Latin American Sports Roundup for Sunday, February 1, 2026

1. Corinthians claim Supercopa Rei with 2-0 victory over Flamengo (Brazil)

Key facts:

• Corinthians defeated Flamengo 2-0 at Arena BRB Mané Garrincha in Brasília to win the 2026 Supercopa Rei.
• Gabriel Paulista opened the scoring in the 26th minute; Yuri Alberto sealed it in the 90+6th minute.
• Corinthians, 2025 Copa do Brasil champions, beat the 2025 Brasileirão winners and defending Supercopa holders.
• It is Corinthians’ second Supercopa title—their first came in 1991, also against Flamengo.
• The CBF set a record prize of R$11.22 million for the winner. A pre-match concert by singer João Gomes was part of the spectacle.
• The match brought together Brazil’s two largest fanbases: Flamengo (26%) and Corinthians (19%) of national supporters.

Why picked: The Supercopa Rei is the official curtain-raiser to the Brazilian national season, pitting the Brasileirão and Copa do Brasil champions against each other.

A Corinthians win over three-time Supercopa holders Flamengo in front of a packed Brasília crowd, with a dramatic stoppage-time second goal, made this the day’s headline event across the continent.

2. Caribbean Series 2026 kicks off in Zapopan with two dramatic opening-day games (Mexico / International)

Key facts:

• The 68th Caribbean Series opened on February 1 at Estadio Panamericano in Zapopan, Jalisco—the first time in Guadalajara since 2018.
• Game 1 (1:00 PM): Cangrejeros de Santurce (Puerto Rico) 5-4 Tomateros de Culiacán (México Verde). Puerto Rico rallied from a 4-0 deficit; Rubén Castro delivered the go-ahead hit in the 9th inning.
• Game 2 (7:30 PM): Leones del Escogido (Dominican Republic) 5-4 Charros de Jalisco (México Rojo). The defending champions edged the hosts in a rematch of the 2025 final.
• The tournament was moved from Caracas, Venezuela due to the political situation; Venezuela withdrew entirely. Mexico fields two teams (LMP champion Charros as “México Rojo” and runner-up Tomateros as “México Verde”).
• Five teams compete: Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, two Mexican squads, and guest team Federales de Chiriquí (Panama). The round-robin runs through Feb 5, with semifinals Feb 6 and the final Feb 7.

Why picked: The Caribbean Series is the biggest event in Latin American winter baseball. Opening day delivered two one-run thrillers, both won by visiting teams.

The unprecedented format—two Mexican teams replacing Venezuela—and the last-minute venue change add historic significance to this edition.

3. Caribes de Anzoátegui force Game 6 in LVBP Final with 5-3 win over Magallanes (Venezuela)

Key facts:

• Caribes de Anzoátegui defeated Navegantes del Magallanes 5-3 in Game 5 of the LVBP (Venezuelan Professional Baseball League) Final.
• The game was played at Estadio José Bernardo Pérez in Valencia. Magallanes had been leading the series 3-1 and were one win from the title.
• Pitcher Emilio Vargas was named the game’s MVP for Caribes.
• The series now shifts to Estadio Alfonso “Chico” Carrasquel in Puerto La Cruz for Game 6 on February 2.
• Magallanes, managed by Yadier Molina (LVBP Manager of the Year), had overcome long odds all season—going from a 12-20 regular-season start to the final. Caribes, counted out before the season, topped the Round Robin as underdogs.

Why picked: A potential clincher turned into an elimination escape for Caribes, who now have home-field advantage for Games 6 and 7.

This final features two storylines—Magallanes’ improbable resurrection season versus Caribes’ own underdog run—making it one of the most compelling LVBP championship matchups in recent years.

4. Boca Juniors 2-0 Newell’s Old Boys: Refuerzo debuts and Paredes penalty seal it at La Bombonera (Argentina)

Key facts:

• Boca Juniors beat Newell’s Old Boys 2-0 at La Bombonera in Jornada 3 of the Torneo Apertura 2026.
• Lautaro Blanco scored at 40′ after a quick counter initiated by Exequiel Zeballos’s assist. Leandro Paredes converted a penalty at 56′ for the 2-0.
• The penalty was awarded after a VAR review confirmed a foul on new signing Ángel Romero, who had just come on as a substitute for his Boca debut.
• Santiago Ascacíbar also made his debut in the starting XI, strengthening Boca’s midfield.
• Boca move to 6 points (4th in Zona A). Newell’s remain winless on 1 point (14th in Zona A).

Why picked: Boca bounced back from their loss to Estudiantes with an important home win that showcased their January signings.

Ascacíbar’s immediate impact and Romero’s debut—which led directly to the match-sealing penalty—signal that Claudio Úbeda‘s squad is beginning to click, making this a key early-season marker for one of Argentina’s biggest clubs.

5. Rosario Central 0-0 River Plate: Driussi goal disallowed as River stay top (Argentina)

Key facts:

• Rosario Central and River Plate drew 0-0 at the Gigante de Arroyito in Jornada 3 of the Torneo Apertura 2026.
• Sebastián Driussi appeared to score at 37′ in the first half, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR review for offside.
• River dominated the first half but Central grew into the second half, with goalkeeper Santiago Beltrán making several saves to preserve the clean sheet.
• Marcelo Gallardo brought on Marcos Acuña and Fabricio Bustos (returning from injury) and Giuliano Galoppo as second-half substitutes.
• Paulo Díaz returned to River’s starting lineup for the first time since the November Superclásico.
• River remain unbeaten and lead Zona B with 7 points. Rosario Central sit 6th with 4 points.

Why picked: Any River Plate away fixture against a competitive side like Rosario Central is must-watch in Argentine football. The VAR controversy around Driussi’s disallowed goal dominated the post-match discussion.

River maintained their unbeaten start despite not winning, while Ángel Di María’s Central continue to find their feet under Jorge Almirón.

6. Botafogo-SP 1-0 Palmeiras: Campeonato Paulista shock as Palmeiras suffer first loss (Brazil)

Key facts:

• Botafogo-SP (from Ribeirão Preto, not Rio’s Botafogo) upset Palmeiras 1-0 at Estádio Santa Cruz in Jornada 5 of the Campeonato Paulista.
• Leandro Maciel scored the only goal in the 50th minute.
• Palmeiras had won all four previous matches and led with 12 points. This was their first defeat of the 2026 Paulista season.
• Despite controlling 61.5% of possession, Palmeiras managed only 4 shots on goal to Botafogo-SP’s 6.
• Botafogo-SP improve to 5 points (record: 1W-2D-2L) and boosted their survival hopes in the state championship.

Why picked: Palmeiras are perennial title contenders and had been on a perfect run. A defeat at lower-ranked Botafogo-SP is a genuine shock result in the Paulista and a reminder that early-season state championships often produce surprises when the big clubs rotate squads.

7. Fluminense 1-0 Botafogo in rain-delayed Rio clássico; early Taça Guanabara qualification (Brazil)

Key facts:

• Fluminense beat Botafogo 1-0 in a Campeonato Carioca clássico at Estádio Nilton Santos (Engenhão) in Jornada 5 of the Taça Guanabara.
• John Kennedy scored the decisive goal in the 68th minute.
• Kickoff was delayed approximately 15 minutes due to heavy rain in Rio de Janeiro.
• Both teams entered the match with identical records (3W-0D-1L, 9 points). The win pushes Fluminense ahead and secures early qualification to the Taça Guanabara quarterfinals.
• Botafogo, fresh off their 2024 Libertadores title, suffer a setback in the local derby.

Why picked: The Rio de Janeiro clássico between two clubs with recent continental success (Botafogo’s 2024 Libertadores, Fluminense’s 2023 Libertadores) is always high-profile.

A narrow win in difficult weather conditions gives Fluminense the bragging rights and early passage to the knockout phase of the Carioca’s first-round competition.

8. Atlas 1-0 Mazatlán FC: Djurdjevic’s early strike extends Mazatlán’s winless misery (Mexico)

Key facts:

• Atlas defeated Mazatlán FC 1-0 at Estadio Jalisco in Jornada 4 of the Liga MX Clausura 2026.
• Serbian striker Uroš Djurdjevic scored in the 11th minute for the only goal of the match.
• Atlas move to 9 points (3W-0D-1L) and climb into the upper reaches of the table.
• Mazatlán remain rooted at the bottom with 0 points from 4 matches (0W-0D-4L)—the only team yet to pick up a single point in the Clausura.
• Atlas controlled 56.4% of possession and registered 16 shot attempts to Mazatlán’s 10.

Why picked: The result underscores the growing crisis at Mazatlán FC, who are pointless through four rounds in what is the final Liga MX season before Mexico co-hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Atlas, conversely, are quietly building one of the Clausura’s strongest records.

9. Mirassol 0-1 Novorizontino: Rômulo Simão goal lifts visitors in Campeonato Paulista (Brazil)

Key facts:

• Novorizontino beat Mirassol 1-0 away from home in Jornada 5 of the Campeonato Paulista.
• Rômulo Simão scored the only goal in the 15th minute.
• Both clubs are mid-table sides in the Paulista, making this an important result for Novorizontino’s quarterfinal push.
• The match was one of several played on Sunday in the 125th edition of São Paulo’s state championship.

Why picked: A clean away win by Novorizontino against a competitive Mirassol side reflects the depth and competitiveness of the Campeonato Paulista beyond the “Big Four” of São Paulo, Corinthians, Palmeiras, and Santos. Both clubs have been rising forces in São Paulo football in recent years.

10. Caribbean Series format: Venezuela’s absence and two Mexican teams reshape the tournament

Key facts:

• Venezuela, originally slated to host the 2026 Caribbean Series in Caracas, was replaced as host and withdrew its team entirely due to the country’s political crisis.
• The CBPC (Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation) moved the tournament to Zapopan, Jalisco, with the official announcement coming on December 18, 2025.
• With no Venezuelan team, the Liga Mexicana del Pacífico was granted two spots: champion Charros de Jalisco (“México Rojo”) and runner-up Tomateros de Culiacán (“México Verde”). This is unprecedented in Caribbean Series history.
• Panama’s Federales de Chiriquí participate as the guest team, maintaining the five-team format.
• Dominican Republic’s Leones del Escogido, the 2025 champions, seek to defend their title.

Why picked: The geopolitical backdrop to the Caribbean Series deserves its own entry. Venezuela’s withdrawal marks the second consecutive year the tournament has been moved from its originally planned venue to Mexico, fundamentally altering the competitive balance with two Mexican squads and no Venezuelan representation for the first time.

Related coverage: Brazil’s Morning Call | Chile Closes 2025 With a Surprise Growth Beat, but Mining Wo This is part of The Rio Times’ daily coverage of Latin American affairs and financial news.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error