The 2025 Copa Libertadores group stage begins on Tuesday, April 1, as 32 teams enter the race for continental glory and a prize pool that could exceed 30 million U.S. dollars, as reported by ABC Color. Among the contenders are 15 former champions, including current titleholders Botafogo, and 17 clubs hoping to claim their first Libertadores crown.
This 66th edition of South America’s premier club competition will culminate with a single final on November 29 at the Mané Garrincha Stadium in BrasÃlia. The winning team will secure spots in the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup, the 2026 Recopa Sudamericana, the 2026 Libertadores, and the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup. Additionally, 12 teams will transition to the Copa Sudamericana: four from the final qualifying round and eight third-place finishers from the group stage, who will face Sudamericana runners-up in a play-in for quarterfinal spots.
Prize money has reached unprecedented levels. Each of the 32 teams in the group stage has received $3 million USD, with further payouts of $1.2 million USD for reaching the Round of 16, $1.7 million USD for the quarterfinals, and $2.3 million USD for semifinalists. The runner-up will take home $7 million USD, while the champion will earn $23 million USD, plus additional bonuses for goals scored and victories throughout the tournament.
