CONMEBOL: competitions, members and what collectors should know

CONMEBOL is South America’s football confederation, founded in 1916, with 10 national associations. Its club competitions are the Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana and Recopa Sudamericana. For national teams it runs the Copa América and the South American World Cup qualifiers within FIFA windows. Famous clubs include Boca Juniors, River Plate, Flamengo, Palmeiras, Independiente, Peñarol and Nacional. Members are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. For collectors, CONMEBOL events bring distinct sleeve badges, event patches and sponsor rules that differ from domestic leagues, which are critical for authenticating match shirts.

Key identifiers

Competition shirts show the CONMEBOL competition badge and back-of-shirt branding for the tournament. Finals use a dedicated event patch with city, stadium or edition wording, and some seasons add a fair play or partner mark on the opposite sleeve. Clubs must submit registered name and number styles that meet size and contrast rules; many use flock or PU with a trophy motif. Sponsor layouts can change for continental play and may exclude restricted categories. Authentic examples match the exact badge design, typography, material and spacing specified for that season and stage.

What to check

Confirm the competition, season and exact fixture. Compare both sleeve patches to period match photos and note dimensions, edge finish and colour tone. Check the name and number size, stroke thickness and alignment against the club’s registered set for that tournament. Verify sponsor compliance for CONMEBOL games and watch for domestic league patches that should not appear. For finals, validate the event patch wording, typeface and placement. Cross-check the player’s squad number, kit manufacturer variant and shirt version, such as authentic vs fan, long vs short sleeves, against the club’s usage that night.

How to verify

Locate the official photo gallery or broadcast stills from the exact match and compare sleeves, fonts and sponsors frame by frame. Match the date to the competition calendar and confirm the starting XI and substitutes from the federation or club report. Measure number height and spacing and compare to the tournament guide used that year. If the club used serialised numbers or heat-press codes, photograph them and keep macro images of wash tags. Save a copy of the competition regulations PDF, the team sheet and links to the image sources in your records.

Care and documentation

Store CONMEBOL shirts flat in acid-free sleeves with buffered backing, or hang on wide, rounded hangers in breathable bags. Keep away from UV and heat to protect badges and numbers. Use silica gel in display cases and rotate exposure to limit fade. Keep a single folder with high-resolution images, match details, team sheets and any certificates. Name files with date, competition, opponent and player so the provenance trail is clear.

Related reading

Walkouts Knowledge Base and Collecting for guides on authentication, COAs, grading, proof, storage, and beginner strategies.