Santos FC faces Macará in Copa Sul-Americana round of 16

Santos FC will host Macará of Ecuador at Vila Belmiro for the first leg of the Copa Sul-Americana round of 16. The match is scheduled for Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 19:00 Brasília time.

Santos enters the continental competition under significant domestic pressure, currently sitting in 17th place in the Campeonato Brasileiro following a recent loss to Athletico-PR. The team, led by coach Cuca, is looking for a turnaround after a turbulent start to the year. A major boost for the squad is the return of Neymar, who is available for selection after serving a suspension in the Brazilian league.

Macará arrives with high morale after finishing first in Group A of the tournament, ahead of teams like Tigre and América de Cali. While Santos progressed through the playoffs by eliminating Universidad Central, Macará secured their spot as group leaders. The match will be officiated by Kevin Ortega Pimentel and broadcast via ESPN and Disney+.