Are the Copa Libertadores and Sudamericana at Risk? CONMEBOL Responds to Banking Crisis
CONMEBOL has approximately $14 million deposited with Ueno Bank, a Paraguayan financial institution placed under intervention over solvency problems. South American soccer's governing body insists its competitions and prize money are not at risk
A banking crisis in Paraguay has reached CONMEBOL, with South American soccer's governing body holding millions of dollars at Ueno Bank, a financial institution currently undergoing a regulatory intervention.
Despite the situation, CONMEBOL told news agency EFE that its competitions and prize money are not at risk of suspension.
The assurance is particularly significant for the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, two of the organization's leading competitions, both available to watch on beIN SPORTS.
According to a source who spoke to EFE, CONMEBOL has approximately $14 million deposited with Ueno Bank, representing 2.4% of the $600 million in revenue reported by the organization in 2025.
While the governing body acknowledges that some of its funds are tied up in the troubled bank, it maintains that the situation will not jeopardize its tournaments or their financial awards.
What Happened to CONMEBOL's $14 Million?
The money was not held in a regular checking account.
Instead, CONMEBOL placed the funds in long-term certificates of deposit, a financial arrangement that keeps money invested for an agreed period.
The source did not disclose the length of the agreement with Ueno Bank, and there is currently no confirmed timeline for recovering the funds.
CONMEBOL intends to pursue their recovery immediately, although the outcome will depend on the bank's resolution process.
The amount represents a relatively small share of the governing body's reported annual revenue, but it remains an unresolved financial matter.
Why Was Ueno Bank Placed Under Intervention?
The Central Bank of Paraguay initiated a resolution procedure against Ueno Bank after identifying serious problems with the institution's financial position.
According to the regulator, the bank's solvency ratio had fallen below 50% of the required minimum.
The institution had received more than $800 million in public funds, particularly from pension funds.
The intervention triggered a wider financial and political crisis in Paraguay, involving former President Santiago Peña, who was removed from office through impeachment proceedings and detained as part of the investigation, as well as former Central Bank chief Carlos Carvallo.
Meanwhile, the Central Bank reported that more than 90% of accounts covered by the Deposit Guarantee Fund had already received their money back.
Approximately 128,000 accounts remained pending, including those involving certificates of deposit such as CONMEBOL's investment.
Three Key Facts About CONMEBOL's Financial Situation
- The competitions are not at risk: CONMEBOL says the banking crisis will not threaten its tournaments, including the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana.
- Approximately $14 million is tied up: the money is held in long-term certificates of deposit and represents 2.4% of the organization's reported 2025 revenue.
- Recovery remains uncertain: CONMEBOL intends to recover the funds, but no timeline has been confirmed.
