Atlético MG hosts Santos FC in the Copa Sudamericana on Sep. 16, 2026, with kickoff set for 6:00 PM and the rematch carrying real weight after Santos won the reverse fixture 2-0 on September 9. The game is also available to watch live in the United States, putting the focus on a matchup that has already shifted the balance between the two sides.
Santos arrive with four wins in their last five matches across all competitions, a run that includes victories at Internacional and over Cruzeiro in Serie A, while Atletico MG are trying to steady themselves after Eduardo Dominguez's side lost 2-0 to Santos before beating Fluminense 3-1 in their most recent Serie A outing on September 12. That leaves Atletico MG eighth in the Brazilian top flight, but leading Group B, while Santos sit second in Group D.
The search interest around Atletico Mineiro vs Santos is about more than the kickoff time. Santos have found form at the right moment, and they have added Philippe Coutinho on a deal through the end of the season, giving Cuca another experienced option in the area Neymar vacated. But the forward remains out with a muscle injury and is ruled out for up to eight weeks, which means Santos are still having to manage without the player who often changes the shape of a game on his own.
That absence matters because Atletico MG know exactly what Santos can do even without him. They were beaten 2-0 in the reverse fixture, and now they have to answer at home with their group position still on the line. The match is set for 6:00 PM, and the next thing readers need to know is simple: whether Atletico MG can flip the result quickly enough to keep control of Group B while Santos try to extend a strong run without Neymar.
