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.

A total of 34 teams are participating in the 2008 Copa Sudamericana, from 12 associations (10 from CONMEBOL and 2 from CONCACAF).

All the second berths of 8 South American football associations contested this round.

The First Stage consisted of twenty-eight teams each playing two-legged matches.