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Copa Libertadores Spots Up For Grabs After Mexico Withdraws Its Teams

CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez said that South America's smaller football nations "will gain three extra berths" in the 2017 Copa Libertadores after Mexico withdrew its teams, according to Daniela Desantis of REUTERS. Domínguez said that teams from Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and Venezuela "would take part in a qualifying series in January for the three vacancies." He said, "The Cup will start after the first week of January with home and away matches involving teams from Uruguay, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela and Paraguay." Mexico last month "cited a clash of dates between a revamped Copa Libertadores, to be played throughout the calendar year" from '17, and its domestic league championships as a reason for withdrawing at least for a year. Mexico, the leading football nation from the northern CONCACAF region, has taken part in South America’s elite club competition since '98. Domínguez: "We'd have liked the Mexican teams to carry on taking part because they have never won the Libertadores and have only reached three finals but we have to worry about South America." Domínguez said that it was "still his dream to introduce a single Copa Libertadores final at a neutral venue" like Europe’s Champions League, but some CONMEBOL member nations "prefer the traditional two-legged decider," which will be retained at least for '17. Colombian Libertadores holders Atlético Nacional and Chapecoense, which has been awarded the Copa Sudamericana title after the team was "all but wiped out in a plane crash last week, also have a berth each in a 44-team competition" (REUTERS, 12/7).

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