Santiago, Chile – The 2026 Copa de la Liga, Chile’s new national tournament, begins this Friday, March 20th, with a compelling matchup between Universidad de Chile and Deportes La Serena at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos. The competition, featuring all 16 Primera División clubs, offers a direct path to the 2027 Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores for its champion.
Universidad de Chile enters the contest following a narrow 1-0 victory over Coquimbo Unido in league play, a result providing a momentary boost after a challenging period for the club. The team is also on the cusp of a significant managerial change, with Argentine coach Fernando Gago arriving in Santiago on Friday to finalize a deal that will keep him with the club through December 2027.
Deportes La Serena, meanwhile, secured a 2-2 draw against Ñublense, currently sitting tenth in the Primera División standings with nine points. Both teams will be eager to make a strong statement in the opening match of this new competition.
When Does Universidad de Chile vs. La Serena Kick Off?
The match is scheduled to begin at 18:00 hours local time (6:00 PM) on Friday, March 20th, at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago. That corresponds to 18:00 UTC-3.
Where to Watch Universidad de Chile vs. La Serena Live
Chilean football fans can catch the action live on TNT Sports Premium. The match will also be available for streaming via the Max platform.
⚽ ¡Estreno total! 🏆🏔️
Comienza una nueva historia, como siempre llena de fútbol con la #CopaDeLaLiga2026 y el puntapié lo dan en el Nacional #LaU y Deportes La Serena, buscando dar el primer paso en la fecha 1.
¿Tu favorito?Aprovecha la cuota legendaria y haz tu apuesta en… pic.twitter.com/iXp3TPbv5a
— TNT Sports Chile (@TNTSportsCL) March 20, 2026
Understanding the Copa de la Liga Format
The Copa de la Liga brings together all 16 teams from the Chilean Primera División. The tournament’s winner will earn a coveted spot in the 2027 Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores, as well as automatic qualification for the 2027 Supercopa.
The competition begins with a group stage, dividing the teams into four groups of four. Each team will play a double round-robin within their group, facing every opponent twice – once at home and once away.
The winners of each group will advance to the semifinals, contested over two legs. The semifinal pairings will be determined based on the teams’ standings in the 2025 Primera División table. Specifically, the 15th-place team from 2025 will be matched against the group winner ranked highest in the standings, and the 16th-place team will face the remaining group winner.
The semifinal winners will then meet in the final, also played over two legs, to determine the inaugural Copa de la Liga champion.
This new tournament format adds another layer of excitement to the Chilean football calendar, providing teams with a valuable opportunity to compete for continental glory and further establish their dominance in the domestic league. The stakes are high, and the opening match between Universidad de Chile and Deportes La Serena promises to be a thrilling start to the competition.
Tickets for the match are available for purchase online through Puntoticket, with sales opening to Bullangueras Lite and Plus members on March 17th, followed by general sales later that same day. Fans are reminded that registration with the National Fan Registry is mandatory for ticket purchases and that identification will be required for entry into the Estadio Nacional.
Universidad de Chile will be without several key players due to injury, including Charles Aránguiz, Matías Zaldivia, Octavio Rivero, Lucas Assadi, and Bianneider Tamayo. Fabián Hormazábal and Javier Altamirano are also unavailable due to international duty with the Chilean national team.
Following this opening match, the Copa de la Liga schedule will continue with further group stage fixtures throughout the coming weeks. Fans can stay updated on the latest results, standings, and news through TNT Sports Premium and Max, as well as official league channels.
The arrival of Fernando Gago adds another layer of intrigue to Universidad de Chile’s campaign. Although he won’t be on the touchline for this opening match, his presence in the stands signals a new era for the club, and fans will be eager to see how his vision translates onto the pitch in the weeks and months to come.
What are your predictions for the Copa de la Liga? Let us know in the comments below!
