Vasco da Gama Misses Out on Millions After Copa Sudamericana Elimination Against Boca Juniors
Vasco da Gama lost R$ 12,9 million in potential prize money after a 3-1 defeat to Boca Juniors at a packed Maracanã Stadium eliminated the Brazilian club in the Copa Sudamericana semifinals. Reaching the final would have guaranteed the Cruzmaltino at least R$ 12,9 million, while winning the tournament offered a US$ 10 million top prize. Instead, the club exits the competition with the lower stage-by-stage payouts accumulated up to the semifinal round.
How Boca Juniors Overcame a First-Leg Deficit in Rio de Janeiro
Entering the match with a 1-0 aggregate advantage from the first leg in La Bombonera thanks to an Adson goal, Vasco saw that cushion disappear just three minutes into the return fixture when Di Lollo scored from a corner kick. Boca doubled their lead in the 32nd minute when Villa took advantage of a wrong exit by Vasco’s defenders and launched a perfect ball for Merentiel, who outran Robert Renan and beat goalkeeper Léo Jardim. Puma Rodríguez provided a brief comeback for the hosts in the 67th minute with a powerful strike into the corner to level the aggregate score at 2-2. However, Paredes secured the victory for the Argentine side in the 89th minute with a shot that slipped past Léo Jardim, cementing Boca’s spot as the tournament’s first finalist.
Prize Money Breakdown Across the 2026 Copa Sudamericana Stages
The financial impact of the elimination is clear when examining the tournament’s official reward structure. Teams earned money incrementally through each phase:
- Group Stage: $300,000
- Group Stage Win: $125,000
- Playoffs (Pre-Round of 16): $500,000
- Round of 16: $600,000
- Quarterfinals: 700 thousand dollars
- Semifinals: 800 thousand dollars
- Runner-up: $2.5 million
- Champion: 10 million dollars
Rival Reactions and Teasing Following the Elimination at the Maracanã
Rival clubs quickly reacted to Vasco’s departure from the continental tournament. Fluminense posted references to a title against Boca Juniors to provoke the Cruzmaltino.
Deciding the Final Opponent in Montevideo
Boca Juniors advanced to await the winner of the other semifinal matchup between Montevideo City Torque and Atlético Mineiro. Atlético Mineiro entered that decisive fixture holding a 3-0 lead from the first leg played at the Arena MRV, with the return match scheduled in Uruguay.