Copa Libertadores Semifinals: The First Big Test of Brazil’s Betting Ban
Three of the four Copa Libertadores semifinalists are Brazilian, and the first legs were played on 14 and 15 October — less than three weeks after Brazil banned online betting. Here are the results, the fixtures still to come and how the rules differ across Brazil, Argentina and Chile.
Quick Take
- Three of the four Copa Libertadores semifinalists are Brazilian: Fluminense, Palmeiras and Flamengo. The other is Argentina’s Estudiantes.
- First legs: Palmeiras beat Fluminense 2–1 on 14 October and Estudiantes drew 0–0 with Flamengo on 15 October; the second legs are on 21 and 22 October.
- Brazil’s betting ban (MP 1.394) took licensed sites offline on 6 October; every licence ends on 25 October, between the second legs and the 28 November final.
- Argentina licenses betting province by province, and Chile only allows state-authorised operators while a licensing bill waits in Congress.
The Semifinal Fixtures
CONMEBOL has set the dates for both ties. Fluminense against Palmeiras is an all-Brazilian semifinal, so a Brazilian club is guaranteed a place in the final. Flamengo, the third Brazilian side, face Argentina’s Estudiantes de La Plata. All four legs kick off at 21:30 Brasília time.
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 14 Oct 2026 | Fluminense 1–2 Palmeiras (first leg) | Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro |
| Thu 15 Oct 2026 | Estudiantes 0–0 Flamengo (first leg) | Estadio UNO, La Plata |
| Wed 21 Oct 2026 | Palmeiras v Fluminense (second leg) | Nubank Parque, São Paulo |
| Thu 22 Oct 2026 | Flamengo v Estudiantes (second leg) | Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro |
| Sat 28 Nov 2026 | Final (single match) | Estadio Centenario, Montevideo |
What Happened in the First Legs
Palmeiras took a one-goal lead at the Maracanã. Flaco López scored on 45 minutes, Marlon Freitas added a second on 85 and Wesley Natã pulled one back for Fluminense in stoppage time, so the score was 2–1 to Palmeiras. A day later Estudiantes and Flamengo drew 0–0 in La Plata, which leaves that tie level before the return at the Maracanã on 22 October. Palmeiras host Fluminense on 21 October.
📌 In our view: both second legs are played before 25 October, when every federal licence ends. They are the last matches of the tournament in which Brazil’s old licensing system still formally exists, even though licensed sites have been offline since 6 October. The final on 28 November will be the first match played entirely after the ban is fully in force.
Brazil: A Ban Between the Semis and the Final
On 25 September 2026 President Lula signed Provisional Measure 1.394, which bans operating, offering, intermediating and advertising fixed-odds betting in Brazil, online or physical. Licensed sites went offline on 6 October, and every federal licence ends on 25 October 2026 — after the second legs and before the final. The measure also bans betting sponsorship in every medium, which matters in a sport where shirt deals with betting brands had become common. Our full explainer on MP 1.394 covers refunds and the crypto rules.
For one day, a single operator was back. On 8 October a São Paulo federal court allowed Stake to operate until 25 October under 12 conditions, but on 9 October the TRF-3 appeals court suspended that order and Stake has been offline since 10 October (full story). That leaves no licensed operator live for Brazilian fans during the semifinals; from 25 October no federal licence remains, and the final will be the first match of the tournament played under the full ban. Congress still has to vote on the measure.
Argentina: 24 Rulebooks, No National Law
Estudiantes are the only non-Brazilian club left, and Argentina regulates betting very differently. There is no national online gambling law: each province and the City of Buenos Aires runs its own licensing, which is why gaming lawyers describe 24 jurisdictions. Licensed sites use the .bet.ar domain, and a site licensed in one jurisdiction cannot be used from a neighbouring one. A national bill to ban online betting advertising passed the Chamber of Deputies in November 2024 and was sent to the Senate.
Chile: Blocked Sites, a Law Still Pending
No Chilean club reached the semifinals, but Chile is one of the region’s biggest betting audiences and its rules are in flux. In 2025 the Supreme Court held that only Polla Chilena de Beneficencia, Lotería de Concepción and Teletrak are authorised to offer online gambling, and ordered internet providers to block illegal betting sites. The bill that would license online operators received the highest legislative urgency on 7 May 2026; it proposes a 20% tax on gross gaming revenue and a 15% tax on player winnings at withdrawal. It had not become law by the end of June 2026.
What It Means for Fans
The same match can sit under three different legal regimes depending on where a fan is watching. In Brazil, betting on these games is no longer legal once the last licence ends; in Argentina it depends on the province; in Chile only state-authorised operators are legal while Congress debates a licensing law. An overseas licence does not change that, and neither does paying in crypto. Our Regulation Tracker follows each market as the rules move.
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When are the Copa Libertadores 2026 semifinals?
Fluminense v Palmeiras is on 14 and 21 October, and Estudiantes v Flamengo on 15 and 22 October 2026. All legs kick off at 21:30 Brasília time. The first legs finished Palmeiras 2–1 Fluminense and Estudiantes 0–0 Flamengo.
What were the Copa Libertadores semifinal first-leg results?
Palmeiras beat Fluminense 2–1 at the Maracanã on 14 October, with goals from Flaco López and Marlon Freitas against Wesley Natã. Estudiantes and Flamengo drew 0–0 in La Plata on 15 October.
Where is the 2026 Copa Libertadores final?
The final is a single match on Saturday 28 November 2026 at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Is betting legal in Brazil during the Libertadores?
No longer for new bets at licensed sites. Provisional Measure 1.394 banned fixed-odds betting from 25 September 2026, sites went offline on 6 October and all licences end on 25 October. A court briefly allowed Stake to keep operating, but an appeals court suspended that order on 9 October.
Can people in Argentina bet on the semifinals?
Only through sites licensed by their own province or by the City of Buenos Aires, which use the .bet.ar domain. Argentina has no national online gambling law.
Sources
↗ Midiamax — CONMEBOL sets the Libertadores semifinal dates ↗ beIN Sports — When are the 2026 Copa Libertadores semifinals? ↗ CNN Brasil — Palmeiras beats Fluminense and opens a lead in the Libertadores ↗ Lance! — Palmeiras beats Fluminense in the first leg ↗ Metrópoles — Estudiantes and Flamengo draw 0–0 in the first leg ↗ CNN Brasil — Flamengo holds off Estudiantes in the first leg ↗ Gambling Law Index — Brazil bans online betting: MP 1.394/2026 ↗ iGB — Stake wins legal right to resume Brazil operations until 25 October ↗ iGB — Stake’s Brazil revival short-lived as court overturns resumption of operations ↗ Gambling Insider — Online gambling in Argentina: 24 jurisdictions ↗ iGB — Argentina online betting ads ban passes the Chamber of Deputies ↗ Yogonet — Chile accelerates its online betting bill (May 2026) ↗ SOFTSWISS via Focus Gaming News — Regulatory Trends 2026, H1 recap18+ only. Gambling laws differ by country and change quickly — check the rules where you live. If gambling stops being fun, BeGambleAware and GamCare offer free, confidential support.