Boca Juniors hosts O'Higgins in Copa Sudamericana playoff opener

Boca Juniors will host O'Higgins of Chile on July 23, 2026, in the first leg of their Copa Sudamericana playoff matchup at Estadio Alberto J. Armando (La Bombonera) in Buenos Aires. The match kicks off at 21:30 local time and will be broadcast on ESPN, Disney+ Premium, beIN SPORTS, and streaming platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, and DAZN.

Boca, managed by Rodolfo Arruabarrena, enters the match seeking to advance toward the quarterfinals after finishing third in their Copa Libertadores group, where they were eliminated in the group stage. The club has not won an international title in 18 years, with their last trophy coming in the 2008 Recopa Sudamericana. This is Arruabarrena's second match in charge, following a 2–0 victory over Sarmiento in Copa Argentina play. Midfielder Leandro Paredes returns to the squad after Argentina's runner-up finish at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Goalkeeper Álvaro Montero and forward Sebastián Villa, recent signings, could make their starting debuts, while defender Leandro Lozano is unavailable due to injury.

O'Higgins qualified for the playoff stage by finishing second in their Copa Sudamericana group with 10 points. The Chilean club aims to secure an away result before the return match at home. Forward Thiago Vecino stated the team's ambition to "win in any way possible" against the Buenos Aires club, while teammate Arnaldo Castillo emphasized hopes for a solid performance in Argentina and closing the series at home.

Uruguayan referee Andrés Matonte will oversee the match, with VAR assistance from Christian Ferreyra, also from Uruguay. The winner of the two-leg tie will advance to the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals.