2017 Copa Libertadores
The 2017 Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores was the 58th edition of the CONMEBOL Libertadores, South America's premier club football tournament organized by CONMEBOL.
Grêmio defeated Lanús in the finals by an aggregate score of 3–1 to win their third tournament title. As champions, they qualified as the CONMEBOL representative at the 2017 FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, and also earned the right to play against the winners of the 2017 Copa Sudamericana in the 2018 Recopa Sudamericana. They also automatically qualified for the 2018 Copa Libertadores group stage.
Atlético Nacional were the defending champions, but they were eliminated in the group stage.
Format changes
Starting from this season, the following format changes were implemented:- The tournament was expanded from 38 to 47 teams.
- A total of 10 teams eliminated from the Copa Libertadores were transferred to the Copa Sudamericana.
- The schedule of the tournament was extended to year-round so it would start in late January or early February and conclude in late November or early December.
On 18 November 2016, the Liga MX president Enrique Bonilla announced that teams from Mexico would not participate in the 2017 Copa Libertadores due to the format change which put it in conflict with the Mexican league schedule. However, he left open the possibility of a return as soon as 2018 if a solution was found.
Initially CONMEBOL announced that the tournament would be expanded from 38 to 44 teams, and the additional six berths would be distributed to the Copa Sudamericana champions, two to Brazil, and one each to Argentina, Chile and Colombia, based on commercial and sporting criteria. Following the withdrawal of teams from Mexico, CONMEBOL announced that the other six associations would also be each allocated an additional berth, further expanding the tournament to 47 teams.
From this season, the Copa Libertadores champions and the Copa Sudamericana champions gained direct entries into the group stage, meaning a total of 28 teams would directly enter the group stage, while the other four berths would be decided by the qualifying stages. The group stage berths left vacant following the withdrawal of teams from Mexico would be redistributed to Argentina and Brazil. For the qualifying stages, a total of 19 teams competed in three rounds where the four winners advanced to the group stage.
Teams
The following 47 teams from the 10 CONMEBOL member associations qualified for the tournament:- Copa Libertadores champions
- Copa Sudamericana champions
- Brazil: 7 berths
- Argentina: 6 berths
- All other associations: 4 berths each
- Group stage: 28 teams
- *Copa Libertadores champions
- *Copa Sudamericana champions
- *Teams which qualified for berths 1–5 from Argentina and Brazil
- *Teams which qualified for berths 1–2 from all other associations
- Second stage: 13 teams
- *Teams which qualified for berths 6–7 from Brazil
- *Team which qualified for berth 6 from Argentina
- *Teams which qualified for berths 3–4 from Chile and Colombia
- *Teams which qualified for berths 3 from all other associations
- First stage: 6 teams
- *Teams which qualified for berths 4 from Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela
| Association | Team | Entry stage | Qualification method |
 Argentina6 berths | Lanús | Group stage | 2016 Primera División champions |
| Argentina 6 berths | San Lorenzo | Group stage | 2016 Primera División runners-up |
| Argentina 6 berths | Estudiantes | Group stage | 2016 Primera División 3rd place |
| Argentina 6 berths | Godoy Cruz | Group stage | 2016 Primera División 4th place |
| Argentina 6 berths | River Plate | Group stage | 2015–16 Copa Argentina champions |
| Argentina 6 berths | Atlético Tucumán | Second stage | 2016 Primera División 5th place |
 Bolivia4 berths | Sport Boys | Group stage | 2015 Apertura champions |
| Bolivia 4 berths | Jorge Wilstermann | Group stage | 2016 Clausura champions |
| Bolivia 4 berths | The Strongest | Second stage | 2015–16 Primera División aggregate table best team not yet qualified |
| Bolivia 4 berths | Universitario | First stage | 2015–16 Primera División aggregate table 2nd best team not yet qualified |
 Brazil7 + 1 berths | Chapecoense | Group stage | 2016 Copa Sudamericana champions |
| Brazil 7 + 1 berths | Palmeiras | Group stage | 2016 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A champions |
| Brazil 7 + 1 berths | Grêmio | Group stage | 2016 Copa do Brasil champions |
| Brazil 7 + 1 berths | Santos | Group stage | 2016 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A runners-up |
| Brazil 7 + 1 berths | Flamengo | Group stage | 2016 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 3rd place |
| Brazil 7 + 1 berths | Atlético Mineiro | Group stage | 2016 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 4th place |
| Brazil 7 + 1 berths | Botafogo | Second stage | 2016 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 5th place |
| Brazil 7 + 1 berths | Atlético Paranaense | Second stage | 2016 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 6th place |
 Chile4 berths | Universidad Católica | Group stage | 2016 Clausura champions |
| Chile 4 berths | Deportes Iquique | Group stage | 2016 Apertura runners-up |
| Chile 4 berths | Colo-Colo | Second stage | 2016 Copa Chile champions |
| Chile 4 berths | Unión Española | Second stage | 2016 Primera División runners-up playoff winners |
 Colombia4 + 1 berths | Atlético Nacional | Group stage | 2016 Copa Libertadores champions |
| Colombia 4 + 1 berths | Independiente Medellín | Group stage | 2016 Apertura champions |
| Colombia 4 + 1 berths | Santa Fe | Group stage | 2016 Finalización champions |
| Colombia 4 + 1 berths | Millonarios | Second stage | 2016 Primera A aggregate table best team not yet qualified |
| Colombia 4 + 1 berths | Junior | Second stage | 2016 Primera A aggregate table 2nd best team not yet qualified |
 Ecuador4 berths | Barcelona | Group stage | 2016 Serie A champions |
| Ecuador 4 berths | Emelec | Group stage | 2016 Serie A runners-up |
| Ecuador 4 berths | El Nacional | Second stage | 2016 Serie A aggregate table best team not yet qualified |
| Ecuador 4 berths | Independiente del Valle | First stage | 2016 Serie A aggregate table 2nd best team not yet qualified |
 Paraguay4 berths | Libertad | Group stage | 2016 Primera División tournament champions with better record in aggregate table |
| Paraguay 4 berths | Guaraní | Group stage | 2016 Primera División tournament champions with worse record in aggregate table |
| Paraguay 4 berths | Olimpia | Second stage | 2016 Primera División aggregate table best team not yet qualified |
| Paraguay 4 berths | Deportivo Capiatá | First stage | 2016 Primera División aggregate table 2nd best team not yet qualified |
 Peru4 berths | Sporting Cristal | Group stage | 2016 Descentralizado champions |
| Peru 4 berths | Melgar | Group stage | 2016 Descentralizado runners-up |
| Peru 4 berths | Universitario | Second stage | 2016 Descentralizado 3rd place |
| Peru 4 berths | Deportivo Municipal | First stage | 2016 Descentralizado 4th place |
 Uruguay4 berths | Peñarol | Group stage | 2015–16 Primera División champions |
| Uruguay 4 berths | Nacional | Group stage | 2015–16 Primera División runners-up |
| Uruguay 4 berths | Cerro | Second stage | 2015–16 Primera División aggregate table best team not yet qualified |
| Uruguay 4 berths | Montevideo Wanderers | First stage | 2016 Primera División best team not yet qualified |
 Venezuela4 berths | Zamora | Group stage | 2016 Primera División champions |
| Venezuela 4 berths | Zulia | Group stage | 2016 Primera División runners-up |
| Venezuela 4 berths | Carabobo | Second stage | 2016 Primera División aggregate table best team not yet qualified |
| Venezuela 4 berths | Deportivo Táchira | First stage | 2016 Primera División aggregate table 2nd best team not yet qualified |