| Tourney Name: | Copa Sudamericana |
| Year: | 2008 |
| Other Titles: | 2008 Copa Nissan Sudamericana de Clubes 2008 Copa Nissan Sul-americana do Clubes |
| Dates: | July 30 - December 3 |
| Num Teams: | 34 |
| Associations: | 12 |
| Champion Other: |  Internacional |
| Count: | 1 |
| Second Other: |  Estudiantes |
| Matches: | 66 |
| Goals: | 181 |
| Top Scorer: | Alex Nilmar (5 goals each) |
| Prevseason: | 2007 |
| Nextseason: | 2009 |
| Updated: | December 3, 2008 |
The 2008 Copa Sudamericana de Clubes was the seventh edition of the Copa Sudamericana football tournament. The draw for the tournament took place on June 10, 2008 in Buenos Aires and the competition was played between July 30 and December 3.[1] Arsenal de Sarandí were the defending champions, having won the trophy the previous season. Brazilian side Internacional won the 2008 tournament, becoming the first Brazilian winners of the trophy.
A total of 34 teams are participating in the 2008 Copa Sudamericana, from 12 associations (10 from CONMEBOL and 2 from CONCACAF).
| Association | Team | Qualify method | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Arsenal | 2007 Copa Sudamericana champion | |
| Boca Juniors | Invitee | ||
| River Plate | Invitee | ||
| Estudiantes | 2007–08 Primera División 2nd place | ||
| San Lorenzo | 2007–08 Primera División 4th place | ||
| Argentinos Juniors | 2007–08 Primera División 5th place | ||
| Independiente | 2007–08 Primera División 6th place | ||
 Bolivia | Bolívar | 2007 Apertura & Clausura Runners-up Playoff runner-up | |
| Blooming | 2007 Apertura & Clausura 3rd place Playoff winners[2] | ||
| Brazil | São Paulo | 2007 Série A champion | |
| Grêmio | 2007 Série A 6th place | ||
| Palmeiras | 2007 Série A 7th place | ||
| Atlético Mineiro | 2007 Série A 8th place | ||
| Botafogo | 2007 Série A 9th place | ||
| Vasco da Gama | 2007 Série A 10th place | ||
| Internacional | 2007 Série A 11th place | ||
| Atlético Paranaense | 2007 Série A 12th place | ||
| Chile | Ñublense | 2008 Apertura league stage 1st place | |
| Universidad Católica | 2008 Apertura league stage 2nd place | ||
 Colombia | Deportivo Cali | 2007 Reclasificación 4th place | |
| América de Cali | 2007 Reclasificación 5th place | ||
 Ecuador | LDU Quito | 2007 Serie A Second Stage winner | |
| Deportivo Quito | 2008 Serie A First Stage winner | ||
| Paraguay | Libertad | 2007 Primera División champion | |
| Olimpia | 2007 Primera División 2nd best-placed non-champion | ||
 Peru | Sport Áncash | 2007 Descentralizado 2nd best-placed non-champion | |
| Universitario | 2007 Descentralizado 3rd best-placed non-champion | ||
| Uruguay | Defensor Sporting | 2007–08 Uruguayan Primera División champion | |
| River Plate | 2008 Liguilla 4th place | ||
 Venezuela | Aragua | 2007–08 Copa Venezuela champion | |
| Maracaibo | 2007–08 Primera División 2nd best-placed non-finalist | ||
 Mexico | Guadalajara | Best-placed eligible team in 2008 Clausura[3] | |
| San Luis | 2nd best-placed eligible team in 2008 Clausura[4] | ||
| Honduras | Motagua | Invitee[5] [6] [7] |
See main article: 2008 Copa Sudamericana Preliminary Stage. The Preliminary Stage opened the Copa Sudamericana. All the second berths of 8 South American football associations contested this round. The four winners advanced to the First Round. Team #1 played at home first.|}
The First Stage consisted of twenty-eight teams each playing two-legged matches. Twenty-four teams qualified directly to this round. The fourteen winners advanced to the Round of 16. Team #1 played at home first.|}
(*)Indicates that the team plays at home for the first leg
The Second Stage was the Round of 16, played by the fourteen winners from the First Round, plus River Plate and Boca Juniors. As in the First Round, these teams played two-legged matches. Team #1 played at home first.|}
The Quarterfinals was played by the eight winners from the Round of 16. As in the First Round, these teams played two-legged matches. Team #1 played at home first.|}
The Semifinals was played by the four winners from the Quarterfinals. As in the First Round, these teams played two-legged matches. Team #1 played at home first.|}
See main article: 2008 Copa Sudamericana Finals. The Finals were played by the two winners from the Semifinals. As in the First Round, these teams played two-legged matches. Team #1 played at home first.|}