Chapecoense sets emotional Recopa Sudamericana date with Atletico Nacional

SAO PAULO (AP) — Bonded by an air crash which killed 71 people in November, Brazilian club Chapecoense and Colombia's Atletico Nacional said they will play a South American cup final next week.

The first leg of the Recopa Sudamericana final, between the champions of the Copa Sudamericana and the Copa Libertadores, will be staged in the southern Brazil city of Chapeco on April 4. The return leg will be in Medellin on May 10, the clubs said on Monday.

In November, 19 members of the Brazilian team died in the crash outside Medellin as they travelled to play Nacional in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana final.

The tragedy made Atletico Nacional pronounce Chapecoense as champion, and the South American confederation agreed.

Out of 77 passengers, 71 died, including players, journalists, and club officials.

The world's tributes to Chapecoense

Atletico Nacional, the club Chapecoense was flying to play in the Copa Sudamericana final, holds a vigil in a packed stadium in Colombia to honor the victims of the plane crash.

Atletico Nacional honors Chapecoense with T-shirts prior to a league match in Colombia.

Solemn Arsenal players hold up a Força Chape banner prior to a League Cup match.

Atalanta fans pass a Chapecoense tifo around the stadium.

Fans at Club America's Liga MX playoff game against Necaxa at Estadio Azteca turn their cellphones into flashlights in honor of the Chapecoense victims.

Boca Juniors players hold up a banner that, translated, reads "We are all Chapecoense."

PSG forward Edinson Cavani reveals a Chapecoense T-shirt under his uniform after scoring a goal against Angers in Ligue 1.

Air Force members carry a casket carrying one of the victims of the Chapecoense air crash during a memorial service at the club's stadium in Chapeco, Brazil.

Chapecoense holds a memorial service at Arena Conda on a rainy day to commemorate the lives lost in the plane crash.

Manchester City and Chelsea players observe a minute's silence for the victims of the Chapecoense plane crash.

Rivals united: Barcelona and Real Madrid players stand together to honor the Chapecoense crash victims prior to El Clasico at Camp Nou.

Dortmund players stand together in silence to honor Chapecoense.

Chelsea's Brazilian players David Luiz and Willian hold up armbands with Força Chape written on them to honor the crash victims.

Everton and Manchester United players observe a moment of silence to honor Chapecoense.

Fans of Japanese club Cerezo Osaka remember Everton Kempes dos Santos Goncalves, a Chapecoense crash victim who played there in 2012.

Fiorentina and Palermo players stand silently to commemorate the Chapecoense crash victims.

Juventus players stand under a spotlight during a moment of observance for the Chapecoense victims.

Manchester City players warm up for their match vs. Chelsea with T-shirts dedicated to Chapecoense.

Fans at Tigres UANL's Liga MX playoff match vs. Leon display a giant black ribbon tifo in honor of the Chapecoense crash victims.

Argentina power River Plate wears a special jersey with a Chapecoense symbol across the chest.

Brazilian Bruno Cesar flashes a tribute to Chapecoense after scoring for Sporting Lisbon in Portugal's top flight.

AC Milan's Ignazio Abate wears a special armband and jersey to commemorate Chapecoense.

Toronto FC fans show their support for Chapecoense during the second leg of the MLS Eastern Conference final vs. Montreal.

Chapecoense has been slowly rebuilding with new players and sponsors, but families of the victims are struggling without financial compensation for their loss.

The Brazilian club needed a special authorization to host the home game at 22,000-seat Arena Conda, since confederation rules say a minimum of 40,000 seats must be available for continental finals.

In a statement, CONMEBOL said the 200,000 residents of Chapeco want to "pay in their own city a special tribute to Atletico Nacional for their actions of solidarity and support offered at the time of the air crash."