Palmeiras vs. Fluminense: 2026 Libertadores Semifinal Kickoff, Team News and How to Watch

Updated October 21, 2026: Palmeiras host Fluminense in the second leg of the all-Brazilian 2026 CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores semifinal on Wednesday, October 21. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. in São Paulo, Brazil (Brasília Time, BRT, UTC−03:00), which is 00:30 UTC on Thursday, October 22. The match remains listed at Nubank Parque, and Palmeiras carry a 2–1 aggregate lead. Palmeiras’ latest official training report also says forward Vitor Roque was receiving treatment for a right ankle sprain; his availability had not been confirmed in that report.

Match details at a glance

CONMEBOL’s official fixture page lists Palmeiras as the home side, Fluminense as the away side, the 9:30 p.m. start and Nubank Parque as the venue. CONMEBOL’s semi-final schedule announcement confirms Wednesday, October 21. Brazil’s National Observatory lists São Paulo at UTC−03:00, so the local Wednesday start falls just after midnight UTC on Thursday. The UTC date change is a time-zone conversion, not a schedule change.

What Palmeiras’ first-leg lead means

Palmeiras won the opening leg 2–1 at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã on October 14. José Manuel López opened the scoring shortly before halftime, Marlon Freitas added a second in the 85th minute, and Fluminense’s Wesley Natã scored in stoppage time. That late goal kept the tie within one, but Palmeiras still arrive in São Paulo with the aggregate advantage. CONMEBOL’s first-leg report recaps the result and scoring.

The paths to the final are clear under the two-leg format:

• Palmeiras advance with a win or a draw. Either result preserves their 2–1 aggregate lead.
• A one-goal Fluminense win levels the aggregate score. A level tie after the second leg is settled by a penalty shootout.
• Fluminense advance outright with a win by at least two goals. That would put them ahead on aggregate without penalties.

For example, a 1–0 or 2–1 Fluminense victory would take the tie to penalties, while a 3–1 result would send Fluminense through. Palmeiras’ advantage is meaningful, but it is not a guaranteed place in the final before the return leg is played.

Latest team news and suspensions

Palmeiras’ October 20 training update says Vitor Roque was being treated for a right ankle sprain and followed an individual schedule under the club’s Health and Performance staff. The report does not confirm whether he will be fit or selected. Palmeiras said the squad would complete its final preparations on matchday morning at the club’s training center. Check the club’s official channels and the confirmed lineup before treating his status as settled. The injury detail comes from the club’s October 20 training report.

The official material reviewed for this update does not confirm a new match-specific suspension or publish either starting lineup. Fluminense’s official report from the first leg recorded a yellow card for Nonato; Palmeiras’ first-leg cautions went to Alexander Barboza, Agustín Giay and Maurício. A first-leg caution by itself does not establish that a player is suspended, so readers should rely on the clubs’ matchday announcements and CONMEBOL’s official team sheets for final availability. The first-leg details appear in Fluminense’s match report.

Venue, officials and the final

Nubank Parque in São Paulo is the home venue CONMEBOL lists for Palmeiras. The competition’s official second-leg preview names Esteban Ostojich of Uruguay as referee and Andrés Cunha, also of Uruguay, as video assistant referee. The appointment is confirmed; the score, finalist and any need for penalties remain undecided before kickoff.

The winner will become the first finalist of the 2026 tournament. The final is scheduled for Saturday, November 28, at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay, according to CONMEBOL’s published schedule. Palmeiras are pursuing another final after reaching the 2025 showpiece, while Fluminense are seeking a return after winning the Libertadores in 2023. Those records provide context, but the second leg decides which club moves on.

How to watch or follow Palmeiras vs. Fluminense

For viewers in Brazil, Palmeiras’ official match listing names Globo, ge tv and Paramount+ as broadcast options. TV and streaming rights vary by territory, so viewers elsewhere should consult CONMEBOL’s regional TV guide and confirm the match in their local rights-holder’s schedule.

For official match updates, use the CONMEBOL fixture center. The page carries the fixture details and is expected to show match coverage, including its “As It Happened” section, when live coverage begins. It is also the direct source for the aggregate score and official match information. Starting lineups are normally confirmed closer to kickoff; treat projected teams and social posts from unofficial accounts as unconfirmed.

Why some listings show October 22

The match is scheduled for Wednesday, October 21, at 9:30 p.m. in São Paulo (BRT, UTC−03:00). Add three hours to convert that kickoff to UTC: the result is 00:30 on Thursday, October 22. The Brazilian National Observatory’s official time-zone table lists São Paulo at UTC−03:00. Calendars and broadcasters outside Brazil may display the Thursday date after converting the same instant to their selected time zone.

If setting a reminder, check both the time zone and calendar date shown by your service. For this fixture, the dependable references are 9:30 p.m. Wednesday in São Paulo and 00:30 UTC Thursday. No official schedule change was present on CONMEBOL’s fixture page when checked for this update.

What is confirmed—and what is still open

CONMEBOL has confirmed the second leg’s date, kickoff, venue and officials. The first-leg score is 2–1 to Palmeiras, and that score sets the qualification scenarios above. Palmeiras has confirmed that Vitor Roque was receiving treatment for a right ankle sprain on October 20, but not whether he will play. The final result, finalist, starting lineups and any matchday changes are not known before the game.

Palmeiras vs. Fluminense starts at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday in São Paulo (UTC−03:00), or 00:30 UTC Thursday, October 22. Palmeiras carry a one-goal lead, and Fluminense can force penalties with a one-goal win. Check the official fixture center and the clubs’ confirmed team news close to kickoff for any final update.