Vasco da Gama Copa Sudamericana tie and league draw

July 2026 – Vasco da Gama entered the Copa Sudamericana round‑of‑16 after a 1‑0 league loss that left them in Brazil’s relegation zone. Coach Pedro Emanuel’s provisional squad included four Colombian‑born players and the team travelled to Medellín despite the poor domestic form.

The first‑leg on 22 July at Estádio Atanasio Girardot ended 2‑2 behind closed doors after CONMEBOL sanctioned Independiente Medellín for fan disturbances in a prior Libertadores match. John Montaño scored both goals for the Colombian side, Joaquín Varela’s own‑goal gave Vasco an early lead and Spinelli equalised. Independiente arrived from a third‑place finish in their Libertadores group. The aggregate score was level heading into the return leg on 29 July at São Januário, with the winner set to face Olimpia of Paraguay.

On 27 July Vasco drew 1‑1 with Mirassol in the Brazilian Serie A, a result that tightened an already cramped schedule. Andrés Gómez scored for Mirassol, and the match left Vasco with little recovery time before the second‑leg Copa Sudamericana showdown and back‑to‑back Copa do Brasil fixtures against Fluminense. Forward Puma Rodríguez stressed the “win‑or‑go‑out” nature of the upcoming games, highlighting the club’s need to balance league survival with continental ambitions.

Vasco’s upcoming challenges therefore encompass the decisive second leg in Rio, a crucial Copa do Brasil tie, and the ongoing fight to avoid relegation in the domestic league.