Fluminense vs Palmeiras: 2026 Libertadores Semi-Final First Leg, Kickoff and Team News

Updated October 14, 2026, before kickoff: Fluminense host Palmeiras in the first leg of their CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores semi-final at the Estadio Jornalista Mário Filho (Maracanã) in Rio de Janeiro. CONMEBOL lists kickoff for Wednesday, October 14, at 9:30 p.m. Rio time, Brasília Time (BRT, UTC−03:00), which is Thursday, October 15, at 00:30 UTC. The tie is decided over two legs, with the return in São Paulo on October 21.

Confirmed semi-final schedule

CONMEBOL’s official fixture page identifies Fluminense as the home participant, Palmeiras as the away participant, and the venue as Estadio Jornalista Mário Filho (Maracanã). The two countries involved in this week’s fixtures use UTC−03:00 on these dates; the Fluminense–Palmeiras start therefore falls after midnight UTC and may appear as October 15 on international schedules. The event time is not the same date everywhere, so check whether your calendar or broadcaster displays local time or UTC.

What is at stake in the first leg?

This is the opening match of a two-leg semi-final, not a one-game final. Fluminense have the home setting first and will return to São Paulo a week later. Palmeiras can seek a result that keeps the tie within reach before the second leg at NuBank Parque. A first-leg score will shape the return match, but it will not by itself identify the finalist.

The clubs have met twice in the Libertadores, both times in the 1971 group stage. Fluminense won 2–0 in São Paulo, and Palmeiras won 3–1 at the Maracanã. This is their first knockout meeting in the competition. Fluminense reached the semi-final by eliminating Platense 3–2 on aggregate. Palmeiras advanced past Liga de Quito after a 3–3 aggregate tie and a 4–3 penalty shootout win, with goalkeeper Carlos Miguel saving two penalties, according to CONMEBOL’s tournament preview.

Matchup notes: possession against forward runs

CONMEBOL’s preview describes contrasting attacking routes. Fluminense’s Lucho Acosta has been a notable line-breaking passer, while Agustín Canobbio has repeatedly run behind defensive lines. Palmeiras have relied on Jhon Arias’ involvement in sequences that end in shots, with José Manuel “Flaco” López contributing goals and assists in the campaign. Those tournament figures describe what the teams had done before this match; they do not predict who will produce the decisive moment tonight.

The venue is part of the context. CONMEBOL reported that Fluminense had not lost a Libertadores knockout match at home, with 15 wins and five draws in 20 games at the time of its preview. Palmeiras, meanwhile, had taken points in six of their previous nine away matches against Brazilian sides in the competition. Historical records offer useful comparison, but neither one cancels out the other or guarantees a result.

Team news, injuries, and suspensions

Palmeiras’ club preview, published October 13, lists head coach Abel Ferreira as suspended after a red card. It lists no Palmeiras players as suspended and says captain Gustavo Gómez returns after serving a suspension for three yellow cards. The same club report says Ramón Sosa, who had suffered a right-thigh trauma against Corinthians, trained normally on the field during the team’s final preparation session.

For Vitor Roque, UOL reported on October 13 that the forward would miss the first leg after a right-ankle sprain sustained against Corinthians and would be reassessed daily; the report said the club had not set a return date. That is a media report, not a published CONMEBOL lineup confirmation. Starting elevens and any late fitness decisions should be treated as unsettled until the clubs announce their teams. I found no current official Fluminense source in the materials checked that confirms an injury or suspension for this fixture, so no absence is assumed here.

The match page lists Argentine referee Facundo Raúl Tello Figueroa. CONMEBOL’s pre-match preview names Silvio Trucco as VAR. These appointments are confirmed; the match result, lineups before their official release, and each player’s eventual role remain unknown before kickoff.

How to watch or follow the match

Palmeiras’ official match information lists Globo, ge tv, and Paramount+ for its Brazilian broadcast listing. These services should not be treated as universal options: rights and availability vary by country. Outside Brazil, check the licensed Libertadores broadcaster in your own market. CONMEBOL’s fixture page provides the official event details and match coverage sections, including “Match Day” and “As It Happened,” for readers following updates online.

If you only plan to watch one game, the first leg gives you the Maracanã setting and the opening tactical choices. Following both legs provides the fuller picture: the teams will have a week to respond to the first result before meeting in São Paulo on October 21. For the other side of the bracket, Estudiantes host Flamengo in La Plata on October 15, with the return scheduled for October 22 in Rio.

What is confirmed and what remains open?

• Confirmed: the first leg is Wednesday, October 14, at 9:30 p.m. in Rio de Janeiro (BRT, UTC−03:00), or October 15 at 00:30 UTC; Fluminense are at home at the Maracanã; the return leg is October 21 in São Paulo.
• Confirmed team availability notes: Abel Ferreira is suspended; Palmeiras list no suspended players and confirm Gustavo Gómez’s return. Palmeiras report Sosa trained normally; UOL reports Roque out with an ankle sprain, subject to the club’s day-to-day reassessment.
• Not settled before kickoff: the starting lineups until announced, the first-leg result, and which club will advance to the final.
• Market-specific: the broadcasters available to viewers outside Brazil.

For primary updates, consult CONMEBOL’s official Fluminense–Palmeiras fixture page, its semi-final schedule announcement, and the CONMEBOL match preview. Palmeiras has published its fixture, broadcast, suspension, and training information. UOL’s October 13 report on Vitor Roque’s availability is a secondary report and should be distinguished from official lineup announcements.