CONMEBOL qualification for the 2026 World Cup continues as teams look to solidify their standings in the highly competitive South American group. With each nation playing 18 matches in a round-robin format, the road to the World Cup is long and challenging.
Argentina remain at the top of the standings and in a strong position to qualify despite losing to Colombia in their second game of the September international break. Los Cafeteros are second in the table and also look to be a safe bet to secure passage to the finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The same cannot be said for Brazil. The five-time world champions followed up a 1-0 win over Ecuador with a defeat to Paraguay by the same scoreline, leaving them in fifth place in the standings after eight matches. A potentially significant win over Chile has eased some fears around the possible shock of them failing to qualify for a World Cup for the first time.
With six automatic spots available and one playoff berth, every match is crucial in the pursuit of World Cup dreams.
The Sporting News will keep you updated with all the latest from the CONMEBOL qualification.
MORE: FIFA World Cup 2026 match schedule announcement
How CONMEBOL World Cup 2026 qualifying works
The CONMEBOL qualifying process for the 2026 FIFA World Cup involves all 10 member nations playing each other in a round-robin format.
Each team plays a total of 18 matches, one home and one away against every other team. Points are awarded based on match results: three points for a win, one point for a draw and none for a loss.
For the 2026 World Cup, the top six teams from the CONMEBOL standings automatically qualify for the tournament, reflecting an increase in World Cup slots due to the expanded format. The team finishing in seventh place enters an inter-confederation playoff, offering them another chance to qualify.
The final rankings are determined by points, goal difference, and goals scored. This format is known for being one of the toughest qualifying tournaments in world football, especially considering factors such as the likes of Bolivia and Ecuador playing their home matches at high altitude.
CONMEBOL World Cup 2026 qualifying table and standings
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 19 |
| 2 | Colombia | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 16 |
| 3 | Uruguay | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 15 |
| 4 | Brazil | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 13 |
| 5 | Ecuador* | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
| 6 | Bolivia | 9 | 2 | 0 | 5 | -4 | 12 |
| 7 | Venezuela | 9 | 2 | 5 | 2 | -1 | 11 |
| 8 | Paraguay | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | -1 | 10 |
| 9 | Chile | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | -9 | 5 |
| 10 | Peru | 8 | 0 | 3 | 5 | -8 | 3 |
* Ecuador were docked 3 points as punishment for falsification of documents regarding eligibility of Byron Castillo
