Copa América 2024: South America's Premier Football Tournament
2024 is a summer for football fans around the world. Amidst the excitement of the UEFA kicking off in Europe, the Western hemisphere is also in the middle of a fierce competition. The Copa América, the oldest still-running continental football competition, is underway. If you're not quite sure what to expect or what the Copa América entails, you've come to the right place. Here, we'll fill you in on all the details you need to know about one of South America's most beloved football tournaments.
What is Copa América
Copa América is the world's oldest international continental football competition, dating all the way back to 1916. It's organized by the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and brings together national teams from across the continent to compete for the prestigious trophy and title.
The History of Copa América
The Campeonato Sudamericano de Fútbol (South American Championship of Football) was first held in 1916 by Argentina, with only three other participants—Chile, Uruguay, and Brazil. Uruguay took home the title of this initial match, which spurred action from a board member of the Uruguayan Football Association, Héctor Rivadavia. The excitement of the competition then led to the formation of the CONMEBOL, and the four original teams continued the biannual tournament as the only participants until 1921, when Paraguay joined the ranks.
Slowly, other South American countries began to join. Bolivia debuted its team in 1926, and Peru joined in 1927. However, there was a small hiccup in the 1930s after the first World Cup was held in Uruguay. Although it continued, tension between the two football federations caused some challenges for the Copa América between 1930 and 1939.
When the Copa América regained its momentum in 1939, Ecuador joined in the fun. After that, things got a little messy. The regularity of the tournament varied. It was held every year for a while, then every two years, then three years, then later every four years. But there were also some years when two Copa América tournaments were held. This caused a bit of indifference to both the players and the spectators.
It wasn't until 1986 that CONMEBOL decided to return to its original structure, in which one country hosted the tournament every other year. In the 1990s, teams from North America were also invited to compete. Then, Copa América was held every three years from 2001 to 2007, then every four years from 2007 forward, with the exception of the tournament's 100-year celebration in 2016.
Past Copa América Winners
To help you get up to speed and consider some of this year’s contenders, here’s a quick look at the past champions:
- 1916: Uruguay
- 1917: Uruguay
- 1919: Brazil
- 1920: Uruguay
- 1921: Argentina
- 1922: Brazil
- 1923: Uruguay
- 1924: Uruguay
- 1925: Argentina
- 1926: Uruguay
- 1927: Argentina
- 1929: Argentina
- 1935: Uruguay
- 1937: Argentina
- 1939: Peru
- 1941: Argentina
- 1942: Uruguay
- 1945: Argentina
- 1946: Argentina
- 1947: Argentina
- 1949: Brazil
- 1953: Paraguay
- 1955: Argentina
- 1956: Uruguay
- 1957: Argentina
- 1959: Argentina
- 1959: Uruguay
- 1963: Bolivia
- 1967: Uruguay
- 1975: Peru
- 1979: Paraguay
- 1983: Uruguay
- 1987: Uruguay
- 1989: Brazil
- 1991: Argentina
- 1993: Argentina
- 1995: Uruguay
- 1997: Brazil
- 1999: Brazil
- 2001: Colombia
- 2004: Brazil
- 2007: Brazil
- 2011: Uruguay
- 2015: Chile
- 2016: Chile
- 2019: Brazil
- 2021: Argentina
What to Know About the 2024 Copa América
The 2024 Copa América is being held in the United States and kicked off on June 20. It's the 48th edition of this tournament and will continue until July 14. Although Ecuador was the expected host, they declined the invitation in November 2022.
The opening match was held in Atlanta, Georgia, and the final will be held in Miami Gardens, Florida. However, matches throughout the tournament will also be held in Nevada, Missouri, Kansas, Arizona, California, Texas, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Georgia.
Who is Competing in the 2024 Copa América?
The 2024 Copa América qualifying play-offs included sixteen teams, the ten national teams from CONMEBOL and six from the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF).
The CONMEBOL teams are:
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Chile
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
The CONCACAF teams are:
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Panama
- United States
- Canada
- Costa Rica
Like the UEFA Euro Cup, these teams are separated into groups to determine winners and runner-ups alongside the two best third-placed teams. These teams will advance to the knockout stage, which includes the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals. The groups are organized as follows:
- Group A: Argentina, Canada, Chile, Peru
- Group B: Venezuela, Ecuador, Mexico, Jamaica
- Group C: Uruguay, United States, Panama, Brazil
- Group D: Colombia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Paraguay
You can find live, up-to-date standings at the official Copa América website here.
Fun Facts About Copa América
If you’re planning to watch Copa América 2024, you may be interested in learning a few fun facts about its history. Some of the most notable include the following:
- Oldest Tournament: Copa América is the oldest international continental football competition, predating even the FIFA World Cup.
- Argentina's Contributions: The tournament was first held in 1916 in honor of the 100th anniversary of Argentina's independence.
- Underdog Triumphs: The tournament has a history of surprising victories, such as Chile's back-to-back wins in 2015 and 2016.
- Top Scorers: The tournament has seen some legendary goal scorers, including Zizinho and Norberto Méndez, who hold the record for most goals scored in Copa América history (17). In contrast, Lionel Messi has scored 13 goals.
- Record Wins: Uruguay and Argentina are tied for the record of the most Copa América titles, with 15 championships each to their name.
- Youth and Experience: Young stars often make their mark on Copa América, such as Lionel Messi, who debuted at the tournament in 2007.
Up until the final whistle blows, the 2024 Copa América is sure to be an exciting, fan-fueled tournament. So far, Argentina and Venezuela are showing promising results, but who will take home the trophy? Keep watching the Copa América to find out and don't forget to tune in for the final match on July 14.
