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South American federation says it'll keep 2018 World Cup slots

Reuters
A private security guard walks outside Dr. Nicolas Leoz Convention Center, near the headquarters of South America's soccer confederation, CONMEBOL, in Luque on the outskirts of Asuncion, May 27, 2015. REUTERS/Jorge Adorno (Reuters)

ASUNCION (Reuters) - South America's soccer federation CONMEBOL says it has received assurances it will retain four automatic World Cup qualifying places for Russia 2018 plus its single playoff place. "The re-elected (FIFA) president Sepp Blatter assured CONMEBOL president Juan Angel Napout that the quotas for the World Cup would not be touched," the organization said in a statement after the Swiss incumbent won a fifth term of office on Friday. (Reporting by Daniela Desantis, writing by Richard Lough, editing by Tony Jimenez)