Copa Chile Returns with Round of 16, and Audax Italiano-Colo Colo Is the Marquee Matchup

The Campeonato Nacional is taking a break for Fiestas Patrias and the FIFA date, but that doesn't mean Chilean soccer grinds to a halt entirely. Quite the opposite: this week the 2026 Copa Chile returns with the round of 16, and there's at least one match already circled in red on every fan's calendar.

Starting this Tuesday, the first legs of the round of 16 get underway, and the marquee matchup arrives right on day one: Audax Italiano hosts Colo Colo at 8:30 p.m. at Estadio Nacional. A clash that on its own justifies putting the cup back on everyone's radar, though it's far from the only one worth watching.

On Wednesday the focus shifts to the Quinta Region, where Union La Calera will host Universidad Catolica, also at 8:30 p.m., this time at Nicolas Chahuan stadium. Then on Thursday it's another giant's turn: Universidad de Chile visits Everton at the Sausalito in Vina del Mar, in a match that wraps up a busy week for Chilean soccer's biggest clubs.

Still, the first leg is only half the story. Starting Friday, the second legs of this round of 16 get underway, so it won't be long before we know who's moving on to the quarterfinals.

Full schedule for the first-leg matches

The calendar kicks off on Tuesday, September 22, with three matches: at 6:00 p.m., Deportes Puerto Montt hosts Nublense at Chinquihue stadium; at 8:30 p.m., Cobreloa takes on Coquimbo Unido at Zorros del Desierto stadium, and at the same time the aforementioned Audax Italiano-Colo Colo match kicks off at the Nacional.

The round continues on Wednesday, September 23, with Curico Unido hosting Deportes Concepcion at 6:00 p.m. at La Granja stadium. Later, at 8:30 p.m., two matches will be played simultaneously: Deportes Iquique against Deportes Antofagasta at Tierra de Campeones stadium, and the Union La Calera-Universidad Catolica clash at Nicolas Chahuan.

The first-leg round wraps up on Thursday, September 24, with O'Higgins hosting Deportes Santa Cruz at 6:00 p.m. at El Teniente stadium, and with the Everton-Universidad de Chile match at 8:30 p.m. at the Sausalito, closing out this first batch of games.

With eight ties in play and heavyweight names like Colo Colo, Universidad Catolica and Universidad de Chile already on the field, the Copa Chile is back in the spotlight right in the week the domestic league takes a break. Now attention turns to the second legs, which will decide who advances to the next round of the tournament.