The ANFP Council of Presidents has defined the new regulatory bases that will govern the National Championship starting in 2026. Among the most notable changes are modifications to the under-21 rule, the expansion of game rosters, and a new distribution of slots for the Copa Libertadores.

Youth Players and Extended Rosters

Regarding the youth minutes rule, the required threshold of 1,890 minutes will be maintained, but with an incentive: clubs can accumulate time more quickly by fielding two youth players on the pitch simultaneously. A significant change is that foreign players with permanent residency will be considered as youth players. Additionally, the number of players on the roster will increase from 18 to 20, allowing coaches to have up to nine substitutes on the bench.

New Route to the Copa Libertadores

Qualification for international tournaments has undergone significant restructuring:

• Chile 1 and 2: For the champion and runner-up of the First Division.
• Chile 3: Will be awarded to the winner of the newly established League Cup.
• Chile 4: Will be decided in a single match between the third place of the national tournament and the champion of the Copa Chile.

Strict Measures with Stadiums

To avoid constant rescheduling, each club must register one main stadium and three alternatives. Any availability issues must be reported 96 hours in advance. Failure to comply with this rule will result in fines of 1,000 UF (approximately 39 million pesos) and the loss of points for the organizing team. The Council will meet again this Friday to discuss finances and youth football development.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

📸 JAVIER TORRES – AFP or licensors