CONMEBOL gives the green light for Boca fans to attend in Chile for the Copa Libertadores debut vs. Universidad Católica.

Universidad Católica stadium with a capacity of 20,000 spectators

Universidad Católica will host Boca Juniors next Tuesday, April 7, in the opening match of the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores, and the dispute over away fans has finally been resolved.
The Presidential Delegation of the Metropolitan Region authorized the entry of 2,000 Boca Juniors supporters, unlocking a situation that had created uncertainty following an initial ban earlier in the week.
That decision had put the Chilean club under pressure, especially after CONMEBOL’s ultimatum, which warned of the possibility of relocating the match and imposing financial sanctions if the minimum allocation for away fans was not guaranteed.
After a meeting held on Thursday morning with presidential delegate Germán Codina, authorities decided to lift the restriction after reaching an agreement that includes strict security measures both inside and around the stadium.
“We are going to allow the entry of the 2,000 Boca fans,” Codina confirmed at the end of the meeting.

For his part, Cruzados president Juan Tagle praised the willingness of authorities to review the initial decision and highlighted that CONMEBOL’s firm stance was key in reopening dialogue and presenting a new security plan to ensure the match proceeds normally.

The origin of the conflict

Claro Arena has a designated away section with a capacity of 450 spectators. However, CONMEBOL regulations establish a minimum reference of 2,000 tickets for this type of match in the Copa Libertadores.
Faced with this situation, Boca Juniors took a firm stance: either comply with the regulations or do not allow away fans. This initially led to the possibility of playing the match without visiting supporters.
Universidad Católica, meanwhile, relied on Article 31 of the security regulations, which allows the exclusion of away fans if there is a restriction imposed by local authorities in advance.

CONMEBOL’s ultimatum

The governing body of South American football formally demanded that Universidad Católica guarantee 2,000 tickets for Boca Juniors fans. In case of non-compliance, relocating the match away from Claro Arena was considered.
Local authorities had classified the match as “high risk,” justifying the initial ban. However, CONMEBOL rejected that decision and insisted that the game should be played with both sets of supporters, granting a 24-hour deadline for a resolution.
Among the options considered were changing stadiums, even moving the match to another country, or playing without away fans, which could have resulted in a minimum fine of $20,000.

Final resolution

Ultimately, after further negotiations, the restriction was lifted and Boca Juniors will have 2,000 supporters in Chile for their debut in the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores, ensuring an atmosphere fitting for one of the continent’s biggest matches.

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