Santos FC Has Landed in Cuenca — Here's Your Match Day Guide for Tomorrow
Cuenca Expat Staff
Santos Is Here
The Santos FC delegation arrived in Cuenca via charter flight on Sunday evening, touching down at Mariscal Lamar airport to a crowd of excited fans who managed to get autographs from several players. The Brazilian club is in town for their Copa Sudamericana Group D opener against Deportivo Cuenca.
This is a big deal. Having a storied Brazilian club — the team that produced Pelé, Neymar, and generations of football legends — in Cuenca is rare. The city is buzzing.
Match Details
- Match: Deportivo Cuenca vs Santos FC
- Competition: Copa Sudamericana 2026, Group D, Matchday 1
- Date: Wednesday, April 8
- Kickoff: 5:00 PM (Ecuador time)
- Venue: Estadio Alejandro Serrano Aguilar
- Broadcast: ESPN, Disney+, DSports, DGO
Group D
| Team | Country |
|---|---|
| Deportivo Cuenca | Ecuador |
| Santos FC | Brazil |
| San Lorenzo | Argentina |
| Recoleta | Paraguay |
This is a tough group. Santos and San Lorenzo are both traditionally strong clubs. But Deportivo Cuenca is coming off a 2-0 away win against Emelec on Friday — they're in form and playing at home, at altitude (2,550 meters), in front of a packed house.
Stadium Access
The club has published access points for the four sections of the stadium. Arrive early — gates are expected to open well before kickoff and lines will be long.
Tickets: Check Deportivo Cuenca's official social media and website for availability. Copa Sudamericana matches sell out.
Road Closures and Traffic
EMOV has implemented road closures around the stadium area. The restrictions began Tuesday and will remain in effect through Wednesday night. If you live near the stadium or need to pass through that area, plan alternate routes.
The areas around the stadium will be congested from approximately 3:00 PM onward as fans begin arriving. After the match (expect it to end around 7:00 PM), the area will be crowded for another 1-2 hours as people disperse.
Pro tip: Take the tranvía if you can. The stadium is walkable from several tranvía stops, and you'll avoid the parking nightmare entirely.
What This Means for You
- Even if you're not a football fan, you'll feel this in the city. Traffic patterns change, restaurants near the stadium fill up, and there's an energy in the air that's hard to miss. This is Foundation Week + Copa Sudamericana — Cuenca at its most alive
- Avoid the stadium neighborhood from 3-9 PM Wednesday unless you're going to the match. Delivery drivers and taxis will also be affected
- Bars and restaurants throughout El Centro and near the stadium will be showing the match. If you can't get tickets, grab a seat somewhere with a TV — the atmosphere will be great
- Neymar is NOT with the Santos squad. He was confirmed as not traveling for this match. But the team still has quality players and the occasion alone makes it worth watching
- This is a continental competition. Think of it as South America's version of the Europa League. For Cuenca to be hosting group-stage matches is a point of pride for the entire city
Kickoff at 5:00 PM tomorrow. Don't miss it.
Sources: El Mercurio, ESPN, Primicias
