Conmebol decided to transfer the 2025 South American final of Santa Cruz de la Sierra to Asunción, and in the midst of that announcement the version that Barranquilla would be the headquarters for 2026. The Metropolitan already has remodeling plans.
Photo: Mayor's Office of Barranquilla
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Conmebol confirmed a change of plans for the 2025 South American Cup final, which was initially scheduled in Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia) and that will finally be played in Asunción, Paraguay. The reason: the delays in the works of the Ramón 'Tahuichi' Aguilera stadium, which will not be ready to receive the decisive duel of the November 22.
Conmebol's technical report was categorical: pending remodeling in The Bolivian scenario do not meet the deadlines or the standards required for an event of this magnitude. Given this situation, the protocol that dictates that, in case of change, the headquarters must be transferred to the city that hosted the final immediately previous one was activated. So, Assumption —What had already housed the definitions of 2019 and 2024— It will be the scenario of the party for the continental title.
Why would Barranquilla be the headquarters in 2026?
The Bolivian Football Federation He did not hide his unease for losing the headquarters, although its president, Fernando Acostahe gave an unexpected turn to the news: he revealed that Barranquilla It will be the host of the final in 2026. “Let's fight to have the South American in 2027because for the following year (2026) The city of Barranquilla is already approved ”said in statements to the press.
The announcement, although it has not been formalized by Conmebol, coincides with the Remodeling plans of the Roberto Meléndez Metropolitan Stadium. The mayor of the city, Álex Char, said that the works will begin at the end of 2025, once the football season is completed. Among the most relevant modifications is the elimination of the athletic track, which will allow the gatch to be closer to the pitch, reduce the level of the grass and Expand the capacity of the stage up to about 60,000 spectators.
The investment, which will be around 250,000 million pesos, seeks to position Barranquilla as the headquarters of Great international events. Char has even expressed his aspiration that the city not only wages a final of the South American, but also one of the Copa Libertadoreswhich would make the metropolitan a reference stadium in South America.
Today, the Colossus of the Caribbean city has capacity for more than 45,000 people, enough to receive the continental definition, taking into account that the 'Tahuichi', which was scheduled for 2025, barely reaches 38,500 spectators. Barranquilla's confirmation as the headquarters for 2026 would open a new chapter for Colombian football, which for the first time would receive in its territory a unique final of the South American Cup.
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