CONMEBOL organizes the Copa Sudamericana, a South American club football tournament. Copa Mercosur was the only South American competition that had this competition. Between 2004 and 2008, CONCACAF clubs were invited to compete, and the competition has expanded to include the United States and Mexico. The first competition saw San Lorenzo win the title, and now more than a dozen teams are competing to be the first to reach the final.
The Copa Sudamericana was first held in 1961. The trophy was won by Barcelona Sporting Club. The tournament was a qualifying competition for the CONCACAF championship, which is held every year. The Ecuador campeones were not eligible to play in the tournament until 1965. From 1966 to 1999 Ecuador had campeones participating in the Copa Sudamericana each year. It’s now an equal-rights competition.
The Copa Sudamericana, which is second in importance to South American teams after the Copa Libertadores, is the most important competition. Many have compared it to the UEFA Cup and Champions League. In many ways, the Copa Sudamericana is similar to the European Champions League, with its teams from the mid-table of their respective countries competing against each other in the final. As a result, teams like Boca Juniors, River, and Tigres will play each other every year in a bid to become the champion.
Since the first Copa Sudamericana was held in 1947, the tournament has grown considerably. It is an annual event that is a precursor to the Copa Libertadores. Teams from South America and Central America compete in the competitions. The competitions are held in March and April. They are often held on alternate years, and have historically been competitive. The Supercopa Sudamericana was contested once, but only by Vasco da Gama.