Jun 15, 2024, 11:29 PM ET
The first half of 2024 ended with an exciting definition between Atlético Bucaramanga and Independiente Santa Fe that was left in the hands of Rafael Dudamel’s team, which embroidered his first star and he will be one of the four Colombians who will compete in the CONMEBOL Libertadores in 2025.
The classification for international cups for Colombian teams underwent changes compared to what was seen in 2024. What exactly was modified?
How many places in international cups does Colombian football have for 2025?
Colombia has eight places in international tournaments: 4 to CONMEBOL Libertadores and another 4 to CONMEBOL Sudamericana.
How can Colombian soccer teams qualify for CONMEBOL Libertadores 2025?
To be in the 2025 Copa Libertadores, Colombian teams have three ways of entry.
The most direct is be champion of the local rental. Any team that is crowned in the first or second semester will go directly to the group stage of the international competition.
By being champion against Santa Fe, Atlético Bucaramanga is the first insured in this contest.
Whoever emerges champion in the second semester will also go direct. The other two places will be defined by the reclassification table, a notable change compared to the previous year.
In 2024, the Colombia Cup granted a place to the Libertadores, but this changed after Fernando Jaramillo, president of Dimayor, proposed “reward perseverance” throughout the year.
Now, The two best positioned in reclassification will also go to the Libertadoresalthough they will do so in the Qualifying Phase and not directly to the group phase.
How can Colombian soccer teams qualify for CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2025?
The second-ranked international club competition in South America will also have four Colombian clubs in 2025.
Here, as in the case of Libertadores, the most drastic change is that the Colombia Cup becomes the main access route to next year’s Sudamericana.
Whoever wins the domestic cup will be ‘Colombia 1’ in the Sudamericana 2025.
The rest of the classifieds will be given through the reclassification table and they will be those clubs that occupy the best positions and that are not classified for the Libertadores.
Why does the Colombia Cup no longer give space to the CONMEBOL Libertadores?
This determination was made by Fernando Jaramillo, president of the FPC, after a Dimayor meeting at the end of 2023.
“That decision is made by evaluating the clubs’ entire campaign. Those who have had the best scores during the year have made a great effort and are the ones who are going to access that Colombia 4, which is a place for Libertadores,” said the leader. when he communicated the decision.
Furthermore, he stressed that It is much less effort to win the Colombia Cup than to achieve a high place in the reclassification. While one can be champion “in 5 or 6 games,” according to Jaramillo, finishing ahead in reclassification requires a whole year of work. This is why it was also decided to give priority to the annual table.
