The race to the 2026 World Cup is already heating up across South America, with CONMEBOL qualifiers well underway as nations battle for coveted spots at football's biggest tournament. Home to some of the sport's greatest legends like Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, and Pelé, South America continues to produce some of the world's most talented footballers.
The qualification process features high-stakes clashes between reigning world champions Argentina and their eternal rivals Brazil, who hold the record for most World Cup titles. Traditional powerhouses Uruguay and Colombia are also expected to make strong pushes in a competitive field of ten nations.
South American World Cup qualification follows a straightforward format where all ten teams face each other twice, resulting in 18 matchdays per team. The top six nations will secure automatic qualification to the 2026 World Cup, while the seventh-placed team advances to the inter-confederation play-offs for a final chance at qualification.
This extensive qualifying cycle began on September 7, 2023, and will continue until September 2025, spanning nearly two years of competition. While all fixtures haven't been finalized yet, with some dates and venues still subject to change, fans can follow the journey of their favorite teams throughout this period.
For viewers in the United States, CONMEBOL qualifiers are broadcast across multiple platforms including Telemundo, Universo, Fubo, Vix, and Fanatiz. UK viewers can watch selected matches through the pay-per-view streaming service CONMEBOL TV.
The 2026 tournament itself will make history as the United States, Canada, and Mexico unite to host the first shared World Cup since Japan and South Korea co-hosted in 2002. FIFA confirmed this "United Bid" defeated Morocco's proposal back in 2018. This marks Mexico's third time hosting the tournament and the United States' second, while Canada will welcome the men's World Cup for the first time.
Perhaps most significantly, the 2026 World Cup will feature an expanded format with 48 teams participating, an increase of 16 teams from the traditional 32-team structure. The tournament is scheduled to run from June to mid-July 2026, returning to the traditional summer calendar after Qatar's winter World Cup in 2022.
As qualification battles continue across South America, football fans worldwide will be watching closely to see which nations emerge from this competitive region to join hosts United States, Canada, and Mexico on the global stage in 2026.
