FIFA president Sepp Blatter has confirmed that South America must change its marathon World Cup qualifying tournament in which the 10 nations play each other twice.

"This Is the last time FIFA accepts this system because there’s no space in the coordinated international calendar," Blatter told reporters during a two-day visit to Venezuela.

"With this system, we have problems getting the players released by their clubs," he said. "The players get tired...and in my opinion it doesn't help in the development of world football," hesaid.

The South American Football Confederation (CSF) is using the system for the third time, although only nine teams took part in the qualifiers for the 1998 World Cup when Brazil were guaranteed a place as holders.

This time, the competition has been spread out over more than two years to allow time to fit in all the games.

The top four teams in the group qualify directly for Germany and the fifth will play off against the winners of the Oceania region.

World champions Brazil, no longer guaranteed an automatic place under new rules, lead the group with 20 points from 10 games.

Blatter’s announcement came less than one month after the CSF said it was planning to change the system of their own accord.

The CSF's executive committee is due to meet in Asuncion on December 2, when it is expected to discuss the issue.