Buenos Aires, December 13 (NA) – Racing and Estudiantes de La Plata will face this Saturday night in the final of the Torneo Clausura, in a match that will also be key to define the qualifiers for the 2026 edition of both the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana. This final, which will be covered live by the Argentine News Agency, has double value for both Racing and Estudiantes, as the winner will play in the Copa Libertadores. It is for this reason that 'El Rojo' would only be released a spot to qualify for the Copa Sudamericana in case their historic rival is consecrated as the new champion of Argentine football. The qualifiers for the 2026 Cups if Racing wins To Libertadores: Platense, Lanús, Independiente Rivadavia de Mendoza, Rosario Central, Boca, Argentinos Juniors and Racing. To Sudamericana: River, Deportivo Riestra, San Lorenzo, Tigre, Barracas Central and Independiente. The qualifiers for the 2026 Cups if Estudiantes wins To Libertadores: Platense, Lanús, Independiente Rivadavia de Mendoza, Rosario Central, Boca, Argentinos Juniors and Estudiantes de La Plata. To Sudamericana: River, Racing, Deportivo Riestra, San Lorenzo, Tigre and Barracas Central. 'La Academia' finished fifth in the annual table, so it has its participation secured at least in the Copa Sudamericana, a competition it won in 2024. However, 'El Pincha' would be left empty-handed if it does not lift the trophy, as it finished very low in the annual table and would not play international competitions next year. But there is another team that also depends on what happens today to define if it will play the Copa Sudamericana next year or will only play in the local scope. It is about Independiente, which after a totally disastrous start to the Torneo Clausura, was able to get on track in the last dates to finish eleventh in the annual table.
