Botafogo makes its debut in Copa Libertadores of América 2026 this Wednesday, facing Nacional Potosí in the first game of the second preliminary round. The match takes place at Estádio Víctor Agustín Ugarte, located in the city of Potosí, at Bolívia, starting at 9:30 pm (Brasília time).
The clash represents the Rio club’s first step in the search for a place in the group stage of the continental competition, after finishing the 2025 Campeonato Brasileiro in sixth place. The team is traveling under pressure due to recent negative results, accumulating a sequence of five consecutive defeats between commitments in the national tournament and the state championship, from where it was eliminated last Sunday.
- The black and white delegation divided the planning to mitigate the effects of the thin air.
- Part of the squad, made up of younger players, arrived at Bolívia a week in advance.
- Coach Martín Anselmi and the main group climbed to an altitude of 4 thousand meters only on the day of the duel.
- ge TV and ESPN will officially broadcast the event throughout Brazil.
The Bolivian opponent arrives for this match as the current champion of Copa and Bolívia, thus guaranteeing their participation in this stage of Libertadores. Este will be only the third official game in the club’s history in the competition, and the team led by Leonardo Eguez is looking for its first victory in the continental tournament.
TODAY IS GLORIOUS ON THE FIELD! IT’S LIBERATORS DAY, FOGÃO! 🔥🌟#VAMOSBOTAFOGO pic.twitter.com/GFTZhm7n4d
—Botafogo F.R. (@Botafogo)February 18, 2026
Challenges at altitude of Potosí
The city of Potosí is recognized as one of the highest cities in the world, located at exactly 4,090 meters above sea level. Botafogo has never played at such a high altitude in its history, surpassing the 2,850 meters of Quito, at Equador, which until then was the club’s record in international competitions.
The logistical planning was designed so that the athletes feel as little as possible the physical exhaustion caused by the lack of oxygen. Especialistas indicate that the ball’s behavior also changes drastically in these conditions, gaining more speed in long-distance shots, which should be explored by the home team during the opening 90 minutes.
Probable lineups and absences
Coach Martín Anselmi faces problems in assembling the ideal team due to the large number of players in the medical department. Estão out of the match important names such as Danilo, Arthur Cabral, Allan, Marçal, Santi Rodríguez and
The probable formation of Botafogo should have Léo Linck in goal; Ponte, Bastos and Barboza making up the defensive line; Vitinho, Newton, Marquinhos (or Arthur Novaes) and Alex Telles in midfield; Jordan Barrera (or Villalba), Montoro and Kadir (or Matheus Martins) in the offensive sector. The strategy should focus on maintaining possession of the ball to control the pace of the game and avoid excessive sprints that cause early exhaustion.
On the Nacional Potosí side, coach Leonardo Eguez has maximum strength available for the official debut in the 2026 season. The base team has Galindo; Baldomar, Restrepo, Amarilla, Demiquel and Torrico; Guerra, Arce, Azogue and Rojas; William Álvarez. The Bolivian commander highlighted in local interviews that his players need to act with maximum intensity to take advantage of the geographical factor against the Brazilians.
Retrospect and arbitration
The history of Botafogo playing at Bolivian altitude brings mixed memories, with the most recent and positive one occurring in the 2024 title campaign. On this occasion, Alvinegro drew with Aurora in
- The main referee chosen by Conmebol is Augusto Aragon, from Equador.
- He will be assisted by compatriots Ricardo Baren and Dennys Guerrero on the flags.
- The command of the video referee (VAR) will be the responsibility of Gabriel Gonzalez, also Ecuadorian.
- The winner of this 180-minute clash will face the winner of O’Higgins and Bahia in the next round.
Tactical preparation on Bolivian soil
The Botafogo technical team carried out specific training aimed at technical adaptation to the speed of the ball and the reduced reaction time of goalkeepers. Léo Linck, who takes over as starter, had intense sessions to get used to the trajectory of medium and long-range shots, the main offensive weapon of teams playing in Andes.
Martín Anselmi believes that the mix between the experience of players like Alex Telles and the vitality of the young people who adapted in advance in The objective set by the board is to bring an administrative result to the return match, which will take place at Estádio Nilton Santos, allowing the vacancy to be defined under normal atmospheric pressure conditions.
Climatic conditions and environment
The weather forecast for departure time indicates an average temperature of 8°C in Potosí, with moderate winds that may accentuate the cold sensation in Estádio Víctor Agustín Ugarte. The pitch has undergone recent renovations to meet the minimum requirements of Conmebol for the knockout stages of Copa Libertadores.
The local fans promise to fill the stadium to support Nacional Potosí in search of an unprecedented feat against a giant of Brazilian football. The city’s public security organized a special isolation scheme in the streets close to the game stage from 4:30 pm (local time) to facilitate access for Bolivian delegations and fans.