Conmebol announced the dates and times of theRecopa Sul-Americana 2026, which pits Flamengo, champion of the Libertadores 2025, against the Lanús, winner of the Copa Sul-Americana in the same year. The matches take place on the 19th and 26th of February, both at 9:30 pm at Brasília time, in a round-trip format.
The first game takes place at Lanús, at Argentina, while the return game will be at Rio of Janeiro. Essa definition marks the official start of the continental season for the two clubs, who are looking for the trophy that crowns the previous year’s South American champions.
- First leg: Lanús x Flamengo, February 19, Thursday, at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), at Lanús.
- Return game: Flamengo x Lanús, February 26, Thursday, at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), at
The stadiums have not yet been made official by the entity, but Lanús traditionally plays in Ciudad of Lanús, known as La Fortaleza. Já or Flamengo must use Maracanã for the decisive match.
🇦🇷🏆🇧🇷 Closes confirmed! Las CONMEBOL finals#Recup2026 will be the 19th and 26th of February.
— CONMEBOL Recopa (@ConmebolRecopa)December 18, 2025
⭐️ Datas confirmed! The CONMEBOL finals#Recup2026 will be on February 19th and 26th.pic.twitter.com/JZgvBh9CqW
Match dates and times
The duels are scheduled for consecutive Thursdays in February 2026. The choice of unified times facilitates transmission across the entire South American continent.
Recopa follows the regulation of adding goals in both games, with extra time and penalties in case of a draw on aggregate. Flamengo has the advantage of deciding at home, which could influence the final result.
Recent club trajectories
Flamengo secured their place by winning Libertadores 2025 in the final against Palmeiras. Essa victory represented the Rio club’s fourth continental title in history.
On the other hand, Lanús reached Recopa after overcoming Atlético-MG in the decision of Copa Sul-Americana, in a dispute decided on penalties. The Argentine team demonstrated resilience throughout the campaign in the secondary tournament.
Both clubs arrive motivated for the competition, which opens the year’s international calendar.
Team history at Recopa
Flamengo participates in Recopa for the third time in its history. The club won the title in 2020, by beating Independiente del Valle on aggregate, and was runner-up in 2023, again against the Ecuadorians.
This previous experience can help the Brazilian team to deal with the pressure of continental decisions. Lanús, in turn, is looking for the first trophy in the competition.
The Argentine club played in the Recopa only once, in 2014, when they lost to the Atlético-MG. Agora, the team is trying to reverse this negative record in South American decisions.
Previous clashes between Flamengo and Lanús
Flamengo and Lanús have faced each other only twice in the past, both in the group stage of the Libertadores in 2012. On this occasion, the first game ended in a 1-1 draw in the Argentina.
In the return match, in Rio of Janeiro, Flamengo won 3-0. Esses duels represent the only direct history between the teams in official competitions.
The rarity of the meetings adds an element of unpredictability to the 2026 decision.
Competition format and regulations
The Recopa Sul-Americana has been played since 1989, with a brief hiatus between 1999 and 2002. The tournament pits the winners of the Libertadores and the Sul-Americana from the previous year face to face.
Currently, it adopts a two-game system, with the Libertadores champion deciding at home. Clubes Brazilians dominate the title history, followed by Argentines.
This edition promises balance, as both finalists seek unprecedented achievements or repeats in different contexts.
Probable stadiums for the games
Although Conmebol has not confirmed the exact locations, the matches are expected to take place in the clubs’ main stadiums. Lanús uses Ciudad from Lanús, nicknamed La Fortaleza, which offers pressure from the local fans.
In Rio of Janeiro, Flamengo traditionally sends its decisive games in Maracanã. Esse stage has already hosted several red and black victories in continental competitions.
The capacity and atmosphere of these stadiums influence the performance of the home teams.
Preparation for the 2026 season
The clubs start 2026 with this continental decision, which serves as preparation for national and international tournaments throughout the year. Flamengo, after a successful campaign in 2025, maintains its focus on titles.
Lanús, reinforced by the recent title, is betting on the continuity of the squad to challenge Brazilian favoritism. The break between the end of 2025 and February allows for tactical adjustments.
This Recopa represents an opportunity for both to consolidate positions on the South American scene.
Expectations for duels
Analysts point to balance in the decision, considering the recent campaigns of both teams. Flamengo comes with experience in continental finals, while Lanús brings the momentum of winning the Sul-Americana.
Factors such as field command on the return favor the Brazilian team. However, the first leg at Argentina requires special attention to avoid an aggregate disadvantage.
The competition attracts attention from fans across the continent, marking the return of South American decisions.