Boca draws in Brazil, advances to Sudamericana semifinals and knows its next opponent

Boca didn't need a win at the Morumbi, but the match still kept everyone on edge until the final whistle. The team booked its place in the 2026 Copa Sudamericana semifinals after drawing 1-1 with Sao Paulo, a result that was more than enough thanks to what it had done a week earlier at La Bombonera.

The home side took the lead with a goal from Leandro Lozano at the 60-minute mark, and for a while it looked like the tie might get complicated. Boca held on, dropped back, weathered what needed weathering, and just as the match was winding down came the blow: Domingos Duarte equalized in the 89th minute. A late gut punch, sure, but not enough. The cushion built in Buenos Aires, that 1-0 first leg played at La Bombonera, ended up being just enough for Boca to seal its spot in the next round.

So there was no wild celebration at the Morumbi, but none was needed. Boca did its job at home and in Brazil knew how to manage the result until the final whistle. The obvious question left hanging in the air was: who's next?

Vasco da Gama, the semifinal opponent

The answer came from the other quarterfinal matchup: Vasco da Gama will be Boca's next hurdle in the semifinals. The Brazilian side eliminated Independiente Santa Fe with a convincing 2-0 win after a scoreless draw in Colombia in the first leg.

What stands out about Vasco's win is that it came with a lineup full of backups. Even so, the result left no room for doubt: Bruno Duarte opened the scoring in the first half and David sealed it in the second, completing a comfortable qualification despite the rotation.

With the bracket now set, Boca knows it will have to face a Brazilian side that, results against Santa Fe aside, has just shown it can get results even without its starters.

The dates are already marked on the calendar for anyone following the club's continental hopes closely. The semifinal first legs will be played between October 13 and 14, while the return legs are scheduled for October 20 and 21. There's still time to go, but qualification is already secured, and now it's just a matter of waiting to find out in what order the series against Vasco da Gama will be played.