Chilean referee Piero Maza to take charge of Boca-Vasco da Gama in Sudamericana semifinal

We now know who will blow the whistle for one of the most important matches of the semester for Boca. Next Tuesday, October 13, the Xeneize will host Vasco da Gama at La Bombonera in the first leg of the CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2026 semifinals, and the confederation has already confirmed the name of the center referee: Chile's Piero Maza.

The match is set for 9:30 p.m. and promises tension from the opening whistle, since both Boca and the Brazilian club know that getting off to a good start in the series could prove decisive before the second leg. Maza is no stranger to this matchup: he has already been in charge of two Boca games in this same edition of the tournament, and in both, the result favored the team from La Ribera. He handled the 3-1 win over Deportivo Recoleta and also the tight 1-0 victory over Sao Paulo. It is a stat that guarantees nothing in a semifinal, but one that fans are sure to find encouraging.

Maza will not be alone on the field. He will be joined by Jose Retamal as first assistant and Carlos Poblete as second assistant, while Mathias Riquelme will serve as the fourth official. Rounding out the team, also from Chile, Jose Cabero will be in charge of VAR, a role that in matches of this magnitude often has the final say on the hottest plays.

Boca arrives at this semifinal with Rodolfo Arruabarrena on the bench, fighting on several fronts at once while still holding on to the dream of reaching the Sudamericana final. It is no small goal: the champion of this competition earns a direct spot in the 2027 CONMEBOL Libertadores, so there is plenty at stake beyond the immediate trophy.

On the other side of the bracket, the second semifinal also has its referee confirmed. Colombia's Carlos Betancur will take charge of the matchup between Brazil's Atletico Mineiro and the surprise package Montevideo City Torque, of Uruguay, who will play their first leg a day later, on Wednesday, October 14. Two series that will determine who gets to fight for the title and the direct ticket to next year's top continental competition.