The South American section of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification will act as qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be held in Canada, the United States, and Mexico for national teams who are members of CONMEBOL. A total of 6 direct slots in the final tournament and 1 inter-confederation play-off slot are available for CONMEBOL teams.[1][2]
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 7 September 2023 – September 2025 |
| Teams | 10 (from 1 confederation) |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 30 |
| Goals scored | 55 (1.83 per match) |
| Attendance | 1,276,150 (42,538 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) |  Darwin Núñez(5 goals) |
CONMEBOL is the first confederation to begin its qualification process for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Paraguay-Peru being the first match of the global qualification process.[3][4]
Format edit
On 22 August 2022, the CONMEBOL sent a request to FIFA asking to keep the current qualification format that has been used since the 1998 World Cup qualification in South America.[5][6][7] This was confirmed, with the first games of the qualifiers tentatively to be played in March or June 2023.[8][9][10]
On 27 February 2023, CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez announced that the qualifiers would start in September 2023,[11][12] which was ratified by the CONMEBOL Council in the run-up to the 73rd FIFA Congress held on 16 March in Kigali, Rwanda.[13][14]
The qualification structure will remain the same as in previous editions, despite the increase of slots available to CONMEBOL teams. The ten teams play in a league of home-and-away round-robin format.[15]
Prior to the commencement of the qualification competition, Ecuador were deducted 3 points for falsifying birth documents for Byron Castillo in the previous World Cup qualification cycle.[16]
Schedule edit
The qualifying matches are being held in a total of 18 matchdays on dates that fall within the FIFA International Match Calendar.[17] The match schedule is the same that was used in the previous edition of the competition. Six matchdays will be played in 2023, six in 2024 and also six in 2025.[15]
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Entrants edit
All 10 national teams from CONMEBOL entered qualification.
| Team | July 2023 FIFA World Rankings[24] |
|---|---|
 Argentina |
1 |
 Brazil |
3 |
| Uruguay |
16 |
 Colombia |
17 |
 Peru |
21 |
 Chile |
32 |
 Ecuador |
40 |
 Paraguay |
49 |
 Venezuela |
57 |
 Bolivia |
83 |
Standings edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina
|
6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 15 | 2026 FIFA World Cup | — | 0–2 | Jun '25 | Sep '25 | 1–0 | Mar '25 | 1–0 | Sep | Oct | Nov | |
| 2 | Uruguay
|
6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 5 | +8 | 13 | Mar '25 | — | Nov | Jun '25 | Oct | 2–0 | Sep | 3–1 | 3–0 | Sep '25 | ||
| 3 | Colombia
|
6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 12 | Sep | 2–2 | — | 1–0 | Nov | 2–1 | Mar '25 | Oct | Sep '25 | Jun '25 | ||
| 4 | Venezuela
|
6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 9 | Oct | Sep | Sep '25 | — | 0–0 | Nov | 1–0 | 3–0 | Jun '25 | Mar '25 | ||
| 5 | Ecuador[a]
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6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 8 | Sep '25 | 2–1 | 0–0 | Mar '25 | — | Jun '25 | Oct | 1–0 | Nov | Sep | ||
| 6 | Brazil
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6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 7 | 0–1 | Nov | Mar '25 | 1–1 | Sep | — | Jun '25 | Sep '25 | 5–1 | Oct | ||
| 7 | Paraguay
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6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 5 | Inter-confederation play-offs | Nov | Jun '25 | 0–1 | Oct | Sep '25 | Sep | — | Mar '25 | 1–0 | 0–0 | |
| 8 | Chile
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6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7 | −4 | 5 | Jun '25 | Sep '25 | 0–0 | Nov | Mar '25 | Oct | 0–0 | — | Sep | 2–0 | ||
| 9 | Bolivia
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6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 14 | −10 | 3 | 0–3 | Mar '25 | Oct | Sep | 1–2 | Sep '25 | Nov | Jun '25 | — | 2–0 | ||
| 10 | Peru
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6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 8 | −7 | 2 | 0–2 | Oct | Sep | 1–1 | Jun '25 | 0–1 | Sep '25 | Nov | Mar '25 | — |
Notes:
- ^ Ecuador were deducted 3 points for falsifying birth documents for Byron Castillo in the previous World Cup qualification cycle.[25]
Matches edit
Matchday 1 edit
| Colombia | 1–0 | Venezuela |
|---|---|---|
|
Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
| Uruguay | 3–1 | Chile |
|---|---|---|
|
Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
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Matchday 2 edit
| Bolivia | 0–3 | Argentina |
|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
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| Ecuador | 2–1 | Uruguay |
|---|---|---|
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Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
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Matchday 3 edit
| Colombia | 2–2 | Uruguay |
|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
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| Brazil | 1–1 | Venezuela |
|---|---|---|
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Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
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Matchday 4 edit
| Uruguay | 2–0 | Brazil |
|---|---|---|
|
Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
| Peru | 0–2 | Argentina |
|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
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Matchday 5 edit
| Colombia | 2–1 | Brazil |
|---|---|---|
|
Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
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| Chile | 0–0 | Paraguay |
|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
Matchday 6 edit
| Paraguay | 0–1 | Colombia |
|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) | Borré  11' (pen.) |
| Ecuador | 1–0 | Chile |
|---|---|---|
| Mena 21' |
Report (FIFA) |
| Brazil | 0–1 | Argentina |
|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) | Otamendi 63' |
| Peru | 1–1 | Venezuela |
|---|---|---|
| Yotún 17' |
Report (FIFA) | Savarino 54' |
Matchday 7 edit
Matchday 8 edit
Matchday 9 edit
Matchday 10 edit
Matchday 11 edit
Matchday 12 edit
Matchday 13 edit
Matchday 14 edit
Matchday 15 edit
Matchday 16 edit
Matchday 17 edit
Matchday 18 edit
Inter-confederation play-offs edit
The seventh-placed team will join one team each from AFC, CAF, and OFC and two from CONCACAF in the inter-confederation play-offs. The teams will be ranked according to the FIFA Men's World Ranking, with the four lowest-ranked teams playing in two single-elimination matches. The winners will meet the two highest-ranked teams in another set of single-elimination matches, with the winners of these matches qualifying for the World Cup in United States, Canada, and Mexico.[28]
Goalscorers edit
There have been 55 goals scored in 30 matches, for an average of 1.83 goals per match (as of 21 November 2023).
5 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
Enzo Fernández- Nicolás González
- Nicolás Tagliafico
Víctor Ábrego- Rodrigo Ramallo
- Henry Vaca
- Ramiro Vaca
Gabriel Magalhães- Marquinhos
- Gabriel Martinelli
- Raphinha
Marcelino Núñez- Diego Valdés
- Arturo Vidal
James Rodríguez- Mateus Uribe
Ángel Mena- Kendry Páez
- Kevin Rodríguez
Antonio Sanabria
Yoshimar Yotún
Ronald Araújo- Agustín Canobbio
- Mathías Olivera
- Federico Valverde
Eduard Bello- Darwin Machís
- Jefferson Savarino
- Yeferson Soteldo
1 own goal
- Gabriel Villamíl (against Uruguay)
Notes edit
- ^ The Bolivia v Ecuador match, originally scheduled at 16:00 local time,[21] was rescheduled to 19:00 local time by decision of the Bolivian Football Federation.[26][27]
- ^ The Paraguay v Bolivia match, originally scheduled at Estadio Antonio Aranda, Ciudad del Este,[21] was rescheduled at Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción by decision of the Paraguayan Football Association.[26][27]
References edit
- ^ "Bureau of the Council recommends slot allocation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup". FIFA. 30 March 2017.
- ^ "FIFA Council prepares Congress, takes key decisions for the future of the FIFA World Cup". FIFA. 9 May 2017.
- ^ "Road to the FIFA World Cup 26 set to begin". FIFA. 28 August 2023.
- ^ "CONMEBOL kick off journey of "great joy and happiness" to historic FIFA World Cup 2026™, says FIFA President". FIFA. 7 September 2023.
- ^ "Conselho da Conmebol solicita à Fifa que mantenha formato atual das Eliminatórias para 2026". ge (in Portuguese). globo.com. 22 August 2022. Archived from the original on 23 August 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ "CONMEBOL's petition for the 2026 World Cup that could change FIFA's entire plans". Bolavip. 22 August 2022. Archived from the original on 3 September 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ "Países sudamericanos pedirán a la FIFA mantener el formato de las Eliminatorias" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 22 August 2022. Archived from the original on 3 September 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ "Conmebol confirmó fecha para el inicio de las Eliminatorias 2026". Bolavip (in Spanish). 4 October 2022. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- ^ Verdezoto, Kevin (8 December 2022). "Eliminatorias Conmebol iniciarían en junio del 2023; primera fecha FIFA sería en marzo" (in Spanish). Ecuavisa. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "Eliminatorias 2026: ¿cuándo arranca la clasificatoria sudamericana?" (in Spanish). Futbolred. 28 December 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "Eliminatorias Sudamericanas iniciarán entre septiembre y octubre" (in Spanish). Olé. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "Alejandro Domínguez confirmó que las Eliminatorias comenzarán en septiembre" (in Spanish). Directv Sports. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "El Consejo de Conmebol aprobó por unanimidad el inicio de las Eliminatorias en septiembre" (in Spanish). Doble Amarilla. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "Conmebol definió el calendario para las Eliminatorias rumbo al Mundial 2026" (in Spanish). América Televisión. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ a b "El calendario de partidos para las Eliminatorias Sudamericanas" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "The CAS confirms the eligibility of the player Byron Castillo (Ecuador) but imposes sanctions against the Ecuadorian Football Federation for a violation of the FIFA regulations" (PDF). Court of Arbitration for Sport. 8 November 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 December 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- ^ "Men's International Match Calendar 2023-2030" (PDF). FIFA. 4 April 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ "Regresan las Eliminatorias Sudamericanas" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 2 August 2023.
- ^ "Eliminatorias FWC2026 Calendario de Partidos Jornadas 1 y 2" (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ "Fechas 3 y 4 de las Eliminatorias Sudamericanas" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 23 August 2023.
- ^ a b c "Eliminatorias FWC2026 Calendario de Partidos Jornadas 3 y 4" (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ "El Fixture para las Fechas 5 y 6" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 9 October 2023.
- ^ "Eliminatorias FWC2026 Calendario de Partidos Jornadas 5 y 6" (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ "FIFA Men's Ranking". FIFA.com. 20 July 2023.
- ^ "The CAS confirms the eligibility of the player Byron Castillo (Ecuador) but imposes sanctions against the Ecuadorian Football Federation for a violation of the FIFA regulations" (PDF). Court of Arbitration for Sport. 8 November 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 December 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Actualizado el calendario de las Fechas 3 y 4" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 21 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Eliminatorias FWC2026 Jornadas 3 y 4.pdf" (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 21 September 2023.
- ^ "Bureau of the Council recommends slot allocation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup". FIFA. 30 March 2017. Archived from the original on 19 June 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2023.