The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign will begin for defending champions Argentina in September 2023. The long road to the finals in the USA, Canada, and Mexico will be a grueling two-year battle for the 10 teams in the CONMEBOL qualification campaign.
The competition, which will run until September 2025, will be tough, but the Argentine squad is ready to defend their title. With the latest Copa America competition scheduled for June-July 2024, CONMEBOL has split the qualification path to simplify matters. There will be rounds of fixtures in September, October, and November this year, with a break from qualifiers until September 2024.
The top six teams from South America will receive automatic places at the 2026 World Cup, with another having a chance to qualify via the intercontinental playoffs. With six automatic places and one playoff spot, only the three bottom sides in the standings come September 2025 will definitely miss out on a place at the finals.
The race for qualifying has been intense, with Argentina leading the pack. Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, and other teams are determined to secure their spots in the top six. The road to the World Cup includes 18 games per team, with the top six teams receiving automatic qualification.
Following the first matches in October 2023, these sides are fighting hard for the top spots. Updates on TV/streaming plans are still being negotiated, but fans can watch live access to some qualifiers. Stay tuned for further updates and results for the 2026 CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers.
