Montevideo (AFP) – Boca Juniors debuted in the Copa Sudamericana 2026 with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Chile's O'Higgins in the first leg of the playoffs for the round of 16. This match took place on July 23, 2026, in Buenos Aires, where Boca's Leandro Paredes, just days after playing in the World Cup final, showcased his leadership on the field.

Paredes, who had participated in Argentina's loss to Spain in the World Cup final, returned to lead Boca with a crucial assist for the only goal scored by Uruguayan Miguel Merentiel in the 44th minute. Additionally, Paredes made a vital defensive play to prevent O'Higgins from equalizing.

In this playoff round, other matches included Bolívar's 3-2 win over Gremio and Independiente Santa Fe's 2-0 victory against Caracas FC. The return leg for Boca Juniors will take place next Thursday in Rancagua, Chile, where they will compete for a spot in the next round against Paraguay's Deportivo Recoleta.

Meanwhile, in Bogotá, Independiente Santa Fe secured a solid win against Caracas FC, thanks to goals from veteran striker Hugo Rodallega and Franco Fagúndez. Rodallega, who turned 41 this weekend, opened the scoring with a long-range shot, while Fagúndez sealed the match shortly after coming on as a substitute.

In La Paz, Bolívar managed to edge out Gremio despite the altitude advantage, with Colombian forward Dairon Asprilla scoring the decisive goal. The Bolivian team led the match but faced challenges in maintaining their advantage against a resilient Gremio side.

Defending champions Lanús also started their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Cienciano, setting a strong precedent for their title defense.

The Sudamericana playoffs continue with several exciting matches, as teams vie for advancement in this prestigious tournament.