The long-rumored joint Copa America between South America and North America is happening with confirmation that the 2024 edition will be held in the USA and feature national teams from both continents.
The soccer confederations of both regions will join forces to organize the 2024 event which will hope to match or exceed the popularity and commercial success of the 2016 Copa America Centenario which was the first in the competition’s 100-year history to be held outside South America.
The Copa America has traditionally been the tournament that determined the best national team in South America with the 10 nations participating. Guest nations had been invited to participate in the past, traveling to the South American host country to take part.
The Sporting News brings you all the vital information known publicly ahead of the 2024 Copa America which is expected to be a global event.
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When is next Copa America?
The next Copa America tournament will take place in the summer of 2024.
The modern day Copa America has been held every four years, typically played in an odd-numbered years immediately following the World Cup.
Following the 2019 tournament, the decision was made to change the cycle to an even-numbered year, to line up with the European Championships in the middle of each World Cup cycle.
Given the new format, the next tournament was originally planned be held in 2020, but COVID-19 forced a delay to 2021. Now, a tournament in 2024 is scheduled to return to the new plan for even-numbered years between each World Cup.
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Where is Copa America 2024 host nation?
The 2024 Copa America will be hosted in the USA as part of a partnership between the South American confederation (CONMEBOL) and its North American counterpart (CONCACAF).
The original host was meant to be Ecuador, as they were up next in the CONMEBOL rotation which progresses through the confederation’s members alphabetically. However, in November 2022 Ecuador officially declined hosting duties.
Rumors and reports that the USA could host the tournament proved true in January 2021 when the South American and North American confederations announced a wide-ranging strategic partnership that included the 2024 Copa America held on American soil.
The United States hosted a wildly successful Copa America Centenario in 2016 featuring teams from both regions. With the large attendances and revenues generated, the thinking was that the two continents would join forces once again for a repeat event.
Teams playing in Copa America 2024
The announcement of the tournament outlined a total of 16 participating nations, including all 10 South American countries and the six best North American teams.
The six North American nations will be determined through the 2023/24 CONCACAF Nations League competition though the specific details have not been shared.
The Copa America has often featured guest participants over the past few decades, including the United States (as hosts) and Mexico in 2016.
USMNT captain Tyler Adams had hinted that the USA would play in the 2024 tournament a full month before the official announcement.
“Now leading into this [2026] World Cup, we have some big tournaments,” Adams said on December 28 to NBC’s Premier League pre-match show. “We have the [CONCACAF] Nations League, we’re going to have the opportunity to play in Copa America, which is going to be huge for us.”
The South American nations, including World Cup holders Argentina and five-time world champions Brazil, are using the 2024 tournament to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup which will be held in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Who is the defending Copa America champion?
Argentina won the 2021 Copa America, as Lionel Messi won his first-ever major international trophy with his home country.
With the tournament hosted in Brazil, Messi and Argentina topped the hosts 1-0 in the final, with Angel Di Maria’s goal enough to carry Argentina to victory.
Colombia won the third-place match, defeating Peru 3-2 to round out the podium.
Messi emerged as the tournament’s leading scorer with four goals, sharing the award with Colombia’s Luis Diaz.
The result would foreshadow what took place at the 2022 World Cup, as Messi carried his country to victory in Qatar to hoist his first career World Cup trophy.
