2026 FIFA World Cup qualification: South America
Format
The qualification process for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in South America will be determined by the body CONMEBOL. CONMEBOL currently has 10 member associations, and all of them will participate in the qualification process.
The qualification process will begin in October 2023 and will conclude in November 2025. The top four teams in the final standings will qualify automatically for the World Cup, while the fifth-placed team will advance to an intercontinental play-off.
Participating teams
The following 10 teams will participate in the qualification process for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in South America:
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Chile
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
Qualification process
The qualification process for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in South America will be a round-robin tournament, with each team playing each other twice, home and away. The teams will be ranked by points, with the top four teams qualifying automatically for the World Cup. The fifth-placed team will advance to an intercontinental play-off.
The schedule for the qualification process is as follows:
- Round 1: October 2023 - November 2024
- Round 2: March 2025 - November 2025
Intercontinental play-off
The fifth-placed team in the South American qualification process will advance to an intercontinental play-off. The play-off will be a two-legged affair, with the winner qualifying for the World Cup.
The intercontinental play-off will be held in November 2025.
