The 2026 Summer Friendly Tournament, organized by the Bolivian Football Federation (FBF), will begin this Thursday night and will mark the official start of the season for several Bolivian professional football clubs.
The first match will be played in the city of Tarija, where Real Tomayapo will receive Independiente de Sucre at the IV Centenario stadium. The match, corresponding to the first leg of the round of 16, is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.
The refereeing team will be headed by Bladimir Rueda, who will be assisted from the wings by Alfredo Valdéz and Luis León, in a match that will formally open the competition.
The Tarija team, under the leadership of Argentine Gabriel Nasta, will face the competition with a renewed squad. Among the additions for this season are Cristian Arabe, Limberg Mojica, Ronald Cuéllar, Mauricio Chajtur and Robson Dos Santos, names that seek to give greater competitiveness to the team.
On the other side will be Independiente, led by René Hinojosa, a team that arrives with the impulse of having qualified for the 2026 Copa Sudamericana. The capital team must play the previous phase against Guabirá, with the hope of accessing the group phase.
For this year, the coach chose to maintain the backbone of the squad, although he also incorporated new players such as Jonathan Cristaldo, Raúl Rivas and Saúl Torres, among other reinforcements that aim to strengthen the team.
The tournament schedule will continue on Friday with the expected confrontation between The Strongest and Bolívar. Three matches will be played on Saturday: FC Universitario vs. Aurora, ABB vs. Always Ready and Guabirá vs. San Antonio.
The first legs of the round of 16 will be completed on Sunday with three other matches: Oriente Petrolero vs. Blooming, Real Potosí vs. Nacional Potosí and Totora Real Oruro vs. GV San José, in a day that promises emotions in different cities of the country.
Regarding the regulations, the tournament does not establish a limit on the number of foreigners on the field nor does it require the lineup of under-20 or under-23 players. Each club must register at least three goalkeepers, may add players to the list in good faith throughout the competition and will have logistical support from the FBF, which will cover tickets and food for a maximum of 30 people per delegation.
The proceeds will be divided equally between the Federation and the local club, while the champion will receive 15 trips for 30 people and the runner-up will receive 7 trips.
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