1979 South American U-20 Championship

The South American Youth Championship 1979 was held in Montevideo and Paysandú, Uruguay. It also served as qualification for the 1979 FIFA World Youth Championship.

Teams
The following teams entered the tournament:


 * (host)
 * (host)
 * (host)
 * (host)
 * (host)
 * (host)
 * (host)
 * (host)
 * (host)

Inter-continental qualification
The two best performing teams qualified directly for the 1979 FIFA World Youth Championship.



Paraguay also qualified, after winning an intercontinental play-off against Israel and Australia. Matches were played in Asunción, Paraguay.