I think it’s time we have a chat about Uruguay and the 2021 #Libertadores .

A thread reminding us of the wild wonderful world that is South American football.

The 2020 Uruguayan season has been delayed multiple times due to strict COVID rules and featured a generally meaningless “torneo intermediario”, and as such won’t conclude before the 2021 #Libertadores begins on February 16th (or maybe 17th).

*However* only one Uruguayan team will enter the competition in the first phase. One more will enter in the Second Phase (starts early March) with two then joining in the Group Stage, which is *after* the 2020 Uruguayan season is set to conclude.

Therefore the Uruguayan federation has decided to enter teams 10 days before the start of each Libertadores round. Essentially they’ll decide who Uruguay 4 is on February 7th, and Uruguay 3 on February 21st by taking a “snapshot” of the aggregate table on those dates.

That system creates an interesting scenario where a team could theoretically *decline* their #Libertadores berth with the idea of playing their way *up* the table to a better spot (i.e. Group Stage). On the other hand, a team could decline a spot and play their way *out* as well

Furthermore, teams will see the draw for the competition (unofficially set for February 5th) *before* making a decision, giving them a chance to see if Uruguay 3 or 4 has a particularly hard or easy path to the Group Stage through the opening rounds.

As it stands, Nacional are most likely Group Stage bound, while Peñarol are in a slog to finish second. Here’s a look at the table though Peñarol and Defensor Sporting each have a game in hand (to be played this week)

Rentistas were Apertura champions, giving them at worst a Sudamericana berth and at best a chance to play for the title. They’re a wild card here. Do they settle for Uruguay 3 or 4 or roll the dice and go for the Group Stage? They’ve never before qualified for the #Libertadores .

Peñarol meanwhile don’t have it easy either. Go into the opening stages and hope to play your way into the Group Stage with the knowledge of what your draw will be, or try and do it domestically but risk missing out on the competition altogether?

And what do clubs like Montevideo City, Cerro Largo and Montevideo Wanderers do? Do they snap up a potentially rare chance at Libertadores football and the guaranteed prize money that comes with it or hold out faith that they can get hot and sneak out a Group Stage spot?

And so, we’re left with this in today’s El Observador: “The Uruguayan federation will send an e-mail to teams asking if they want to be Uruguay 4 for the #Libertadores ”

Following the conclusion of Matchday 5 (February 6-7) the federation will start at the top of the table and work their way down. The best-placed team in the aggregate table to say “yes!” will enter the #Libertadores in the first round and collect a guaranteed USD$350,000.

South American football, still the best.