The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) has confirmed that it does not want to change its region’s qualification system for the 2026 World Cup, keeping the format for each of the ten teams, with a total of 18 matches.
The decision, unanimously adopted by the Council of the Confederation at a meeting on Monday in the capital of Chile, Santiago, will be submitted to the FIFA International Football Association for amendment.
During the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in Canada, the United States and Mexico, the number of participating teams will increase from 32 to 48.
The first-place teams in the qualifying tournaments, which are held under a single group system, reached the final of the World Cup in Qatar at the end of this year, and the fifth-placed player is the international attache.
For the 2026 edition, six teams will qualify directly, while the seventh will advance to the international playoffs.
But the new qualifying formula FIFA wants sees ten teams divided into two groups of five, with each team playing home and away against five teams from the other group.
The top and runners-up from each group directly qualify for the World Cup, while the third- and fourth-placed teams compete against each other, with the winner advancing straight to the final and the losers qualifying for a play-off spot.
Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Ecuador have qualified directly for the World Cup in Qatar, which kicks off on November 20, while Peru, fifth place, has qualified for the international play-off on penalties against Australia.
Source: AFP.