1974 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL) explained

Tourney Name:	1974 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)
Matches:	16
Goals:	34
Num Teams:	9
Confederations:	1
Top Scorer:	Rubén Ayala (5 goals)
Nextseason:	1978
Prevseason:	1970

Listed below are the dates and results for the 1974 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the South American Zone (CONMEBOL). For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 1974 FIFA World Cup qualification.

The 9 teams were divided into 3 groups of 3 teams each. 2.5 spots were open for competition, as Brazil qualified automatically as holders. The teams would play against each other on a home-and-away basis. The winners of Groups 1 and 2 would qualify, while the winner of Group 3 would advance to the UEFA / CONMEBOL Intercontinental Play-off.

Group 1

width=30	Rank	width=165 style="text-align:left;"	Team	width=20		width=20		width=20		width=20	width=20	width=20	width=20	width=20
1		4	2	1	1	6	2	+4	5
2		4	1	3	0	3	2	+1	5
3		4	0	2	2	3	8	-5	2

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Uruguay qualified on goal difference.

Group 2

width=30	Rank	width=165 style="text-align:left;"	Team	width=20		width=20		width=20		width=20	width=20	width=20	width=20	width=20
1		4	3	1	0	9	2	+7	7
2		4	2	1	1	8	5	+3	5
3		4	0	0	4	1	11	-10	0

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Argentina qualified.

Group 3

width=30	Rank	width=165 style="text-align:left;"	Team	width=20		width=20		width=20		width=20	width=20	width=20	width=20	width=20
1=		2	1	0	1	2	2	0	2
1=		2	1	0	1	2	2	0	2
—		withdrew

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Chile and Peru finished level on points and goal difference, and a play-off on neutral ground was played to decide who would advance to the UEFA / CONMEBOL Intercontinental Play-off.

Chile advanced to the UEFA–CONMEBOL intercontinental play-off.

Inter-confederation play-offs

See main article: article and 1974 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA–CONMEBOL play-off). Chile advanced by walkover to the 1974 FIFA World Cup.

Qualified teams

The following four teams from CONMEBOL qualified for the final tournament.

Team	Qualified as	Qualified on	data-sort-type="number"	Previous appearances in FIFA World Cup¹
			9 (1930, 1934, 1938, 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970)
	winners		6 (*1930, 1950*, 1954, 1962, 1966, 1970)
	winners		5 (1930, 1934, 1958, 1962, 1966)
	winners		4 (1930, 1950, 1962, 1966)

¹ Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.

Goalscorers

5 goals

Rubén Ayala

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal