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HOW MANY PLACES WILL CONMEBOL HAVE FOR THE 2026 WORLD CUP?

The 2026 World Cup arrives with a completely revamped format, and that also means changes to the number of slots per confederation. CONMEBOL, the confederation that brings together the South American national teams, will see its opportunities increase. In this article, we explain how many slots South America will have, how they are distributed, which teams are considered favorites, and how this new system could open the door to a historic debut or unexpected surprises.

More spots for South America


FIFA confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will have a total of 48 teams, leaving behind the 32-team format that had been in place since France 1998. This expansion opens the door to more countries around the world, and CONMEBOL is no exception: of the 10 countries that make up this confederation, 6 will have direct qualification to the World Cup and 1 more will play in a playoff.


Distribution of spots


  • 6 direct spots for CONMEBOL

  • 1 additional spot for intercontinental playoff

  • 3 teams will be left out

  • The qualifiers will maintain their round-robin format

  • The top six qualify directly, the seventh goes to the playoffs


This means that 70% of South American teams could be at the World Cup. An unprecedented scenario. In the previous qualifiers, only 4 went directly and 1 to the playoffs. This change is a golden opportunity for countries that have historically been left out, such as Venezuela or Bolivia.


Fun fact: if this system had been in place since 1998, teams like Paraguay or Chile would have attended more World Cups in the last 20 years.


How will the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers be played?


CONMEBOL decided to maintain its classic round-robin qualifying format, which is considered by many to be the most demanding in the world. Each team plays 18 matches (home and away against the other 9 rivals), accumulating points for a single table. This system will not change for the road to the 2026 World Cup, despite the new slots.


Advantages and challenges of the new system


  • Competitiveness is maintained on every matchday

  • Every match is key: there are no easy groups

  • Now more teams can compete with real chances

  • Seventh place is not immediately eliminated

  • More room to recover after a bad start


This new scenario generates renewed expectations. Venezuela, for example, has never qualified for a men's World Cup, but with more spots up for grabs, their chances increase. The same is true for teams that often narrowly miss out, like Paraguay or Peru. Fun fact: since this format was introduced in 1998, only Brazil has qualified for every World Cup without going through the playoffs. Even Argentina and Uruguay have struggled more than once to secure their place.

The world of football is buzzing with anticipation. The 2026 World Cup is fast approaching, and national teams are battling for their place in the biggest tournament, where every match defines the dreams and hopes of millions of fans.With three host countries—the United States, Mexico, and Canada—this edition promises to be historic: more teams, more goals, and a unique global experience. Coaches are fine-tuning their strategies, and players are vying for their ticket to the most anticipated tournament.The countdown has begun. The ball is about to start rolling, and the whole world awaits the moment a new chapter begins.The World Cup is almost here… and the passion is palpable.

The world of football is buzzing with anticipation. The 2026 World Cup is fast approaching, and national teams are battling for their place in the biggest tournament, where every match defines the dreams and hopes of millions of fans.With three host countries—the United States, Mexico, and Canada—this edition promises to be historic: more teams, more goals, and a unique global experience. Coaches are fine-tuning their strategies, and players are vying for their ticket to the most anticipated tournament.The countdown has begun. The ball is about to start rolling, and the whole world awaits the moment a new chapter begins.The World Cup is almost here… and the passion is palpable.

The playoff: the last chance


The seventh place in the Conmebol Qualifiers does not qualify directly, but will have one last chance through the intercontinental playoff. This playoff will pit teams from other confederations against each other for the last two tickets to the 2026 World Cup. It won't be easy, but it's not impossible either.


How does the intercontinental playoff work?


  • Six teams participate: one from each confederation (except UEFA) + one extra from the host confederation (Concacaf)

  • The two highest-ranked teams advance directly to the semifinals

  • The other four play a preliminary round

  • The two winners qualify for the World Cup

  • It will be played in a single venue in single-elimination matches


In other words, the seventh-placed team from South America could face teams like Australia, Uzbekistan, or even an African country that didn't qualify. It all depends on the FIFA ranking at the time of the draw. Winning two matches could be enough to qualify for the World Cup.


Fun fact: In 2018, Peru qualified for the World Cup after defeating New Zealand in the playoffs. In 2022, they lost to Australia. South America has had both good and bad experiences in these types of matches, but they always have a competitive edge.


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