2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)
Tournament details
Dates7 September 2023 – September 2025
Teams10 (from 1 confederation)
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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 South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL). A total of 6 direct slots in the finals and 1 inter-confederation play-off slot are available for CONMEBOL teams.[1]

Format

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 FIFA World Cup Qualifications in South America.[2][3][4] This was confirmed, with the first games of the qualifiers tentatively to be played in March or June 2023.[5][6][7]

On 27 February 2023, CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez announced that the qualifiers would start in September 2023,[8][9] which was ratified by the CONMEBOL Council in the run-up to the 73rd FIFA Congress held on 16 March in Kigali, Rwanda.[10][11]

The qualification structure will remain the same as in previous editions, despite the increase of slots available CONMEBOL teams. The ten teams play in a league of home-and-away round-robin format, with the match schedule being the same as that used in the previous edition.[12]

Prior to the commencement of the qualification competition, Ecuador have been deducted 3 points for falsifying birth documents for Byron Castillo in the previous World Cup qualification cycle.[13]

Entrants

All 10 national teams from CONMEBOL will enter qualification.

Team July 2023
FIFA World Rankings[14]
 Argentina 1
 Brazil 3
 Uruguay 16
 Colombia 17
 Peru 21
 Chile 32
 Ecuador 40
 Paraguay 49
 Venezuela 57
 Bolivia 83

Standings

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Paraguay Peru Uruguay Venezuela Ecuador
1  Argentina 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for 2026 FIFA World Cup — Oct '24 Mar '25 Sep '24 Jun '25 1 Oct '23 Nov '24 Nov '23 Sep '25 8 Sep '23
2  Bolivia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 Sep '23 — Sep '25 Jun '25 Oct '24 Nov '24 Nov '23 Mar '25 Sep '24 Oct '23
3  Brazil 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Nov '23 8 Sep '23 — Sep '25 Mar '25 Jun '25 Oct '24 Nov '24 Oct '23 Sep '24
4  Chile 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Jun '25 Sep '24 Oct '24 — 12 Sep '23 Nov '23 Oct '23 Sep '25 Nov '24 Mar '25
5  Colombia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sep '24 Sep '25 Nov '23 Oct '24 — Mar '25 Jun '25 Oct '23 7 Sep '23 Nov '24
6  Paraguay 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Nov '24 Oct '23 Sep '24 Mar '25 Nov '23 — 7 Sep '23 Jun '25 Oct '24 Sep '25
7  Peru 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to inter-confederation play-offs Oct '23 Mar '25 12 Sep '23 Nov '24 Sep '24 Sep '25 — Oct '24 Nov '23 Jun '25
8  Uruguay 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mar '25 Nov '23 Oct '23 8 Sep '23 Nov '24 Sep '24 Sep '25 — Jun '25 Oct '24
9  Venezuela 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Oct '24 Jun '25 Nov '24 Oct '23 Sep '25 12 Sep '23 Mar '25 Sep '24 — Nov '23
10  Ecuador 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 −3[a] Sep '25 Nov '24 Jun '25 Nov '23 Oct '23 Oct '24 Sep '24 12 Sep '23 Mar '25 —
First match(es) will be played: September 2023. Source: FIFA
Notes:
  1. ^ Ecuador were deducted 3 points for falsifying birth documents for Byron Castillo in the previous World Cup qualification cycle.[15]

Matches

Matchday 1

Paraguay Match 4 Peru
Estadio Antonio Aranda, Ciudad del Este
Colombia Match 2 Venezuela
Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla
Argentina Match 5 Ecuador
Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires
Uruguay Match 1 Chile
Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
Brazil Match 3 Bolivia
Mangueirão, Belém

Matchday 2

Bolivia Match 8 Argentina
Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz
Ecuador Match 10 Uruguay
Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, Quito
Venezuela Match 7 Paraguay
Estadio Monumental, Maturín
Chile Match 9 Colombia
Estadio Monumental David Arellano, Santiago
Peru Match 6 Brazil
Estadio Nacional, Lima

Matchday 3

Colombia Match 11 Uruguay
Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla
Brazil Match 12 Venezuela
Bolivia Match 13 Ecuador
Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz
Argentina Match 14 Paraguay
Chile Match 15 Peru
Estadio Monumental David Arellano, Santiago

Matchday 4

Uruguay Match 16 Brazil
Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
Peru Match 17 Argentina
Estadio Nacional del Perú, Lima
Venezuela Match 18 Chile
Paraguay Match 19 Bolivia
Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción
Ecuador Match 20 Colombia
Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, Quito

Matchday 5

Colombia Match 21 Brazil
Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla
Venezuela Match 22 Ecuador
Bolivia Match 23 Peru
Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz
Argentina Match 24 Uruguay
Chile Match 25 Paraguay
Estadio Monumental David Arellano, Santiago

Matchday 6

Uruguay Match 26 Bolivia
Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
Peru Match 27 Venezuela
Estadio Nacional del Perú, Lima
Brazil Match 28 Argentina
Paraguay Match 29 Colombia
Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción
Ecuador Match 30 Chile
Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, Quito

Matchday 7

Uruguay Match 31 Paraguay
Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
Peru Match 32 Colombia
Estadio Nacional del Perú, Lima
Brazil Match 33 Ecuador
Bolivia Match 34 Venezuela
Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz
Argentina Match 35 Chile

Matchday 8

Colombia Match 36 Argentina
Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla
Venezuela Match 37 Uruguay
Paraguay Match 38 Brazil
Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción
Chile Match 39 Bolivia
Estadio Monumental David Arellano, Santiago
Ecuador Match 40 Peru
Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, Quito

Matchday 9

Peru Match 41 Uruguay
Estadio Nacional del Perú, Lima
Venezuela Match 42 Argentina
Bolivia Match 43 Colombia
Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz
Chile Match 44 Brazil
Estadio Monumental David Arellano, Santiago
Ecuador Match 45 Paraguay
Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, Quito

Matchday 10

Uruguay Match 46 Ecuador
Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
Colombia Match 47 Chile
Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla
Brazil Match 48 Peru
Paraguay Match 49 Venezuela
Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción
Argentina Match 50 Bolivia

Matchday 11

Uruguay Match 51 Colombia
Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
Peru Match 52 Chile
Estadio Nacional del Perú, Lima
Venezuela Match 53 Brazil
Paraguay Match 54 Argentina
Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción
Ecuador Match 55 Bolivia
Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, Quito

Matchday 12

Colombia Match 56 Ecuador
Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla
Brazil Match 57 Uruguay
Bolivia Match 58 Paraguay
Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz
Argentina Match 59 Peru
Chile Match 60 Venezuela
Estadio Monumental David Arellano, Santiago

Matchday 13

Uruguay Match 61 Argentina
Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
Peru Match 62 Bolivia
Estadio Nacional del Perú, Lima
Brazil Match 63 Colombia
Paraguay Match 64 Chile
Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción
Ecuador Match 65 Venezuela
Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, Quito

Matchday 14

Colombia Match 66 Paraguay
Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla
Venezuela Match 67 Peru
Bolivia Match 68 Uruguay
Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz
Argentina Match 69 Brazil
Chile Match 70 Ecuador
Estadio Monumental David Arellano, Santiago

Matchday 15

Colombia Match 71 Peru
Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla
Venezuela Match 72 Bolivia
Paraguay Match 73 Uruguay
Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción
Chile Match 74 Argentina
Estadio Monumental David Arellano, Santiago
Ecuador Match 75 Brazil
Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, Quito

Matchday 16

Uruguay Match 76 Venezuela
Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
Peru Match 77 Ecuador
Estadio Nacional del Perú, Lima
Brazil Match 78 Paraguay
Bolivia Match 79 Chile
Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz
Argentina Match 80 Colombia

Matchday 17

Uruguay Match 81 Peru
Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
Colombia Match 82 Bolivia
Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla
Brazil Match 83 Chile
Paraguay Match 84 Ecuador
Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción
Argentina Match 85 Venezuela

Matchday 18

Peru Match 86 Paraguay
Estadio Nacional del Perú, Lima
Venezuela Match 87 Colombia
Bolivia Match 88 Brazil
Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz
Chile Match 89 Uruguay
Estadio Monumental David Arellano, Santiago
Ecuador Match 90 Argentina
Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, Quito

Inter-confederation play-offs

Main article: 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (inter-confederation play-offs)

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 2026 FIFA World Cup.[16]

References

  1. ^ "Unanimous decision expands FIFA World Cup to 48 teams from 2026". FIFA. 10 January 2017. Archived from the original on 10 January 2017.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Eliminatorias 2026: ¿cuándo arranca la clasificatoria sudamericana?" (in Spanish). Futbolred. 28 December 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  8. ^ "Eliminatorias Sudamericanas iniciarán entre septiembre y octubre" (in Spanish). Olé. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Alejandro Domínguez confirmó que las Eliminatorias comenzarán en septiembre" (in Spanish). Directv Sports. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "Conmebol definió el calendario para las Eliminatorias rumbo al Mundial 2026" (in Spanish). América Televisión. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  12. ^ "El calendario de partidos para las Eliminatorias Sudamericanas" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "FIFA Men's Ranking". FIFA.com. 20 July 2023.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ "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.
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