CONMEBOL has unveiled a new national team seeding system that will be used in upcoming World Cup and Copa America qualifiers, aiming to increase fairness and competitive balance across South America’s top football competitions. The updated format, approved by member associations this week, marks a significant change in how teams are grouped and ranked ahead of crucial qualifiers.
New Seeding Designed to Promote Fair Play
Under the revamped system, national teams will be seeded based on a combination of FIFA world rankings and recent competitive performance, rather than solely on traditional ranking points. CONMEBOL officials say this approach will more accurately reflect a team’s current strength and reduce mismatches early in qualifying groups.
Teams will be divided into pots before the draw, ensuring that higher-ranked sides do not all end up in one group, while giving emerging squads a fairer shot at advancing through key stages.
“This seeding model rewards consistency and recent form, making qualifiers more competitive from start to finish,” said a CONMEBOL competition director during the official announcement.
The new format is set to roll out ahead of qualifiers for the 2028 World Cup cycle, with adjustments tailored for Copa America qualifying phases as well.
Impact on South American Football Landscape
The seeding overhaul is expected to reshape the landscape of South American qualifying tournaments. Traditional powerhouses such as Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay will likely remain in top pots, but rising sides like Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru now have clearer pathways to progress deep into qualifiers.
National team managers and technical staff have welcomed the changes, saying the new system encourages tactical growth and rewards teams that demonstrate consistency in recent tournaments.
Fans are also optimistic that this format will produce more evenly matched, engaging fixtures throughout the qualification period, keeping excitement high from the opening matchday to the final showdown.
CONMEBOL plans to publish a full breakdown of the new seeding rules and group allocations in the coming weeks, giving teams and supporters time to prepare.
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