The format for CONMEBOL's 2014 World Cup qualifying tournament is identical to the previous four editions. All CONMEBOL national teams will play against each other twice on a home-and-away basis in a single group for 4.5 allotted berths. The top four teams will automatically qualify to the finals. The fifth-placed team will compete in the intercontinental play-offs against the fifth-placed team from the AFC's World Cup qualifying tournament. The order of matches is identical to that of the 2006 and 2010 tournaments. As Brazil have qualified automatically as hosts, one team will have a bye on the date they would normally be scheduled to play Brazil.
The fifth-placed team of the CONMEBOL qualification tournament will play AFC's fifth-placed team in a home-and-away play-off. The winner of this play-off qualifies for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals.