The South American (CONMEBOL) zone of qualification for the 1990 FIFA World Cup saw 9 teams competing for 2 direct places at the finals, with one extra place potentially on offer to the winner of a play-off. CONMEBOL member Argentina qualified automatically as reigning World Cup champions.
Teams were divided into 3 groups of 3 teams each. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The 2 group winners with the best record qualified directly while the group winner with the worst record advanced to the CONMEBOL / OFC Intercontinental Play-off.
The draw for the qualifying groups took place in Zürich, Switzerland on 12 December 1987. During the draw teams were drawn from 3 seeded pots into the 3 qualifying groups.
Uruguay qualified with the second-best record among the group winners.
Colombia advanced to the CONMEBOL / OFC Intercontinental Play-off with the worst record among the group winners.
Brazil qualified with the best record among the group winners.
The two group winners with the best records qualify directly for the 1990 FIFA World Cup while the group winner with the worst record entered the CONMEBOLâÂÂOFC play-offs. <onlyinclude></onlyinclude>
The winner of this play-off qualified for the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
The following four teams from CONMEBOL qualified for the final tournament.