2026 season in brief
In 2026, the Argentine Liga Profesional will once again be split across two tournaments: the Torneo Apertura and the Torneo Clausura. Each tournament has its own champion, which makes the season extra exciting for supporters.
- Torneo Apertura 2026: starts late January, running until the summer break
- Torneo Clausura 2026: starts after the summer break, running until the end of the year
- Participants: 30 clubs from the Liga Profesional de Fútbol de AFA
- In each tournament, clubs play in two zones (A and B) plus inter-zonal matches
For you as a traveller, this means there are matches in Buenos Aires throughout virtually the whole year. The busiest and most atmospheric weekends are those of the Superclásico, the Boca–River derby.
Format: zones and inter-zonal matches
The clubs are divided across two zones. Each club plays a home and away match within its own zone. In addition, inter-zonal matches are organised, so you still get to see all the star clubs face each other.
Zone A — notable names
- Boca Juniors
- Independiente
- San Lorenzo
- Vélez Sarsfield
- Talleres (Córdoba)
- Newell's Old Boys
- Estudiantes
- Lanús
Zone B — notable names
- River Plate
- Racing Club
- Rosario Central
- Huracán
- Argentinos Juniors
- Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
- Belgrano
- Banfield
Thanks to the inter-zonal matches, Boca Juniors and River Plate also take on clubs from the other zone. This makes the schedule for a football trip extra interesting.
Key matchdays Apertura 2026
The Apertura tournament kicks off on the weekend of 25 January. Below is a selection of matchdays that are most relevant for visitors to Buenos Aires.
Boca Juniors – Deportivo Riestra (La Bombonera)
River Plate – Gimnasia y Esgrima (El Monumental)
Inter-zonal: Argentinos Juniors – Belgrano
Inter-zonal: Boca Juniors – Racing Club
Lanús – Boca Juniors
The AFA typically publishes final kick-off times and dates around two weeks before the relevant matchday. We keep an eye on the current schedule for you and adjust your trip accordingly if needed.
When should you book your football trip?
Argentina is interesting all year round, but for a football trip, these periods are the most popular:
- January–February: start of the Apertura, warm summer days, atmospheric evening matches
- July–August: start of the Clausura, colder but very lively winter matches
- Any matchday with Boca Juniors at La Bombonera is highly recommended
- The Superclásico (Boca – River or River – Boca) is the absolute highlight of your trip
Our advice
- ✔ Book at least 6 to 8 weeks before departure for the best hotel prices
- ✔ Let us know in your enquiry which clubs you definitely want to see
- ✔ We monitor the match schedule and align the travel dates accordingly
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