CONMEBOL
The year 1916 marked the birth of a new organization in Buenos Aires. Four football associations gathered to create a governing body for South American soccer. Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay signed the founding documents on July 9th that year. Héctor Rivadavia Gómez from Uruguay initiated the project. The first tournament they organized was called the Campeonato Sudamericano de Fútbol. This event took place in Argentina to celebrate the centenary of Argentine independence. A Constitutional Congress met in Montevideo on December 15th to ratify the decision. The group became known as CONMEBOL. It stands today as the oldest continental confederation in existence.
Alejandro Domínguez serves as the current president of CONMEBOL since January 2016. He is from Paraguay. Ramón Jesurún holds the position of vice-president from Colombia. Laureano González acts as another vice-president representing Venezuela. Arturo Salah serves as the third vice-president from Chile. José Astigarraga functions as the general secretary. The executive committee manages all operations within the organization. Headquarters remain located in Luque, Paraguay. Ten member associations make up the entire membership base. This small number distinguishes it from other FIFA confederations. Historical leadership includes figures like Nicolás Léoz who served until 2013. Eugenio Figueredo led briefly between 2013 and 2014. Juan Ángel Napout held office until his arrest in late 2015.
The Copa América tournament began its first edition in 1916. Argentina hosted that inaugural competition. Brazil has won five World Cup titles while Argentina claims three victories. Uruguay secured two championships during their history. These ten national teams compete in a round-robin system for qualification spots. Critics describe these qualifiers as the toughest in the world due to climate conditions and passionate crowds. The United States and Yugoslavia lost semi-finals in the 1930 tournament without a third-place match. CONMEBOL invites guest nations from other continents to participate occasionally. Japan and Qatar joined the 2019 edition of the Copa América. Under-20 and Under-17 championships run alongside senior competitions. Women's football features the Copa América Femenina starting in 1991. Beach soccer leagues operate under similar structures since the early 2000s.
The Copa Libertadores launched its first season in 1960. Flamengo currently holds the title for the upcoming 2026 final against Palmeiras. The Recopa Sudamericana matches started in 1989 between previous winners. A second club competition called the Copa Sudamericana emerged in 2002. It replaced the Supercopa Libertadores which ran from 1988 until 1999. The Intercontinental Cup paired Libertadores champions with European champions. Twenty-two South American clubs have won this trophy over decades. Four teams claimed FIFA Club World Cups recently. Corinthians leads women's club success with six titles as of 2025. Peñarol dominates futsal competitions with multiple victories. Vasco da Gama won beach soccer events in 2024. These tournaments shape regional culture across ten nations.
Swiss police arrested several leaders on the 27th of May 2015 in Zürich. Eugenio Figueredo and Nicolás Léoz faced indictment by U.S. authorities. Juan Ángel Napout joined them in custody on December 3rd that same year. Charges included money laundering and racketeering alongside corruption allegations. Wilmar Valdez served as interim president until the 26th of January 2016. Alejandro Domínguez took office following the election process. The scandal exposed deep financial issues within the organization. Several national federation presidents also faced legal action including Carlos Chávez and Sergio Jadue. Leadership changes followed immediately after these arrests. New governance structures emerged to prevent future misconduct. The incident reshaped how CONMEBOL operates globally today.
South American teams have secured ten FIFA World Cup victories total. Brazil holds five titles while Argentina claims three. Uruguay possesses two championships in their history. Olympic gold medals belong to Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay with two each. Twenty-two Intercontinental Cups were won by club sides from the region. Four Club World Cup trophies remain in South American hands. Rankings show Flamengo leading men's club points at 1886. Palmeiras follows closely behind with 1766 points. Fluminense ranks third with 1719 points. Women's football shows strong performance across multiple decades. Brazil dominates youth tournaments frequently. Beach soccer results highlight consistent dominance since 1995. These statistics reflect decades of competitive excellence across all age groups.
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Common questions
When was CONMEBOL founded and where did the founding meeting take place?
CONMEBOL was founded in 1916 during a meeting held in Buenos Aires. Four football associations signed the founding documents on July 9th that year to create the governing body for South American soccer.
Who is the current president of CONMEBOL and when did he assume office?
Alejandro Domínguez serves as the current president of CONMEBOL since January 2016. He is from Paraguay and took office following an election process after previous leadership scandals.
Where are the headquarters of CONMEBOL located today?
The headquarters of CONMEBOL remain located in Luque, Paraguay. This location has served as the administrative center for the organization which manages operations across ten member associations.
Which country hosted the first edition of the Copa América tournament organized by CONMEBOL?
Argentina hosted the first edition of the Copa América tournament in 1916. The event took place to celebrate the centenary of Argentine independence and featured four participating national teams.
When did the Copa Libertadores competition begin its first season under CONMEBOL?
The Copa Libertadores launched its first season in 1960. Flamengo currently holds the title for the upcoming 2026 final against Palmeiras within this long-running club competition.