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 CONMEBOL. A total of 6 direct slots in the final tournament and 1 inter-confederation play-off slot are available for CONMEBOL teams.[1][2]
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 7 September 2023 – September 2025 |
| Teams | 10 (from 1 confederation) |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 60 |
| Goals scored | 125 (2.08 per match) |
| Attendance | 2,061,650 (34,361 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) |  Lionel Messi (6 goals) |
← 2022 2030 →
All statistics correct as of 19 November 2024. | |
CONMEBOL is the first confederation to begin its qualification process for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Paraguay–Peru being the first match of the global qualification process.[3][4]
Format
editOn 22 August 2022, CONMEBOL sent a request to FIFA asking to keep the current qualification format that has been used since the 1998 World Cup qualification in South America.[5][6][7] This was confirmed, with the first games of the qualifiers tentatively to be played in March or June 2023.[8][9][10]
On 27 February 2023, CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez announced that the qualifiers would start in September 2023,[11][12] which was ratified by the CONMEBOL Council in the run-up to the 73rd FIFA Congress held on 16 March in Kigali, Rwanda.[13][14]
The qualification structure remains the same as in previous editions, despite the increase of slots available to CONMEBOL teams, wherein each team plays each other team twice in a home-and-away round-robin format.[15]
Prior to the commencement of the qualification competition, Ecuador were deducted 3 points for the use of a document containing false information for Byron Castillo in the previous World Cup qualification cycle.[16]
Schedule
editThe qualifying matches are being held in a total of 18 matchdays on dates that fall within the FIFA International Match Calendar.[17] The match schedule is the same that was used in the previous edition of the competition. Six matchdays will be played in 2023, six in 2024 and also six in 2025.[15]
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|
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Entrants
editAll 10 national teams from CONMEBOL entered qualification.
| Team | FIFA World Rankings as of July 2023[34] |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| 3 | |
| 16 | |
| 17 | |
| 21 | |
| 32 | |
| 40 | |
| 49 | |
| 57 | |
| 83 |
Standings
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 21 | 7 | +14 | 25 | 2026 FIFA World Cup | — | 0–2 | 1–0 | Jun | Mar | 1–0 | 6–0 | Sep | 3–0 | 1–0 | ||
| 2 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 17 | 9 | +8 | 20 | Mar | — | 0–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | Jun | 3–1 | Sep | |||
| 3 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 4 | +7 | 19 | Sep | 2–1 | — | 0–0 | Jun | 0–0 | 4–0 | Mar | 1–0 | 1–0 | |||
| 4 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 10 | +5 | 19 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | — | 2–1 | Mar | Sep | 1–0 | 4–0 | Jun | |||
| 5 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 11 | +6 | 18 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | Mar | — | Jun | 5–1 | 1–1 | Sep | 4–0 | |||
| 6 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 17 | 2–1 | Jun | Sep | 0–1 | 1–0 | — | 1–0 | 2–1 | Mar | 0–0 | |||
| 7 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 13 | 27 | −14 | 13 | Inter-confederation play-offs | 0–3 | Mar | 1–2 | 1–0 | Sep | 2–2 | — | 4–0 | Jun | 2–0 | ||
| 8 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 15 | −4 | 12 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | Sep | 1–1 | 1–0 | Jun | — | 3–0 | Mar | |||
| 9 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 20 | −11 | 9 | Jun | Sep | Mar | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 4–2 | — | 2–0 | |||
| 10 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 15 | −12 | 7 | 0–2 | 1–0 | Jun | 1–1 | 0–1 | Sep | Mar | 1–1 | 0–0 | — |
Updated to match(es) played on 19 November 2024. Source: FIFA
Notes:
Notes:
- ^ Ecuador were deducted 3 points for the use of false birth documents for Byron Castillo in the previous World Cup qualification cycle.[35]
Matches
editMatchday 1
edit| Colombia | 1–0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Borré |
Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
Attendance: 43,084
Referee: Anderson Daronco (Brazil)
| Uruguay | 3–1 | |
|---|---|---|
|
Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
Vidal |
Matchday 2
edit| Bolivia | 0–3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
|
| Ecuador | 2–1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Torres |
Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
Canobbio |
| Venezuela | 1–0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Rondón |
Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
Matchday 3
edit| Colombia | 2–2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
|
| Brazil | 1–1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gabriel |
Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
Bello |
Matchday 4
edit| Uruguay | 2–0 | |
|---|---|---|
|
Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
| Peru | 0–2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
Messi |
Matchday 5
edit| Colombia | 2–1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Díaz |
Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
Martinelli |
Attendance: 44,604
Referee: Andrés Matonte (Uruguay)
| Chile | 0–0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
Attendance: 30,076
Referee: Fernando Rapallini (Argentina)
Matchday 6
edit| Paraguay | 0–1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
Borré |
| Peru | 1–1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Yotún |
Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
Savarino |
Matchday 7
edit| Argentina | 3–0 | |
|---|---|---|
|
Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
| Peru | 1–1 | |
|---|---|---|
|
Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
|
Attendance: 40,000[citation needed]
Referee: Esteban Ostojich (Uruguay)
Matchday 8
edit| Colombia | 2–1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
González |
Attendance: 45,000[citation needed]
Referee: Piero Maza (Chile)
| Chile | 1–2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Vargas |
Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
Attendance: 40,000[citation needed]
Referee: Juan Gabriel Benítez (Paraguay)
| Ecuador | 1–0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Valencia |
Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
Attendance: 35,000[citation needed]
Referee: Andrés Rojas (Colombia)
Matchday 9
edit| Ecuador | 0–0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
Attendance: 31,000[citation needed]
Referee: Raphael Claus (Brazil)
| Venezuela | 1–1 | |
|---|---|---|
|
Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
|
| Chile | 1–2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Vargas |
Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
|
Attendance: 43,059
Referee: Darío Herrera (Argentina)
Matchday 10
edit| Colombia | 4–0 | |
|---|---|---|
|
Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
Attendance: 45,000[citation needed]
Referee: Jesús Valenzuela (Venezuela)
| Paraguay | 2–1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Sanabria |
Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
Aramburu |
| Argentina | 6–0 | |
|---|---|---|
|
Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
| Brazil | 4–0 | |
|---|---|---|
|
Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
Matchday 11
edit| Venezuela | 1–1 | |
|---|---|---|
|
Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
|
| Ecuador | 4–0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
Attendance: 30,758
Referee: Maximiliano Ramírez (Argentina)
Matchday 12
edit| Colombia | 0–1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
|
Attendance: 37,316
Referee: Esteban Ostojich (Uruguay)
| Chile | 4–2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
|
Attendance: 31,906
Referee: Facundo Tello (Argentina)
| Brazil | 1–1 | |
|---|---|---|
|
Report (FIFA) Report (CONMEBOL) |
|
Matchday 13
editMatchday 14
editMatchday 15
editMatchday 16
editMatchday 17
editMatchday 18
editInter-confederation play-offs
editThe 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 World Cup in United States, Canada, and Mexico.[48]
Goalscorers
editThere have been 125 goals scored in 60 matches, for an average of 2.08 goals per match (as of 19 November 2024).
6 goals
5 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
Thiago Almada
Víctor Ábrego
Gerson
Marcelino Núñez
Jhon Durán
Ángel Mena
Omar Alderete
Miguel Araujo
Rodrigo Aguirre
Jon Aramburu
1 own goal
Notes
edit- ^ The Bolivia v Ecuador match, originally scheduled at 16:00 local time,[21] was rescheduled to 19:00 local time by decision of the Bolivian Football Federation.[36][37]
- ^ The Paraguay v Bolivia match, originally scheduled at Estadio Antonio Aranda, Ciudad del Este,[21] was rescheduled at Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción by decision of the Paraguayan Football Association.[36][37]
- ^ The Brazil v Ecuador match, originally scheduled at 21:45 local time,[25] was rescheduled to 22:00 local time.[39][28]
- ^ The Peru v Colombia match, originally scheduled to be played at Estadio Monumental, Lima,[25] was relocated to Estadio Nacional, Lima due to the possibility that the pitch at the Estadio Monumental would not be fit for the date of the match.[40][41]
- ^ The Chile v Bolivia match, originally scheduled at 21:00 local time,[25] was rescheduled to 18:00 local time.[42][27]
- ^ The Paraguay v Brazil match, originally scheduled at 20:00 local time,[25] was rescheduled to 20:30 local time.[43][27]
- ^ The Peru v Chile match, originally scheduled to be played at Estadio Nacional, Lima,[25] was relocated to Estadio Monumental, Lima due to security reasons concerning the APEC Peru 2024 meeting.[44][45]
- ^ The Argentina v Peru match, originally scheduled to be played at Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires,[32] was relocated to La Bombonera, Buenos Aires due to the Estadio Monumental, which had previously been chosen to host the 2024 Copa Libertadores final, had to be reserved by CONMEBOL for preparations 15 days before the match.[46][47]
References
edit- ^ "Bureau of the Council recommends slot allocation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup". FIFA. 30 March 2017.
- ^ "FIFA Council prepares Congress, takes key decisions for the future of the FIFA World Cup". FIFA. 9 May 2017.
- ^ "Road to the FIFA World Cup 26 set to begin". FIFA. 28 August 2023.
- ^ "CONMEBOL kick off journey of "great joy and happiness" to historic FIFA World Cup 2026™, says FIFA President". FIFA. 7 September 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Eliminatorias 2026: ¿cuándo arranca la clasificatoria sudamericana?" (in Spanish). Futbolred. 28 December 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "Eliminatorias Sudamericanas iniciarán entre septiembre y octubre" (in Spanish). Olé. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "Alejandro Domínguez confirmó que las Eliminatorias comenzarán en septiembre" (in Spanish). Directv Sports. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Conmebol definió el calendario para las Eliminatorias rumbo al Mundial 2026" (in Spanish). América Televisión. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ a b "El calendario de partidos para las Eliminatorias Sudamericanas" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Men's International Match Calendar 2023-2030" (PDF). FIFA. 4 April 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ "Regresan las Eliminatorias Sudamericanas" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 2 August 2023.
- ^ "Eliminatorias FWC2026 Calendario de Partidos Jornadas 1 y 2" (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ "Fechas 3 y 4 de las Eliminatorias Sudamericanas" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 23 August 2023.
- ^ a b c "Eliminatorias FWC2026 Calendario de Partidos Jornadas 3 y 4" (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ "El Fixture para las Fechas 5 y 6" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 9 October 2023.
- ^ "Eliminatorias FWC2026 Calendario de Partidos Jornadas 5 y 6" (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "Fixture de las Fechas 7 y 8 de las Eliminatorias Sudamericanas" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 2 August 2024. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "Eliminatorias FWC2026 Calendario de Partidos Jornadas 7 y 8" (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ "Fixture de las Fechas 7 y 8 de las Eliminatorias Sudamericanas" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 5 August 2024.
- ^ a b c "Eliminatorias FWC2026 Calendario de Partidos Jornadas 7 y 8 (versión 03-ago-2024)" (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 2 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Eliminatorias FWC2026 Calendario de Partidos Jornadas 7 y 8 (versión 16-ago-2024)" (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 18 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ "Fixture de las Fechas 9 y 10" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 19 September 2024.
- ^ "Eliminatorias FWC2026 Calendario de Partidos Jornadas 9 y 10" (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 22 August 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ^ "Fixture de las Fechas 11 y 12" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 15 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Eliminatorias FWC2026 Calendario de Partidos Jornadas 11 y 12" (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 11 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "Eliminatorias FWC2026 Calendario de Partidos Jornadas 11 y 12 (Versión 08-nov-2024)" (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ^ "FIFA Men's Ranking". FIFA.com. 20 July 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b "Actualizado el calendario de las Fechas 3 y 4" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 21 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Eliminatorias FWC2026 Jornadas 3 y 4.pdf" (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 21 September 2023.
- ^ "Bolivia v Venezuela, 05 September 2024 - 11v11 match report". 11v11.com. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "Cambio de horario en partido de Eliminatorias Sudamericanas" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 20 August 2024.
- ^ "Se confirmó cambio de sede para el encuentro entre Perú y Colombia por Eliminatorias" [Change of venue confirmed for the Peru-Colombia World Cup qualification game] (in Spanish). ESPN. 21 August 2024.
- ^ "Cambio de estadio en un partido de Eliminatorias Sudamericanas" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 24 August 2024.
- ^ "Cambio de horario en un partido de Eliminatorias Sudamericanas" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 5 August 2024.
- ^ "Modificación de horario en un partido de Eliminatorias Sudamericanas" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 7 August 2024.
- ^ "Cambio de estadio para Perú vs. Chile" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 8 November 2024.
- ^ "MUNDIAL 2026 ELIMINATORIAS | El partido Perú-Chile cambia de escenario por decisión gubernamental" [WORLD CUP 2026 QUALIFICATION | Peru-Chile match changes venue due to government decision] (in Spanish). Lima: EFE. 8 November 2024.
- ^ "Cambio de sede para Argentina vs. Perú por Eliminatorias" [Change of venue for Argentina vs. Peru for Eliminatorias] (in Spanish). TNT Sports. 3 November 2024.
- ^ "Cambio de estadio en un partido de Eliminatorias Sudamericanas" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 4 November 2024.
- ^ "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.