River secured its place in the 2027 Copa Sudamericana and still dreams of the Libertadores

River closed out a small pending task in the final stretch of the year: it has already secured a place in the 2027 Copa Sudamericana. Qualification was sealed after the draw by Defensa y Justicia, a result that cleared up any doubts about the team from Núñez's international floor.

But the story does not end there. Although the ticket to the Gran Conquista is already in the bag, the Millonario still holds out hope of reaching the 2027 Copa Libertadores through the Tabla Anual. In other words: it has met the minimum objective, but it is not giving up in the big fight.

What River still has at stake

River's situation comes framed by a season finale packed with numbers and decisions. The club is still looking at the table with the hope of climbing one more step and returning to the Libertadores, the competition that sets the standard in South America.

The picture is clear:

• 2027 Copa Sudamericana: already secured.
• 2027 Copa Libertadores: still possible through the Tabla Anual.
• The end of the year remains decisive for the team's final place on the international map.

A finish with accounts still open

The news arrives in a context in which River failed to turn its investment into heavyweight results during 2026. The sporting balance left blows on several fronts and forced the club to do the math until the end to know which cup it will play in 2027.

In that setting, the draw by Defensa y Justicia ended up giving the team from Núñez an important certainty. It is not the qualification it wanted most, but it is one that avoids an end to the year without continental competition.

River, then, already knows it will be in an international competition next year. What remains to be decided is whether that destination will be the Sudamericana or whether it will still be enough to make the jump to the Libertadores. And in that battle, every point counts.