1978_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(CONMEBOL)
1978 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)
International football competition
Listed below are the dates and results for the 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the South American Zone (CONMEBOL). For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification.
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 20 February 1977 – 14 July 1977 |
| Teams | 9 (from 1 confederation) |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 21 |
| Goals scored | 55 (2.62 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) |  Zico (5 goals) |
← 1974 1982 → | |
A total of 10 CONMEBOL teams entered the competition. The South American zone was allocated 3.5 places (out of 16) in the final tournament. Argentina, the hosts, qualified automatically, leaving 2.5 spots open for competition between 9 teams.
There would be two rounds of play:
- First Round: The 9 teams were divided into 3 groups of 3 teams each. The teams would play against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners would advance to the Final Round.
- Final Round: The 3 teams would play against each other once in a neutral venue. The group winner and runner-up would qualify. The third-placed team would advance to the UEFA / CONMEBOL Intercontinental Play-off.
Group 1
Brazil advanced to the Final Round.
Group 2
Bolivia advanced to the Final Round.
Group 3
Peru  | 4 – 0 |  Ecuador |
|---|---|---|
José Velásquez  19'Oblitas 48', 50'Luces 63' |
Peru advanced to the Final Round.
| Brazil | 8 – 0 |  Bolivia |
|---|---|---|
| Zico 5', 10', 27' (pen.), 60' Roberto 22'Gil 54'Cerezo 70'Marcelo 89' |
Relatorio |
Brazil and Peru qualified. Bolivia advanced to the UEFA / CONMEBOL Intercontinental Play-off.
The following three teams from CONMEBOL qualified for the final tournament.
| Team | Qualified as | Qualified on | Previous appearances in FIFA World Cup1 |
|---|---|---|---|
 Argentina | Hosts | 6 July 1966 | 6 (1930, 1934, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1974) |
 Brazil | Final Round winners | 14 July 1977 | 10 (1930, 1934, 1938, 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1974) |
| Peru | Final Round winners | 17 July 1977 | 2 (1930, 1970) |
- 1 Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.
- 5 goals
- 4 goals
- 3 goals
- 2 goals
- 1 goal
Oviedo Mezza
Toninho Cerezo- Marcelo Oliveira
- Rivellino
Sergio Ahumada- Osvaldo Castro
- Miguel Ángel Gamboa
Eduardo Vilarete
José Fabián Paz y Miño
Carlos José Báez
Alejandro Luces- Juan José Muñante
- Percy Rojas
- Hugo Sotil
Washington Oliveira
Vicente Flores- Rafael Iriarte
- 1 own goal
- Windsor del Llano (playing against Hungary)
- José Domingo Insfrán (playing against Brazil)