Argentina, who have not missed a World Cup since 1970, and Brazil, the only country to have played at all 17 finals, are considered almost certainties to qualify.
Colombia, Uruguay and Paraguay are considered the strongest of the other contenders, although Peru, Chile and Ecuador are likely to put up a fight.
Baseball-loving Venezuela are the only members of the South American Confederation who have never qualified for the World Cup finals, but they have improved vastly in the last two years.
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