CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying is perhaps the most exciting path to get to the World Cup. Argentina and Brazil certainly expect to qualify out of the 10-team round-robin phase. Still, there are no easy games in South America when the World Cup is on the line.

The passion, drama and flair in CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying is seldom seen in the other confederations. Some of that can be attributed to the format of qualification, which differs from that of anywhere else.

CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying format

Due to the small number of nations in South America, the tournament involves every country. The only exceptions are the small nations on the northern coast: Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana. Those three nations compete in CONCACAF.

Therefore, the double round-robin tournament involves 10 teams that play a home and away match against the other nine opponents.

Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, Bolivia and Chile play a total of 18 games each.

These games occur over the years leading up to a World Cup.

Traditionally, that time span lasts from the October two years before the World Cup, and ends the October before the World Cup.

In the case of 2026 qualifying, the tournament started in September 2023 – the first 2026 qualifiers to kick off. The grueling contest will end in September 2025.

In terms of play, the rules align significantly with other federations. Three points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a loss.

As the World Cup has expanded to 48 teams in 2026, South America has been given additional spots in the tournament. The top six teams in qualification will automatically go on to the World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada. Seventh place will go to the inter-confederation playoffs for another chance.

The fifth-placed team plays another country from a different federation in a two-leg playoff for a World Cup spot.

While other federations change their qualifying structure, the federation began using CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying ahead of the 1998 World Cup.

No one argues with the results and the storylines that develop each season during qualifying.

Where to find CONMEBOL Qualifiers on TV

Despite the region including some of the most talented and popular national teams on the planet, these high-stakes games aren’t the easiest to find.

As of Fall 2023, games in the current cycle have mostly only been available on a pay-per-view basis through Fanatiz.

Select games are televised on Telemundo and streamed on ViX. Meanwhile Bolivia’s home games have been streamed on FIFA+.

Unbridled Passion

European soccer is intense. But, it looks tame compared to the scenes that unfold seemingly each matchday during CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying.

For one, there are a number of rivalries between these countries in CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying. Everyone looks to Argentina and Brazil, the two most dominant South American sides on the world stage. Still, rivalries between Brazil and Uruguay, Chile and Peru and Colombia and Venezuela provide action every matchday.

The beauty of all these rivalries means that there is a certain level of parity in South American qualifiers. For example, Peru qualified for the 2018 World Cup via a playoff victory over New Zealand. The win signaled the Peruvians’ first World Cup venture since 1982 in Spain. A raucous Estadio Nacional saw the history unfold in Peru’s capital city, Lima.

Also for the 2018 World Cup, Lionel Messi’s Argentina almost missed qualification. Fortunately for La Albiceleste, Lionel Messi’s hat trick in the final game against Ecuador sealed a trip to Russia.

Prior to that, in 2010, four teams finished within two points of each other vying for the intercontinental playoff spot.

Every game appears to be a sell-out in the stadium. Consequently, home field plays a massive role throughout the tournament. The differing elevations throughout South American stadiums compound this.

There is no easy place to play in South America, making CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying perhaps the most grueling route to the World Cup.

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