CONMEBOL president says the door is open for MLS and Liga MX clubs to join the Copa Libertadores. Betting impact: admission of U.S. or Mexican sides would widen markets and likely shorten odds for top MLS/Liga MX teams—punters might back MLS Cup or Liga MX champions for group-stage success and target boosted futures and cross-confederation props.
CONMEBOL opens the door to MLS and Liga MX participation in Copa Libertadores
Alejandro Dominguez, president of CONMEBOL, has confirmed that South America's premier club tournament is open to the idea of welcoming clubs from the U.S. (MLS) and Mexico (Liga MX). The comments revive discussion about cross-confederation entry after Mexican teams competed in the Libertadores between 1998 and 2016 and after recent calls from club owners for participation.
What Dominguez said and why it matters
Dominguez described the Libertadores as a benchmark competition and indicated CONMEBOL would consider incorporating clubs from outside its ten member associations. He stressed that any change would require coordination and respect for other confederations’ competitions and calendars.
Which nations currently compete in the Copa Libertadores?
For the 2026 edition, the tournament features 47 teams from CONMEBOL’s 10 member associations, including the defending Copa Libertadores champion and the Copa Sudamericana winner. Of those 47 sides, 28 enter directly into the group stage and the remaining berths are settled via preliminary rounds.
Where U.S. and Mexican clubs compete now
U.S. and Mexican teams play in Concacaf’s Champions Cup rather than the Copa Libertadores, because MLS and Liga MX belong to the Concacaf confederation. The Concacaf tournament allocates berths across MLS, Liga MX, Canadian clubs and qualifiers from the Caribbean and Central America.
Historical precedent: when Mexican clubs played in Libertadores
Mexican teams were allowed into the Copa Libertadores starting in 1998. Initially they qualified via pre-Libertadores playoffs; later the InterLiga tournament determined Mexico’s representatives. Scheduling conflicts with domestic calendars ultimately led to Mexican clubs withdrawing from Libertadores in 2016.
Why re-entry is complicated
Re-admission of clubs outside CONMEBOL would require approval from CONMEBOL, Concacaf and FIFA. In late 2023, Concacaf leadership reported that a formal request from the Mexican federation to rejoin the Libertadores was not authorised by FIFA, citing Concacaf’s own official competitions and qualification pathways to the Club World Cup.
Club World Cup implications
Both the Copa Libertadores and the Concacaf Champions Cup act as qualifying routes to FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup. Confederation tournaments receive allocation slots and associated financial distributions; any change in membership or qualification routes could affect access to the Club World Cup and revenue shares for participating clubs.
What would need to happen for MLS and Liga MX teams to join?
Admission of North American clubs would need multilayered approvals: CONMEBOL’s willingness to include them, Concacaf’s agreement or concession, and FIFA clearance. Practical hurdles include calendar alignment, travel demands, and the integrity of confederation qualification systems.
Betting and competitive impact
If MLS and Liga MX clubs were admitted, bookmakers would likely expand Libertadores markets and adjust odds—top North American sides could see shortened group-stage and outright futures. Punters should expect increased depth in futures markets, more cross-confederation matchup bets, and shifting value on travel- and form-based props.
Bottom line
CONMEBOL’s public openness keeps the possibility alive but does not change the immediate landscape. Significant administrative and logistical approvals remain before MLS and Liga MX teams can realistically re-enter the Copa Libertadores, and the competitive and commercial consequences would be substantial if it happens.
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