Copa do Atlântico

The South American Copa do Atlântico was a football competition played in 1956 and the third continental-wide tournament in the history of the sport. The trophy was recognized International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS). This and South American Championship of Champions tournament is seen as one of the precursors of the Copa Libertadores and is considered, along with the Copa Río de La Plata, as an important stepping stone towards the creation of the South American club tournament.

Qualified teams

Argentine

• River Plate (1956 Argentine Primera División Champion)
• Lanús (1956 Argentine Primera División 2nd place)
• Boca Juniors (1956 Argentine Primera División 3rd place)
• Racing (1956 Argentine Primera División 4th place)
• San Lorenzo (1956 Argentine Primera División 8th place)

Brazil

• São Paulo (1956 Torneio Rio – São Paulo Champions)
• Santos (1956 Campeonato Paulista Champions)
• Corinthians (1956 Campeonato Paulista 2nd place)
• Fluminense (1956 Campeonato Carioca 2nd place)
• America (RJ) (1956 Campeonato Carioca 5th place)

Uruguay

• Nacional (1956 Uruguayan Primera División Champion)
• Peñarol (1956 Uruguayan Primera División 2nd place)
• Defensor Sporting (1956 Uruguayan Primera División 4th place)
• Montevideo Wanderers (1956 Uruguayan Primera División 5th place)
• Danubio (1956 Uruguayan Primera División 8th place)

Fase 1

Team #1	Result.	Team #2	Location	Date
Lanús	5 - 1	Defensor Sporting	Estadio Gasómetro, Buenos Aires	June 20
Montevideo Wanderers	2 - 1	San Lorenzo	Estadio Centenario, Montevideo	June 20
Nacional	0 - 1	São Paulo	Estadio Centenario, Montevideo	June 23
Corinthians	2 - 2	Danubio	Pacaembu, São Paulo	June 23
America (RJ)	2 - 1	Racing	Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro	June 23
Santos	4 - 0	River Plate	Vila Belmiro, Santos	June 24
Peñarol	0 - 1	Boca Juniors	Estadio Centenario, Montevideo	June 24

• Fluminense by drawing directly joined in the second stage.
• The contest between Danubio e Corinthians was defined in penalties with Corinthians won 4x2.

Quarterfinals

Team #1	Result.	Team #2	Location	Date
São Paulo	3 - 1	America (RJ)	Pacaembu, São Paulo	June 30
Montevideo Wanderers	0 - 2	Lanús	Estadio Centenario, Montevideo	June 30
Boca Juniors	3 - 1	Fluminense	Estadio Gasómetro, Buenos Aires	July 1
Corinthians	4 - 3	Santos	Pacaembu, São Paulo	July 4

Semifinals

Team #1	Result.	Team #2	Location	Date
Boca Juniors	2 - 0	Lanús	Estadio Gasómetro, Buenos Aires	July 5
Corinthians	2 - 0	São Paulo	Pacaembu, São Paulo	July 7

Finals

Team #1	Result.	Team #2	1st Leg	2nd Leg	Playoff (if necessary)
Corinthians	3-2	Boca Juniors	3-2	---	---

• The first game of the finals was held on July 19 in La Bombonera Stadium, the second game scheduled for Pacaembu Stadium turned out to not occur, since the Boca Juniors became angry with the possible third match to be held in São Paulo. Corinthians was declared champion for W.O.

Bracket

	Round of 16						Quarterfinals						Semifinals						Finals
		Lanús	5
		Defensor Sporting	1
								Lanús	2
								Montevideo Wanderers	0
		Montevideo Wanderers	2
		San Lorenzo	1
														Lanús	0
														Boca Juniors	2
		Boca Juniors	1
		Peñarol	0
								Boca Juniors	3
								Fluminense	1
		???
		???
																				Boca Juniors	2
																				Corinthians	3
		São Paulo	1
		Nacional	0
								São Paulo	3
								América (RJ)	1
		América (RJ)	2
		Racing	1
														São Paulo	0
														Corinthians	2
		Corinthians (p)	2
		Danubio	2
								Corinthians	4
								Santos	3
		Santos	4
		River Plate	0

Champion

Copa do Atlântico de Clubes de 1956
Corinthians (1st Title)