2023 U-20 Copa Libertadores

The 2023 U-20 Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores (Spanish: Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores Sub-20 2023) was the 7th edition of the U-20 CONMEBOL Libertadores (also referred to as the U-20 Copa Libertadores), South America's premier under-20 club football tournament organized by CONMEBOL. It was held in Chile from 1 to 16 July 2023.

Peñarol were the defending champions, having won the 2022 tournament, but were unable to retain their title after losing to Boca Juniors in the semi-finals, leading them to play the third place match against Cerro Porteño, which they also lost but on penalties. Boca Juniors defeated Independiente del Valle 2–0 in the final to win their first U-20 Copa Libertadores title. As winners of the 2023 U-20 Copa Libertadores, Boca Juniors earned the right to play against AZ, the winners of the 2022–23 UEFA Youth League, in the 2023 Under-20 Intercontinental Cup.

The competition was contested by 12 teams: the title holders, the youth champions from each of the ten CONMEBOL member associations, and one additional team from the host association.

Players born between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2007 were eligible to compete in the tournament. Each team could register a maximum of 20 and a minimum of 16 players, including at least 2 goalkeepers (Regulations Articles 47 and 50).

Chile was named as host country of the tournament at the CONMEBOL Council meeting held on 30 September 2022. It was the first time that Chile hosted the tournament.

Coquimbo and La Serena were selected as host cities, with Estadio Francisco Sánchez Rumoroso and Estadio La Portada as the venues, respectively. The group stage matches were played at both venues, while the final stage matches were played entirely at Estadio La Portada.

The draw was held on 1 June 2023, 12:00 PYST (UTC−4), at the CONMEBOL headquarters in Luque, Paraguay. The draw was conducted according to the following guidelines:

• The defending champions Peñarol were automatically assigned to position A1 in the group stage.
• The remaining 11 teams were seeded into four pots; one of two teams and three of three teams, based on the final placement of their national association's club in the previous edition of the tournament, in order to be drawn into three groups of four.
• Teams from the two best associations (Uruguay and Ecuador) were seeded into Pot 1 and drawn to the first position of groups B or C. The first team drawn was placed into Group B, the second team drawn placed into Group C.
• Teams from the next three associations (Paraguay, Venezuela and Argentina) were seeded into Pot 2 and drawn to the second position of groups A, B or C.
• Teams from the next three associations (Colombia, Peru, and Brazil) were seeded into Pot 3 and drawn to the third position of groups A, B or C.
• Teams from the last two associations (Chile 1 and Bolivia) and the additional team from the host association (Chile 2) were seeded into Pot 4 and drawn to the fourth position of groups A, B or C.
• From pots 2, 3 and 4, the first team drawn was placed into Group A, the second team drawn placed into Group B and the final team drawn placed into Group C. Teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same group.

The draw resulted in the following groups:

On 15 June 2023, CONMEBOL informed to its member associations the referees appointed for the tournament.

The winners of each group and the best runner-up among all groups advanced to the semi-finals.

Tiebreakers

In the group stage, teams were ranked according to points earned (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, tiebreakers were applied in the following order (Regulations Articles 20, 21):

1. Head-to-head result in games between tied teams;

• Head-to-head points in the matches played among the tied teams;
• Head-to-head goal difference in the matches played among the tied teams;
• Head-to-head goals scored in the matches played among the tied teams;

2. Goal difference;
3. Goals scored;
4. Fewest number of red cards received;
5. Fewest number of yellow cards received;
6. Drawing of lots.

All match times were in CLT (UTC−4), as listed by CONMEBOL.

The final stage consisted of the semi-finals, the third place match and the final. All the matches were played with the use of the video assistant referee (VAR).

The semi-final matchups were:

• Group A winner vs. Group C winner
• Group B winner vs. Best runner-up

The semi-final winners and losers played in the final and third place match respectively. If tied after full time, extra time would not be played, and a penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winner (Regulations Article 22).

There were 65 goals scored in 22 matches, for an average of 2.95 goals per match.

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal