Barranquilla stadium expansion readied for 2026 Copa Sudamericana final

A CONMEBOL delegation visited Barranquilla this week to inspect the ongoing expansion and renovation of the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez. The works, which began on 23 July, will raise the stadium’s capacity from about 43,000 to 65,000 seats in time for the Copa Sudamericana final scheduled for 21 November 2026. The inspection, running from Monday to Thursday, involves officials from CONMEBOL, the Federación Colombiana de Fútbol, the Barranquilla city hall and the engineering consortium leading the construction. The tournament’s round‑of‑16 matches are already underway, featuring clubs such as Boca Juniors, Independiente Santa Fe, Bolívar, Cienciano and Vasco da Gama.