CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying 2022 Prediction, Odds, How it Works

• The 2022 World Cup will take place in November and December for the first time
• CONMEBOL contains 10 national teams and each has a chance of qualification
• Brazil and Argentina are the traditional heavyweights of the CONMEBOL region

After a lengthy pandemic-induced delay, CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying is back up and running. Several matchdays were postponed in 2020 and earlier this year, which means there are a lot of fixtures to catch up on between now and March. Additional international breaks have been created to fit all the games in, so buckle up for what should be a dramatic and intensive sprint to the finish line.

Unlike regions such as CONCACAF and AFC (Asia), there is only one stage to CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying. In fact, the process in South America is the simplest to understand and easiest to follow of all six FIFA confederations.

CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying 2022 Odds

Odds taken from Caesars Sportsbook!

Who Will Qualify for the 2022 World Cup?

At the time of writing in early September, Brazil looks certain to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. They have won each of their seven matches to date and are on course to finish top of the table. Given that the four best sides qualify for the competition automatically, it would take a collapse of historic proportions for the Selecao to not be on the plane to Qatar next November.

Argentina, who won the Copa America earlier this year, is also looking good for a place at the next World Cup. After seven of 18 matches, they sit second in the standings thanks to four wins and three draws.

Things are looking more competitive beneath the big two. Ecuador occupies a third place for now, but fourth-placed Uruguay will expect to overtake them between now and March. Colombia, currently in fifth, will also hope to rise higher up the standings, while Chile and Peru will be looking to recover from underwhelming starts to the campaign.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How Does CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying Work?

CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying is a simple process. All 10 teams compete in a round-robin league format, playing home and away matches against every other side. After all 18 games have been completed, the countries which finish between first and fourth qualify for the World Cup. The fifth-place finisher advances to the inter-confederation play-offs, where they will face a team from AFC (Asia), OFC (Oceania) or CONCACAF (North America, Central America and the Caribbean) in a two-legged tie.

World Cup qualifying in South America is fiercely competitive, and the switch to the current format in the 1990s has greatly improved the strength in depth in the region. The league structure guarantees regular games against top teams for the likes of Bolivia and Venezuela, the traditional minnows of the continent.

The competitiveness of World Cup qualifying in South America will be affected by the expansion of the tournament to 48 teams in 2026. Under the new system, six sides from CONMEBOL will take part in the World Cup. The likes of Brazil and Argentina are unlikely to ever be troubled in qualifying, as they have been on occasion in the past.

How Many Teams From CONMEBOL Qualify for the 2022 World Cup?

As mentioned above, four teams from CONMEBOL are guaranteed a place at the World Cup, and a fifth can join them if they win an inter-confederation play-off. This has tended to happen in recent years: at the 1998, 2002, 2010, 2014 and 2018 editions of the tournament, at least five South American nations were present.

How Many World Cups Does South America Have?

South American sides have won a total of nine World Cups. Brazil is the most successful national team on the planet with five triumphs. Uruguay and Argentina have won two apiece.

Europe is responsible for 12 World Cup wins. Germany and Italy have emerged victorious on four occasions each, France have lifted the trophy twice, and England and Spain have won one each.

Which Teams From CONMEBOL Have Qualified for the Most World Cups?

Brazil have taken part in all 21 World Cups to date, and are the only country to do so. Argentina has participated 17 times, followed by Uruguay on 13. Those three national teams are in the overall top 10 for World Cup appearances, where they are joined by seven sides from Europe.

Which South American Country Has Never Qualified for a World Cup?

Nine out of 10 CONMEBOL nations have qualified for a World Cup, with Venezuela the only team never to have done so. The popularity of soccer in the country continues to rise, though, and la Vinotinto made waves when they finished as runners-up at the Under-20 World Cup in 2017.

Geographically speaking, there are three more South American nations that have never reached a World Cup: Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. In the soccer world, these three countries are affiliated to CONCACAF due to their linguistic and cultural similarities with the North America, Central America, and Caribbean region. All three would severely struggle if they joined the likes of Brazil and Argentina in CONMEBOL.

How Can I Watch CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying 2022 on TV?

Soccer fans based in the United States can watch the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying on Fubo TV. Matches will be held during the international breaks in September, October, November, January, February and March.