The competition was contested by 12 teams: one entry from each of the ten CONMEBOL associations, plus the title holders and an additional entry from the host association.[2]
The draw of the tournament was held on 28 April 2017, 11:00 PET (UTC−5), at the headquarters of the Peruvian Football Federation in Lima.[4][1] The 12 teams were drawn into three groups of four containing one team from each of the four seeding pots. The following three teams were seeded:
Group A: champions of the host association, Primero de Mayo (Peru)
Group B: 2016 Copa Libertadores de Futsal champions, Cerro Porteño (Paraguay)
Group C: representatives of the association of the 2016 Copa Libertadores de Futsal runners-up, Carlos Barbosa (Brazil)
The other teams were seeded based on the results of their association in the 2016 Copa Libertadores de Futsal.
The top two teams of each group and the two best third-placed teams advanced to the quarter-finals. The teams were ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, tiebreakers were applied in the following order (Regulations Article 6.2):[2]
Results in head-to-head matches between tied teams (points, goal difference, goals scored);
In the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final, extra time and penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winner if necessary. In the third place match, penalty shoot-out (no extra time) were used to decide the winner if necessary.[2]