brazil: 12
🇦🇷 Argentina: 3
🇨🇴 Colombia: 1
🇺🇾 Uruguay: 0
🇵🇾 Paraguay: 0
🇪🇨 Ecuador: 0
🇨🇱 Chile: 0
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.