Copa Sudamericana: What are Nacional and Millonarios at stake in the Qualifying Phase?
Nacional and Millonarios meet in the Preliminary Phase of CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2026 in a match that comes at a sensitive time of the year, with two teams that live different realities. The result will affect two of the largest in Colombia in a different waythat is why the question opens a range of versions: What is really at stake for each one?
Fabián Bustos, the newcomer who is not comfortable with the key to Sudamericana
Millionaires 2026 began with Hernán Torres in charge of commanding the first team. After an end to 2025 that was not ideal, being left out of the 8 and recovering from a semester that seemed complicated, the Apertura did not start in the best way for the Ambassador.
He was sick for a few weeks, Torres could not find the team to move forward and in the end the club made the decision to cut the contract in advance.
The dance of names began again and, with Michaloutsos as a key figure in the search, Fabián Bustos was selected as Torres’ replacement.
The Argentine, long haul in South America and with successful campaigns in countries like Ecuador and Peru, took control and was able to achieve necessary victories in the short term.
March arrived with everything for Bustos. Not only is it an important month to continue leading the classification to the top 8, but the classic against Atlético Nacional for Sudamericana is also coming up.
Their cycle is just beginning, but without a doubt being eliminated would be a very hard blow to try to reverse in this first semester. Likewise, winning would give him a fundamental boost. Winning against Nacional, at Verde’s home, would provide a fundamental plus to strengthen its image in this emerging era in Bogotá.
Diego Arias, the other side of the classic: The cycle that needs to hit the table
Unlike Millionaires, Nacional is already carrying out a process with Diego Ariasalthough without 100% conviction.
The coach He remained in office after the departure of Javier Gandolfi and led the team to conquer the Colombia Cup. However, the elimination at the end and some technical decisions put it into question, with some fans also asking for the election of another coach to compete in 2026.
Sebastián Arango decided to support Arias and gave him the vote of confidence to remain in office in a year in which being a champion is the great objective.
So, Sudamericana’s pairing with Millonarios will also impact the coachwho sees this classic as the great opportunity to give that long-awaited blow to the table.
The background accompanies it: The only time he faced Millonarios as a coach, he won 2-0 with goals from Campuzano and Tesillo.
A year without international cups, the harsh reality that Millonarios and Nacional could face
2026 of National and Millionaire is about to change drastically with their Copa Sudamericana confrontation.
The equation is easy: win or go home without international cups throughout the year. A mathematics that will deeply affect two projects that were put together to fight on all fronts.
Millionaires once again trusted Radamel Falcao García and incorporated soccer players to raise the bar, something fundamental in Colombian soccer.
The National case is much deeper. not only worked to renew important playerslike Alfredo Morelos, but also added hierarchy to your payroll so as not to repeat last year’s results. It has variants, quality and promising young people, a mix that gives coach Diego Arias interesting alternatives.
