2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL) — South American section of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
CONMEBOL's 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign ended with Peru returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1982, while two-time defending Copa América champions Chile were eliminated.
Key Facts
- Direct qualification slots
- 4
- Inter-confederation play-off slots
- 1
- Chile's elimination match result
- Lost 3–0 to Brazil on final matchday
- Chile's final standing
- 6th place
- Peru's last World Cup appearance
- 1982
- Play-off opponent (Peru)
- New Zealand (OFC)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
CONMEBOL allocated 4.5 slots for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, requiring ten South American nations to compete in a round-robin qualifying campaign. Chile entered as two-time defending Copa América champions but struggled to secure a top-four finish in the final standings.
The CONMEBOL qualifying round-robin ran from 2015 to 2017, with Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and Colombia securing automatic berths. Chile finished sixth after a 3–0 defeat to Brazil on the final matchday, missing direct qualification. Peru finished fifth and entered the inter-confederation play-offs against New Zealand.
Chile, as defending Copa América champions, failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup—a significant upset. Peru defeated New Zealand in the intercontinental play-off, qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in 36 years, since their 1982 appearance.