The 2022 Copa Sudamericana first stage was played from 8 to 17 March 2022. A total of 32 teams competed in the first stage to decide 16 of the 32 places in the group stage of the 2022 Copa Sudamericana.
<section begin=Draw /> The draw for the first stage was held on 20 December 2021, 12:00 PYST (), at the CONMEBOL Convention Centre in Luque, Paraguay. For the first stage, the 32 teams involved were divided into eight pots according to their national association.
The 32 teams were drawn into 16 ties, with the four teams from each national association being drawn against a rival from the same association in two ties per association and the first team drawn in each tie hosting the second leg.<section end=Draw />
<section begin=Format /> In the first stage, each tie was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. If tied on aggregate, extra time was not played, and a penalty shoot-out was used to determine the winner (Regulations Article 2.4.2).
The 16 winners of the first stage advanced to the group stage to join the 12 teams directly qualified for that stage (six from Argentina and six from Brazil), and four teams transferred from the Copa Libertadores (the four teams eliminated in the third stage of qualifying).<section end=Format />
The first legs were played on 8âÂÂ10 March, while the second legs were played on 15âÂÂ17 March 2021. <section begin=First stage />
<section end=First stage />
Jorge Wilstermann won 4âÂÂ3 on aggregate and advanced to the group stage (BOL 1).
Oriente Petrolero won 6âÂÂ2 on aggregate and advanced to the group stage (BOL 2).
Tied 2âÂÂ2 on aggregate, Deportes Antofagasta won on penalties and advanced to the group stage (CHI 1).
Unión La Calera won 2âÂÂ1 on aggregate and advanced to the group stage (CHI 2).
Junior won 3âÂÂ1 on aggregate and advanced to the group stage (COL 1).
Tied 3âÂÂ3 on aggregate, Independiente MedellÃÂn won on penalties and advanced to the group stage (COL 2).
9 de Octubre won 3âÂÂ1 on aggregate and advanced to the group stage (ECU 1).
LDU Quito won 3âÂÂ1 on aggregate and advanced to the group stage (ECU 2).
Guaireña won 1âÂÂ0 on aggregate and advanced to the group stage (PAR 1).
General Caballero (JLM) won 5âÂÂ1 on aggregate and advanced to the group stage (PAR 2).
Ayacucho won 4âÂÂ3 on aggregate and advanced to the group stage (PER 1).
Melgar won 2âÂÂ1 on aggregate and advanced to the group stage (PER 2).
Montevideo Wanderers won 3âÂÂ1 on aggregate and advanced to the group stage (URU 1).
River Plate won 3âÂÂ0 on aggregate and advanced to the group stage (URU 2).
Metropolitanos won 6âÂÂ0 on aggregate and advanced to the group stage (VEN 1).
Deportivo La Guaira won 3âÂÂ2 on aggregate and advanced to the group stage (VEN 2).