The start of the Copa Libertadores final between Palmeiras and Flamengo did not kick off as scheduled. The decisive match at the Estadio Monumental in Lima was delayed by fifteen minutes due to serious transportation issues that affected both clubs, especially the São Paulo side, who arrived with barely enough time to prepare.

Traffic Jams in Lima Forced a Schedule Change

Conmebol had originally set kickoff for 4:00 PM ET, but stadium announcements soon confirmed the adjustment: the match would begin at 4:15 PM ET.

The reason was unavoidable. Both teams and thousands of fans were stuck in heavy Lima traffic, worsened by several road closures related to the organization of the Bolivarian Games taking place in other parts of the city.

The most critical situation involved Palmeiras, whose bus arrived at the Monumental only 60 minutes before the original kickoff time. That was insufficient for a continental final requiring stretching routines, tactical talks and proper pre-match preparation. To ensure both teams had the minimum warm-up time, organizers approved a fifteen-minute delay to the opening whistle.

A Historic Final With a Complicated Start

This was no ordinary final. The winner between Palmeiras and Flamengo would become the first Brazilian club to reach four Copa Libertadores titles, earning the status of tetracampeón. Both teams entered the match level with three trophies each, having dominated the competition over the past six years.

Given that context, starting without adequate preparation would have been irresponsible and damaging to the sporting integrity of the event. The schedule adjustment ensured both clubs were placed on equal footing before disputing one of the most important matches of the year.

In the end, the Monumental welcomed the two Brazilian giants fully ready to battle for the crown of South America — even if getting to the stadium proved far more difficult than expected.