Nine teams entered, two more than the previous season, with Venezuela not sending a representative.

In order to further enhance the competition, CONMEBOL maintained the criteria of having regional clashes in order to take advantage of the cross-border rivalries Although Peñarol also won their national league, this became the first and, so far, only time the defending champions did not qualify automatically to the next edition.

Because of the increase in participants, a preliminary group was implemented in the competition, with the rest following the previous season's format.

Controversially, Independiente Santa Fe and Jorge Wilstermann tied on points which would have required a playoff; CONMEBOL, however, scrapped the idea and decided that the last semifinal slot was to be given by a draw of lots which the Colombians won.

Independiente Santa Fe drew 2–2 with Jorge Wilstermann on point aggregate and goal difference.