The story of CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying: Six automatic qualifiers decided, who will advance to the playoffs?

After 18 arduous rounds of matches in CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup qualifying, the race to reach the finals being held across the USA, Mexico and Canada has now concluded, with the six automatic qualifiers decided.

South America's finest and World Champions Argentina have shown their class across qualifying, becoming the first CONMEBOL nation to punch their ticket to the finals with two wins in March's fixtures, before Brazil and Ecuador joined them when they booked their spots in June.

Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay went on to seal their respective qualifications on matchday 17, with just one more position left to decide during the final round of fixtures, and it was whether Venezuela or Bolivia would take the inter-continental playoff spot.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up everything you need to know and may of missed in South America, looking at the final standings and some of the most notable results which shaped the section.

The story of CONMEBOL qualifying

With FIFA expanding the World Cup to 48 teams, that was beneficial to South America, because they now get six automatic qualifiers instead of four, as well as a playoff spot for the team in seventh.

There was never much doubt about who the top six would be, as the eventual gulf between them, and the four other nations, was stark.

Heading into September's fixture, it was a formality that Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay would join Argentina, Brazil and Ecuador at the finals, and they all duly obliged.

Argentina were utterly dominant, despite losing to impressive runners-up Ecuador in their final qualifier, topping the section by nine points, securing safe passage as they seek to retain their world crown.

Ecuador were deducted three points ahead of qualifying, but stormed to second place, conceding just five goals in 18 matches, and they will certainly be a team to keep an eye on at the finals.

The remaining four sides who qualified all finished on 28 points, with Brazil, Uruguay and Colombia all stuttering at times during qualifying, raising fears about how they may perform at the World Cup, but they eventually did enough to reach the tournament.

There was still a fascinating battle on the final matchday though, as Venezuela and Bolivia battled for the inter-confederational playoff spot, and both ended with home fixtures.

Venezuela were hugely fancied, going into matchday 18 with a one-point lead over La Verde and a much superior goal difference, but they were beaten 6-3 at home to Colombia, meaning they needed a favour from Brazil in El Alto.

Bolivia knew they had to beat the Selecao to have any chance of leapfrogging Venezuela, but that is exactly what they did, recording a famous 1-0 win over the five-time world champions, who struggled greatly in the dizzying altitude.

La Verde will now have to wait until March to play in those playoffs, and any potential seedings will not be known until November, as that will decide whether they need to play a semi-final.

It was cycle to forget for Chile and Peru, who both featured at World Cups in the 2010s, but were utterly woeful across the entire section, finishing in the bottom two positions, both failing to hit double figures for goals, and rotating through a conveyor belt of managers.

Key CONMEBOL qualifying results so far

Brazil 1-1 Venezuela (October 2023, Matchday 3)

Perhaps the most damning indictment of Brazil's early precarious situation was a home draw with Venezuela, a team they had only failed to beat once in their history, while it also kick-started a good run of form for Venezuela, who battled for a playoff spot throughout the entire campaign.

Argentina 0-2 Uruguay (November 2023, Matchday 5)

The first indication that Bielsa's side could be a threat at the finals in 2026 should they qualify as expected, beating the World Champions on their home patch, moving them clear in the automatic qualifying positions.

Brazil 0-1 Argentina (November 2023, Matchday 6)

Brazil's campaign went from bad to worse as they suffered their first ever home World Cup qualifying defeat, and it was against their arch rivals, as Argentina recovered from that slip-up against Uruguay to keep a hold of top spot in the standings.

Colombia 2-1 Argentina (September 2024, Matchday 8)

This was not a damaging defeat for Argentina as they have gone on to reach the finals, but the result was huge for Colombia, who have since suffered a severe drop in form with these three points potentially being crucial in their quest to return to the World Cup after missing out in 2022, while also avenging their Copa America final loss from the summer.

Bolivia 1-0 Colombia (October 2024, Matchday 9)

After a 4-0 win over Venezuela in their first game at their new home ground in El Alto, Bolivia proved that every away side will have difficulty at the suffocating altitude here, instantly boosting their chances of a first finals appearance in 32 years, as they were able to beat second-placed Colombia 1-0 despite playing with 10 men for 70 minutes, with some of the visiting players requiring oxygen to continue midway through the game.

Argentina 4-1 Brazil (March 2025, Matchday 13)

This result not only sealed Argentina's place at the finals, it was also a statement of intent from the reigning world champions, and a damning indictment of where Brazil are currently at, as they were utterly outclassed and outfought by Lionel Scaloni's men, who now sit 10 points above them in the standings.

Venezuela 2-0 Bolivia (June 2025, Matchday 15)

After a 4-0 defeat to Bolivia in the reverse fixture in September, Venezuela were out for revenge as they returned home to the Monumental de Maturin, and the hosts did exactly that, securing a crucial 2-0 victory that extended their gap to eighth-placed Bolivia to four points and massively boosted their chances of reaching the playoffs.

Bolivia 1-0 Brazil (September 2025, Matchday 18)

That win for Venezuela was ultimately in vain though, because after losing 6-3 to Colombia, they handed Bolivia a slight chance to overtake them into the playoff spot on the final matchday, and that it what transpired, as Miguelito's penalty sealed a very famous win for La Verde over the five-time world champions.