Boca Juniors Can Field All Six Foreign Players Against Sao Paulo in Copa Sudamericana – Here Is Why

Boca Juniors head coach Vasco Arruabarrena has named all six foreign players in his squad for Tuesday’s Copa Sudamericana tie against Sao Paulo. The decision raised eyebrows among some fans and observers, especially after the club’s recent Copa Argentina match against Velez Sarsfield sparked a protest over the same issue.

However, the situation is straightforward: Conmebol, South America’s football governing body, does not impose any restriction on the number of foreign players a club can field in its competitions. Instead, Conmebol defers to the rules of each national federation and the individual authorization each player holds.

The recent controversy

The confusion stems from Boca’s Copa Argentina match against Velez Sarsfield, played in Cordoba. Boca won that match on penalties, but Velez subsequently lodged a protest, arguing that Boca had fielded too many foreign players. The protest is still pending resolution by the Argentine Football Association (AFA) tribunal.

The key difference is that Copa Argentina is governed by AFA regulations, which limit clubs to a maximum of six foreign players in the matchday squad. Boca named six foreign players for that match, and Velez claims this exceeded the allowed number. The specific rule in question is whether all six can be on the pitch simultaneously or if the limit applies only to the squad list.

Conmebol’s different rule

For the Copa Sudamericana, Conmebol’s regulations are clear: there is no cap on foreign players. The rule states that each club must comply with the limits set by its own national federation. Since the Argentine federation allows up to six foreign players in a squad, those six are all eligible to play together in a Conmebol match without any further restriction.

This means Boca can field all six foreign players – including Enner Valencia, Leandro Lozano, Marcelo Saracchi, Ander Herrera, Carlos Palacios, and Edinson Cavani – in the same starting lineup against Sao Paulo if Arruabarrena chooses to do so.

Previous instance of six foreigners together

This is not the first time Boca has used all six foreign players in a Conmebol match. In the 2025 Copa Libertadores playoff round second leg against Alianza Lima at La Bombonera, then-coach Fernando Gago started Marcelo Saracchi, Ander Herrera, Carlos Palacios, Edinson Cavani, Miguel Merentiel, and Williams Alarcon together. Merentiel and Alarcon have since obtained Argentine citizenship, but at the time they were still classified as foreign players.

Key facts

What this means for the match

For Boca fans, the ruling removes any doubt about squad selection. Arruabarrena can choose his strongest available lineup without worrying about foreign player limits. This is particularly relevant given the injury absences and squad rotation typical of a busy fixture schedule.

For Sao Paulo, the news means they will face Boca’s full attacking potential. Enner Valencia, who arrived late in the previous round against Recoleta but is now fully integrated, could be a key figure. Leandro Lozano, who missed the return leg against Recoleta due to injury, is also available.

The broader context

The Velez protest remains a separate issue under AFA jurisdiction. If the tribunal rules against Boca, it could have implications for future Copa Argentina matches but will not affect the Copa Sudamericana campaign. The two competitions operate under different regulatory frameworks.

For now, Boca can focus entirely on the match against Sao Paulo, knowing that their squad composition is fully compliant with Conmebol rules.

Source: Ole – https://www.ole.com.ar/boca-juniors/boca-sanpablo-copasudamericana-conmebol-copaargentina-extranjeros-velez-reglamento-fernandogago_0_oJNTgDw4LY.html