# 2023 Copa Sudamericana first stage

The 2023 Copa Sudamericana first stage was played from 7 to 9 March 2023. A total of 32 teams competed in the first stage to decide 16 of the 32 places in the group stage of the 2023 Copa Sudamericana.

## Draw

The draw for the first stage was held on 21 December 2022, 12:00 PYST (UTC−3), at the CONMEBOL Convention Centre in Luque, Paraguay. For the first stage, the 32 teams involved were divided into eight pots according to their national association.
The 32 teams were drawn into 16 ties, with the four teams from each national association being drawn against a rival from the same association in two ties per association.
First stage draw :
| Bolivia | Chile | Colombia | Ecuador |
| Oriente Petrolero Guabirá Atlético Palmaflor Blooming | Palestino Cobresal Universidad Católica Audax Italiano | Deportes Tolima Junior Santa Fe Águilas Doradas | LDU Quito Emelec Deportivo Cuenca Delfín |
| Paraguay | Peru | Uruguay | Venezuela |
| Guaraní Tacuary General Caballero (JLM) Sportivo Ameliano | Universitario Universidad César Vallejo Cienciano Binacional | River Plate Peñarol Defensor Sporting Danubio | Estudiantes de Mérida Deportivo Táchira Caracas Academia Puerto Cabello |

## Format

In the first stage, each tie was played as a single-leg match. If tied after 90 minutes, extra time would not be played, and a penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winner (Regulations Article 2.4.2).
The 16 winners of the first stage advanced to the group stage to join the 12 teams directly qualified for that stage (six from Argentina and six from Brazil), and four teams transferred from the Copa Libertadores (the four teams eliminated in the third stage of qualifying).

## Matches

Matches in this round were played on 7–9 March 2023.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Guabirá | 0–1 | Oriente Petrolero |
| Blooming | 6–0 | Atlético Palmaflor |
| Cobresal | 0–1 | Palestino |
| Audax Italiano | 3–2 | Universidad Católica |
| Deportes Tolima | 1–0 | Junior |
| Águilas Doradas | 1–2 | Santa Fe |
| LDU Quito | 4–0 | Delfín |
| Emelec | 2–1 | Deportivo Cuenca |
| Guaraní | 3–1 | Sportivo Ameliano |
| Tacuary | 2–2 (4–2 p) | General Caballero (JLM) |
| Universidad César Vallejo | 3–1 | Binacional |
| Universitario | 2–0 | Cienciano |
| Defensor Sporting | 0–0 (3–4 p) | Danubio |
| River Plate | 0–4 | Peñarol |
| Caracas | 0–1 | Academia Puerto Cabello |
| Estudiantes de Mérida | 1–1 (3–1 p) | Deportivo Táchira |
Oriente Petrolero advanced to the group stage (BOL 1).
Blooming advanced to the group stage (BOL 2).
Palestino advanced to the group stage (CHI 1).
Audax Italiano advanced to the group stage (CHI 2).
Deportes Tolima advanced to the group stage (COL 1).
Santa Fe advanced to the group stage (COL 2).
LDU Quito advanced to the group stage (ECU 1).
Emelec advanced to the group stage (ECU 2).
Guaraní advanced to the group stage (PAR 1).
Tacuary advanced to the group stage (PAR 2).
Universidad César Vallejo advanced to the group stage (PER 1).
Universitario advanced to the group stage (PER 2).
Danubio advanced to the group stage (URU 1).
Peñarol advanced to the group stage (URU 2).
Academia Puerto Cabello advanced to the group stage (VEN 1).
Estudiantes de Mérida advanced to the group stage (VEN 2).