CONMEBOL member Argentina qualified automatically as reigning World Cup champions.
Colombia advanced to the CONMEBOL / OFC Intercontinental Play-off with the worst record among the group winners.
1The match was abandoned in the 67th minute with Brazil leading 1–0 after Chile walked off the field when a firecracker thrown from the crowd supposedly hit goalkeeper Roberto Rojas in the head, leaving him bloodied and having to be carried from the pitch on a stretcher; a subsequent FIFA investigation found that Rojas's injury was self-inflicted, using a razor blade concealed in his glove.
On 13 September, the match was awarded 2–0 to Brazil, and Chile were banned from qualifying for the next World Cup.
Rojas was given a lifetime ban from competitive football (lifted in 2001), as was Chile manager Orlando Aravena, vice-captain Fernando Astengo and team doctor Daniel Rodriguez.