Peruvian club Cienciano will earn an additional $700,000 from South American football governing body Conmebol if they eliminate Brazilian side Botafogo in Rio de Janeiro to reach the Copa Sudamericana quarter-finals.
The Cusco-based team hold a commanding 6-1 lead from the first leg of their round of 16 tie. Securing a place among the final eight teams of the continental tournament would boost their club funds by approximately 2.36 million Peruvian soles.
Cienciano, nicknamed El Papa, play in Cusco, Peru, and are best known for winning the Copa Sudamericana in 2003. The tournament is South America's secondary club competition, organized annually by Conmebol.
The $700,000 qualification prize would be added to any future gate receipts generated from hosting a home fixture in the quarter-final stage.
Accumulated tournament earnings
Cienciano have already accumulated $1.875 million in prize money during their 2026 Copa Sudamericana campaign through standard performance incentives.
The Peruvian side received $225,000 for taking part in the preliminary phase and $300,000 for entering the group stage. They earned another $250,000 for claiming two group stage victories.
Subsequent progress yielded $500,000 for reaching the playoff round and $600,000 for advancing to the round of 16. Qualifying for the quarter-finals would raise their overall prize total to $2.575 million, excluding matchday ticket sales.
Match details and Botafogo turmoil
The second leg between Cienciano and Botafogo takes place on Thursday, August 20, at 7:30 p.m. Peruvian time. The match will be played at the Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos in Rio de Janeiro.
Botafogo head into the match in crisis after sacking their manager following a series of poor results. The Brazilian club have also slashed ticket prices to less than 5 soles in an effort to fill their stadium.
Supporters in Cusco can watch the deciding match for free on a giant screen erected in the city's Plaza Mayor.
