Botafogo defined its opponent in the second preliminary phase of Copa Libertadores in 2026. The Rio club will face Nacional Potosí, from Bolívia, who won the place by beating Copa from Bolívia. The clash puts Glorioso facing a significant challenge due to the high altitude of the Bolivian stadium.
The first leg will take place on February 18th, at Potosí, while the return game is scheduled for February 25th, at Estádio Nilton Santos, at Rio of Janeiro. Ambas matches will start at 9:30 pm at Brasília time. The duels will be exclusively broadcast on the streaming service Disney+.
Nacional Potosí secured classification after reversing a disadvantage in the final of Copa and Bolívia against Bolívar. The Bolivian team lost the first game 2-0, but won 4-1 in the return, at home, and lifted the trophy for the first time.
𝑪𝑶𝑵𝑭𝑹𝑶𝑵𝑻𝑶 𝑫𝑬𝑭𝑰𝑵𝑰𝑫𝑶! ⚔️🔥
—Botafogo F.R. (@Botafogo)December 23, 2025
Glorioso will face Potosí, from Bolívia, at Fase 2 of@LibertadoresBR! UP, STOVE! 🌟💪🏽#Come onBOTAFOGO pic.twitter.com/vlvcq3jM9f
Classification of Nacional Potosí
Nacional Potosí took the title from Copa from Bolívia in dramatic fashion. The team reversed the aggregate score with goals distributed throughout the second leg. Essa victory secured the place as representative Bolivia 3 in Libertadores.
The club finished the Bolivian league in a mid-table position the previous season. Comandado by the Argentine coach César Vigevani, the team highlighted top scorer Willan Álvarez, responsible for 22 goals in the national championship.
- Main players: Willan Álvarez (top scorer), Duban Palacio and Saulo Guerra.
- Playing style: Aproveitamento maximum home factor with high pressure.
- Recent participations: Presença recurring in continental tournaments via national cups.
Altitude Challenge at Potosí
Estádio Víctor Agustín Ugarte, home of Nacional Potosí, is approximately 3,967 meters above sea level. Essa elevation represents one of the biggest challenges for visiting teams in South American competitions. Clubes Brazilians have already faced similar difficulties in games on Bolívia.
Altitude affects the physical performance of unaccustomed athletes, reducing oxygenation and increasing fatigue. Botafogo will need to plan specific acclimatization strategies for the first duel. Experiências past performances by Brazilian teams show the importance of adequate preparation.
Teams that regularly play at high altitudes develop natural physiological advantages. Nacional Potosí uses this factor to pressure opponents from the beginning of matches.
Match dates and times
The games follow the calendar defined by Conmebol for the preliminary stages.
- Departure: February 18th, on Potosí, at 7:30 pm Bolivian local time (9:30 pm on Brasília).
- Returns: February 25th, on Nilton Santos, at 9:30 pm on Brasília.
If it advances, Botafogo will compete in the third phase against the winner of another bracket, which may include Argentinos Juniors or Barcelona of Guayaquil. Classification guarantees a place in the group stage of the Libertadores.
Botafogo preparation for 2026
Botafogo starts the pre-season in January under the command of new coach Martín Anselmi. The 40-year-old Argentine arrives with experience in continental competitions, including titles with Independiente del Valle. Sua technical committee includes professionals specialized in physical preparation.
Anselmi has already dealt with games at altitude during his time in Ecuadorian football. Essa luggage can help in the strategy against Nacional Potosí. The Rio club is looking for reinforcements to strengthen the squad with a view to the qualifiers.
The clash represents Glorioso’s first obstacle towards the group stage. A good campaign in the preliminaries is essential for season planning.
History of Brazilians at Bolivian altitude
Brazilian teams accumulate varied experiences in high-altitude stadiums at Bolívia. Partidas into La Paz and Potosí often result in intense physical challenges. Clubes like Flamengo and São Paulo have already faced local rivals in similar conditions.
Common strategies include early arrival to the site for acclimatization. Treinadores prioritize effort management in the first few minutes. Positive Resultados depend on concentration and efficiency in the opportunities created.
Nacional Potosí has already eliminated South American teams in continental stages playing at home.
Full path in preliminaries
The 2026 pre-Libertadores has three knockout stages. Botafogo enters directly into the second stage, alongside 15 other clubs. Vencedores advance to decisive clashes for a place in the groups.
Four teams qualify at the end of the preliminaries. Elas are part of pot 4 in the group stage draw, scheduled for March. The calendar allows integration with the start of national championships.