This tournament also serves as qualification for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, and since 2007 until 2015, also from the Summer Olympic Games.

The first South American Youth Championship was hosted by Venezuela from 22 March to 13 April 1954.

[1] All matches take place in the host country, and all ten U-20 national football teams of CONMEBOL compete in every edition (if none of the associations withdraw).

The three top competitors advance to a single final group of six, wherein each team plays five matches.

The results in this last pure round-robin stage determines the champion and the South American qualification to the next FIFA U-20 World Cup.