The 2017 Copa Sudamericana first stage was played from 28 February to 1 June 2017.[1] A total of 44 teams competed in the first stage to decide the 22 of the 32 places in the second stage of the 2017 Copa Sudamericana.[2]
The draw for the first stage was held on 31 January 2017, 21:00 PYST (UTC−3), at the CONMEBOL Convention Centre in Luque, Paraguay.[3] For the first stage, the teams were divided into two pots according to their geographical zones:
Pot A (South Zone): 22 teams from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay
Pot B (North Zone): 22 teams from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela
The 44 teams were drawn into 22 ties (G1–G22) between a team from Pot A and a team from Pot B, with the teams from Pot B hosting the second leg in odd-numbered ties, and the teams from Pot A hosting the second leg in even-numbered ties. This distribution ensured that teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same tie.
In the first stage, each tie was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. If tied on aggregate, the away goals rule would be used. If still tied, extra time would not be played, and the penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winner (Regulations Article 6.1).[2]
^The Defensa y Justicia v São Paulo match was originally scheduled on 6 April 2017, 21:45 local time, but was re-scheduled to 5 April 2017, 19:15 local time, due to a general strike decreed in Argentina.[6]
Sport Huancayo
Sportivo Luqueño
Universidad Católica
Defensor Sporting
Huracán
