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The '''CONMEBOL Copa América''' (literally '''America Cup''', known until 1975 as the '''South American Football Championship'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://biblioteca.afa.org.ar/libros/libro_84/ |title=X Campeonato Sud Americano de Football |publisher=biblioteca.afa.org.ar |access-date=27 February 2015 |archive-date=27 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327063631/http://biblioteca.afa.org.ar/libros/libro_84/ |url-status=live}}</ref>), commonly shortened to '''Copa América''', is the top men's [[association football|football]] tournament contested among [[list of men's national association football teams|national teams]] from [[South America]]. It is the oldest still-running continental football competition, as well as the third most watched in the world.<ref name="CopaAmericaOldestContTournament">{{cite web |url=http://www.conmebol.com/en/content/oldest-continental-tournament-world |title=The oldest main continental tournament in the world |publisher=CONMEBOL.com|access-date=3 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221011523/http://www.conmebol.com/en/content/oldest-continental-tournament-world|archive-date=21 February 2014}}</ref> The competition determines the [[Continental football championships|champions]] of South America.<ref name="CopaAmericaOldestContTournament" /><ref name="CopaAmericaToTheUS">{{cite web |url=http://www.concacaf.com/article/concacaf-and-conmebol-announce-agreement-to-bring-copa-america-2016-to-the-united-states |title=CONCACAF and CONMEBOL Announce Agreement to Bring Copa America 2016 to the United States |publisher=CONCACAF.com |date=1 May 2014|access-date=29 June 2014|archive-date=28 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628021211/https://www.concacaf.com/article/concacaf-and-conmebol-announce-agreement-to-bring-copa-america-2016-to-the-united-states|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conmebol.com/en/copa-america-2015-en/history |title=Copa América: History |date=27 January 2015 |publisher=CONMEBOL|access-date=27 February 2015|archive-date=25 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625185844/http://www.conmebol.com/en/copa-america-2015-en/history|url-status=live}}</ref> Since the 1990s, teams from [[North America]] and [[Asia]] have also been invited to compete.
The '''CONMEBOL Copa América''' ('''America Cup''', known until 1975 as the '''South American Football Championship'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://biblioteca.afa.org.ar/libros/libro_84/ |title=X Campeonato Sud Americano de Football |publisher=biblioteca.afa.org.ar |access-date=27 February 2015 |archive-date=27 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327063631/http://biblioteca.afa.org.ar/libros/libro_84/ |url-status=live}}</ref>), commonly shortened to '''Copa América''', is the top men's [[association football|football]] tournament contested among [[list of men's national association football teams|national teams]] from [[South America]]. It is the oldest still-running continental football competition, as well as the third most watched in the world.<ref name="CopaAmericaOldestContTournament">{{cite web |url=http://www.conmebol.com/en/content/oldest-continental-tournament-world |title=The oldest main continental tournament in the world |publisher=CONMEBOL.com|access-date=3 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221011523/http://www.conmebol.com/en/content/oldest-continental-tournament-world|archive-date=21 February 2014}}</ref> The competition determines the [[Continental football championships|champions]] of South America.<ref name="CopaAmericaOldestContTournament" /><ref name="CopaAmericaToTheUS">{{cite web |url=http://www.concacaf.com/article/concacaf-and-conmebol-announce-agreement-to-bring-copa-america-2016-to-the-united-states |title=CONCACAF and CONMEBOL Announce Agreement to Bring Copa America 2016 to the United States |publisher=CONCACAF.com |date=1 May 2014|access-date=29 June 2014|archive-date=28 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628021211/https://www.concacaf.com/article/concacaf-and-conmebol-announce-agreement-to-bring-copa-america-2016-to-the-united-states|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conmebol.com/en/copa-america-2015-en/history |title=Copa América: History |date=27 January 2015 |publisher=CONMEBOL|access-date=27 February 2015|archive-date=25 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625185844/http://www.conmebol.com/en/copa-america-2015-en/history|url-status=live}}</ref> Since the 1990s, teams from [[North America]] and [[Asia]] have also been invited to compete.


Since 1993, the tournament has generally featured 12 teams — all 10 [[CONMEBOL]] teams and two additional teams from other confederations. [[Mexican national football team|Mexico]] participated in every tournament between 1993 and 2016, with one additional team drawn from [[CONCACAF]], except for [[1999 Copa América|1999]], when [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] team [[Japanese national football team|Japan]] filled out the 12-team roster, and [[2019 Copa América|2019]], which featured Japan and [[Qatar national football team|Qatar]]. The [[2016 Copa América|2016]] version of the event, [[Copa América Centenario]], featured 16 teams, with six teams from CONCACAF in addition to the 10 from CONMEBOL.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ca2016.com/teams |title=Teams &#124; COPA America Centenario &#124; USA 2016 |access-date=22 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160522133418/http://www.ca2016.com/teams |archive-date=22 May 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Mexico's two runner-up finishes are the highest for a non-CONMEBOL side.
Since 1993, the tournament has generally featured 12 teams — all 10 [[CONMEBOL]] teams and two additional teams from other confederations. [[Mexican national football team|Mexico]] participated in every tournament between 1993 and 2016, with one additional team drawn from [[CONCACAF]], except for [[1999 Copa América|1999]], when [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] team [[Japanese national football team|Japan]] filled out the 12-team roster, and [[2019 Copa América|2019]], which featured Japan and [[Qatar national football team|Qatar]]. The [[2016 Copa América|2016]] version of the event, [[Copa América Centenario]], featured 16 teams, with six teams from CONCACAF in addition to the 10 from CONMEBOL.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ca2016.com/teams |title=Teams &#124; COPA America Centenario &#124; USA 2016 |access-date=22 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160522133418/http://www.ca2016.com/teams |archive-date=22 May 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Mexico's two runner-up finishes are the highest for a non-CONMEBOL side.

Revision as of 17:18, 20 June 2024

CONMEBOL Copa América
Organizing bodyCONMEBOL
Founded1916; 108 years ago (1916)
RegionSouth America
Number of teams16 (2024)
Qualifier forCONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions
Related competitionsUEFA European Championship
Copa Centenario Revolución de Mayo
Current champion(s) Argentina (15th title)
Most successful team(s)Argentina Argentina
 Uruguay
(15 titles each)
Websitecopaamerica.com
2024 Copa América

The CONMEBOL Copa América (America Cup, known until 1975 as the South American Football Championship[1]), commonly shortened to Copa América, is the top men's football tournament contested among national teams from South America. It is the oldest still-running continental football competition, as well as the third most watched in the world.[2] The competition determines the champions of South America.[2][3][4] Since the 1990s, teams from North America and Asia have also been invited to compete.

Since 1993, the tournament has generally featured 12 teams — all 10 CONMEBOL teams and two additional teams from other confederations. Mexico participated in every tournament between 1993 and 2016, with one additional team drawn from CONCACAF, except for 1999, when AFC team Japan filled out the 12-team roster, and 2019, which featured Japan and Qatar. The 2016 version of the event, Copa América Centenario, featured 16 teams, with six teams from CONCACAF in addition to the 10 from CONMEBOL.[5] Mexico's two runner-up finishes are the highest for a non-CONMEBOL side.

Eight of the ten CONMEBOL national teams have won the tournament at least once in its 47 stagings since the event's inauguration in 1916, with Ecuador and Venezuela the only teams yet to win. Argentina and Uruguay have the most championships in the tournament's history, with 15 cups each. The country that hosted the tournament the most times (nine editions) is Argentina, including the inaugural edition in 1916. The United States is the only non-CONMEBOL country that hosted the event, having done so in 2016, and will do so again in 2024. On three occasions (in 1975, 1979, and 1983), the tournament was held in multiple South American countries.

History

Beginnings

The first edition was held in 1916 and won by Uruguay (pictured)

The first football team in South America, Lima Cricket and Football Club, was established in Peru in 1859,[6] and the Argentine Football Association was founded in 1893. By the early 20th century, football was growing in popularity, and the first international competition held among national teams of the continent occurred in 1910 [7] when Argentina organized an event to commemorate the centenary of the May Revolution. Chile and Uruguay participated, but this event is not considered official by CONMEBOL. Similarly, for the centennial celebration of its independence, Argentina held a tournament between 2 and 17 July 1916 with Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Brazil being the first participants of the tournament. This so-called Campeonato Sudamericano de Football would be the first edition of what is currently known as Copa América; Uruguay would triumph in this first edition after tying 0–0 with hosts Argentina in the deciding, last match held in Estadio Racing Club in Avellaneda.

Seeing the success of the tournament, a boardmember of the Uruguayan Football Association, Héctor Rivadavia, proposed the establishment of a confederation of the associations of Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay.[8] On 9 July, independence day in Argentina, CONMEBOL was founded. The following year, the competition was played again, this time in Uruguay. Uruguay would win the title again to win their bicampeonato after defeating Argentina 1–0 in the last match of the tournament. The success of the tournament on Charrúan soil would help consolidate the tournament.

Brazil achieved its first championship in 1919

After a flu outbreak in Rio de Janeiro canceled the tournament in 1918, [9] Brazil hosted the tournament in 1919 and was crowned champion for the first time after defeating the defending champions 1–0 in a playoff match to decide the title, while the Chilean city of Viña del Mar would host the 1920 event which was won by Uruguay.

For the 1921 event, Paraguay participated for the first time after its football association affiliated to CONMEBOL earlier that same year. Argentina won the competition for the first time thanks to the goals of Julio Libonatti. In subsequent years, Uruguay would dominate the tournament, which at that time was the largest football tournament in the world. Argentina, however, would not be far behind and disputed the supremacy with the Charruas. After losing the 1928 final at the 1928 Summer Olympics held in Amsterdam, Argentina would gain revenge in the 1929 South American Championship by defeating the Uruguayans in the last, decisive match. During this period, both Bolivia and Peru debuted in the tournament in 1926 and 1927, respectively.

Disorganization and intermittency

After the first World Cup held in Uruguay in 1930, the enmity between the football federations of Uruguay and Argentina prevented the competition from being played for a number of years. Only in 1935 was it possible to dispute a special edition of the event to be officially reinstated in 1939. Peru became the host nation of the 1939 edition and won the competition for the first time. Ecuador made their debut at that tournament.

In 1941, Chile hosted that year's edition in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the founding of Santiago for which the capacity of the newly built Estadio Nacional was expanded from 30,000 to 70,000 spectators. Despite the large investment and initial success of the team, the Chileans would be defeated in the last match by eventual champions Argentina. Uruguay hosted and won the 1942 edition. Chile would host again in 1945, and came close to playing for the title against Argentina. However, Brazil spoiled that possibility, and Argentina would win the tournament once again on Chilean soil.

The Carasucias ("dirty faces"), a name that was known for the Argentina squad that won the 1957 championship held in Peru

The event then entered a period of great disruption. The championship was not played on a regular basis and many editions would be deemed unofficial, only to be considered valid later on by CONMEBOL. For example, Argentina would be the first (and so far only) team to win three consecutive titles by winning the championships of 1945, 1946 and 1947. After those three annual tournaments, the competition returned to being held every two years, then three and later four. There were even two tournaments held in 1959, one in Argentina and a second in Ecuador. During this period, some of the national teams were indifferent to the tournament. Some did not participate every year, others sent lesser teams; in the 1959 edition held in Ecuador, Brazil entered a team from the state of Pernambuco. Bolivia won for the first time when it hosted in 1963, but was defeated in the first game of the 1967 tournament by debutant Venezuela. The founding of the Copa Libertadores in 1959 also affected the way the tournament was viewed by its participants.

After eight years of absence, the event resumed in 1975 and officially acquired the name Copa América. The tournament had no fixed venue, and all matches were played throughout the year in each country. Nine teams participated in the group stages with the defending champions receiving a bye into the semifinals. The tournament was contested every four years using this system until 1987.

Renewal and host rotation

Carlos Valderrama and Diego Maradona greeting before the Argentina v Colombia match in 1987

In 1986, CONMEBOL decided to return to having one country host the tournament and to contest it every other year. From 1987 until 2001, the event was hosted every two years in rotation by the ten members of the confederation. The format would remain constant with a first round of groups, but the final round stage ranged from being a new, final round-robin group or a single-elimination system to decide the winner. This renewal helped the tournament, which began to receive television coverage in Europe and North America. The 1987 Copa América was held in Argentina; this was the first time the nation had hosted an edition in 28 years. Despite entering as heavy favorites for being the reigning world champions (having won the 1986 FIFA World Cup), playing at home and having a team largely composed of its World Cup winners led by the legendary Diego Maradona, Argentina would finish in a disappointing fourth place after being beaten by defending champions Uruguay 0–1 in the semifinals. Uruguay would defeat a surprisingly strong Chilean squad who made it to the final, disposing of the powerful Brazil 4–0 on the group stage.

Brazil lifted its first official international title since the 1970 FIFA World Cup upon winning the 1989 Copa América held on home soil. Argentina, in turn, won the Copa América after 32 long years in 1991 in Chile, thanks to a refreshed squad led by the prolific goalscorer Gabriel Batistuta. The 1993 Copa América tournament in Ecuador would take its current form. Along with the usual ten teams, CONMEBOL invited two countries from CONCACAF to participate, Mexico and the United States.

Uruguay managed to win the competition in 1995 as host, ending a period of decline for Uruguayan football. With the implementation of rotating hosts, Colombia, Paraguay and Venezuela hosted the tournament for the first time. Brazil entered a series of victories, winning four of the five continental titles between 1997 and 2007. The first, in 1997, was won after defeating host nation Bolivia 1–3 with goals from Leonardo, Denílson and Ronaldo becoming crucial in the Verde-Amarela's consagration on Bolivia's altitude. Brazil would successfully defend the title in 1999 after thumping Uruguay 3–0 in Asuncion, Paraguay. However, the 2001 Copa América saw one of the biggest surprises of the history of the sport as Honduras eliminated Brazil in the quarterfinals. Colombia, the host nation, would go on to win the competition for the first time ever.

Aftermath of a match in the 2007 Copa América, held for the first time in Venezuela.

From 2001 to 2007, the tournament was contested every three years, and from 2007 forward every four years, with the exception of the tournament's centennial in 2016.

Running from an embarrassing performance in 2001, Brazil reestablished itself in the South American pantheon after defeating Argentina, on penalties, in order to win the 2004 competition held in Peru. Three years later, the two teams met again in the final, this time in Venezuela. Once again, Brazil came out victorious after crushing Argentina 3–0.

Argentina hosted the 2011 competition and was ousted by Uruguay in the quarterfinals by penalty shootout. Uruguay would go on defeating Peru 2–0 in the semis to reach the finals and overpower Paraguay 3–0, thus winning the trophy on Argentinean soil for the third time and second in a row. This, the 43rd edition, was the first time that neither Argentina nor Brazil reached the semifinals of a tournament they both had entered.

The 2015 competition was hosted in Chile, who swapped hosting positions with Brazil in light of the latter's hosting of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics.[10] Chile went on to win the tournament, their first title, on home soil.

Centenary and beyond

In 2016, the centenary of the tournament was celebrated with the Copa América Centenario tournament hosted in the United States; the tournament was the first to be hosted outside of South America and had an expanded field of 16 teams from CONMEBOL and CONCACAF. During the tournament, media outlets reported that CONMEBOL and CONCACAF were negotiating a merger of the Copa América with the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the latter's continental tournament held every 2 years, with the United States hosting regular tournaments; United States Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati called the report inaccurate, saying that no such discussion had taken place and that a new tournament would have to be established.[11] For the second time, Chile won the trophy in a penalty shoot-out.[12] The 2016 edition broke tournament records for attendance, with 1.5 million total spectators and an average of 46,000 per match through the semi-finals.[13]

Brazil hosted the 2019 edition, which was played in the normal four-year cycle, and won their ninth title by defeating Peru in the final at the renovated Maracanã Stadium.[14] CONMEBOL approved a permanent switch from odd to even years beginning with the 2020 Copa América to move in line with the UEFA European Championship, which would be jointly hosted by Argentina and Colombia and split into two groups.[15] The tournament was postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lost two invited teams from Asia—Australia and Qatar—due to fixture congestion.[16] Colombia requested that the tournament be moved to November 2021 due to widespread protests and increased COVID-19 cases, but withdrew after CONMEBOL rejected a second postponement.[17] 13 days prior to the opening match, the entire tournament was moved to Brazil due to a rise in COVID-19 cases in Argentina.[18] The 2021 Copa América was played by 10 teams with no spectators at most matches due to the pandemic; the final at the Maracanã was limited to 10 percent of capacity. Argentina won their first title in 28 years by defeating Brazil in the final.[19]

CONMEBOL and CONCACAF signed a collaborative partnership agreement in January 2023 that included the United States being selected as host for the 2024 Copa América, which would feature six CONCACAF teams. The tournament would share some venues with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is planned to be co-hosted by the United States.[20][21]

Hosts

Map of CONMEBOL members, by their times hosted as of 2021

In 1984, CONMEBOL adopted the policy of rotating the right to host the Copa América amongst the ten member confederations. The first rotation was completed following the 2007 Copa América which took place in Venezuela. A second rotation commenced in 2011, with host countries rotating in alphabetical order, starting with Argentina.[22] Chile, Mexico and the United States expressed interest in hosting the next tournament, but the CONMEBOL Executive Committee decided to continue the execution of the rotation, giving priority of the organization to each of its member associations; each association confirms whether they will host an edition or not, having no obligation to do so. Argentina confirmed on 24 November 2008, via representatives of the Argentine Football Association, that it would host the 2011 Copa América.

The 2015 Copa América was due to be held in Brazil following the order of rotation. However, as Brazil was hosting both the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, the decision was reconsidered. Although CONMEBOL President Nicolas Leoz proposed hosting the continental tournament in Mexico (a member of the CONCACAF federation) and board members Brazil and Chile discussed the possibility of exchanging the 2015 and 2019 tournaments, it was decided and confirmed by the CBF in February 2011 that the 2015 Copa América would remain in Brazil. However, in March 2012, CBF president Ricardo Teixeira resigned from his position and the CBF agreed to swap the tournament's hosting with Chile. The swap was made official in May 2012. The centennial edition of the tournament, Copa América Centenario, took place in June 2016, and was held in the United States.[23] The Copa América Centenario marked the first time the tournament was hosted by a non-CONMEBOL nation.

Each Copa América since 2005 has had its own mascot. Gardelito, the mascot for the 1987 competition, was the first Copa América mascot.

Hosts Editions hosted
 Argentina 9 (1916, 1921, 1925, 1929, 1937, 1946, 1959, 1987, 2011)
 Uruguay 7 (1917, 1923, 1924, 1942, 1956, 1967, 1995)
 Chile 7 (1920, 1926, 1941, 1945, 1955, 1991, 2015)
 Brazil 6 (1919, 1922, 1949, 1989, 2019, 2021)
 Peru 6 (1927, 1935, 1939, 1953, 1957, 2004)
 Ecuador 3 (1947, 1959, 1993)
 Bolivia 2 (1963, 1997)
 United StatesC 2 (2016, 2024)
 Paraguay 1 (1999)
 Colombia 1 (2001)
 Venezuela 1 (2007)
home-and-away basis 3 (1975, 1979, 1983)
C = non-CONMEBOL host.

Format and rules

In early tournaments all teams competed in a round-robin stage, while later ones saw the teams were split into different groups followed by a single-elimination knockout stage.

Year Teams Matches Format
Min. Act.
1916 4 6 round-robin group of 4
1917 4 6
1919 4 6 7
1920 4 6
1921 4 6
1922 5 10 11 round-robin group of 5
1923 4 6 round-robin group of 4
1924 4 6
1925 3 6 double round-robin group of 3
1926 5 10 round-robin group of 5
1927 4 6 round-robin group of 4
1929 4 6
1935 4 6
1937 6 15 16 round-robin group of 6
1939 5 10 round-robin group of 5
1941 5 10
1942 7 21 round-robin group of 7
1945 7 21
1946 6 15 round-robin group of 6
1947 8 28 round-robin group of 8
1949 8 28 29
1953 7 21 22 round-robin group of 7
1955 6 15 round-robin group of 6
1956 6 15
1957 7 21 round-robin group of 7
1959 (A) 7 21
1959 (E) 5 10 round-robin group of 5
1963 7 21 round-robin group of 7
1967 6 15 round-robin group of 6
1975 10 24 25 3 groups of 3, semi-finals,[a] final
(two matches against each team throughout the tournament)
1979 10 24 25
1983 10 24
1987 10 13 3 groups of 3, semi-finals,[a] 3rd-place match, final
1989 10 26 2 groups of 5, final round-robin group of 4
1991 10 26
1993 12 26 3 groups of 4, quarter-finals, semi-finals, 3rd-place match, final
1995 12 26
1997 12 26
1999 12 26
2001 12 26
2004 12 26
2007 12 26
2011 12 26
2015 12 26
2016 16 32 4 groups of 4, quarter-finals, semi-finals, 3rd-place match, final
2019 12 26 3 groups of 4, quarter-finals, semi-finals, 3rd-place match, final
2021 10 28 2 groups of 5, quarter-finals, semi-finals, 3rd-place match, final
2024 16 32 4 groups of 4, quarter-finals, semi-finals, 3rd-place match, final
Notes
  1. ^ a b Title holders joined from the semi-finals.

The tournament was previously known as Campeonato Sudamericano de Futbol (South American Championship of Football). South American Championship of Nations was the official English language name. The current name has been used since 1975. Up to 1967 if there was a tie of points at the top of the standings, a playoff match (or matches) would be held to determine the champion. Between 1975 and 1983 it had no fixed host nation, and was held in a home and away fashion. The current final tournament features 12 national teams competing over a month in the host nation. There are two phases: the group stage followed by the knockout stage. In the group stage, teams compete within three groups of four teams each. Three teams are seeded, including the hosts, with the other seeded teams selected using a formula based on the FIFA World Rankings. The other teams are assigned to different "pots", usually based also on the FIFA Rankings, and teams in each pot are drawn at random to the three groups.

Each group plays a round-robin tournament, in which each team is scheduled for three matches against other teams in the same group. The last round of matches of each group is not scheduled at the same time unlike many tournaments around the world. The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage as well as the two best third-place teams. Points are used to rank the teams within a group. Beginning in 1995, three points have been awarded for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss (before, winners received two points).

The ranking of each team in each group is determined as follows:

a) greatest number of points obtained in all group matches;
b) goal difference in all group matches;
c) greatest number of goals scored in all group matches.

If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria, their rankings are determined as follows:

d) greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;
e) goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned;
f) greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned;
g) drawing of lots by the CONMEBOL Organizing Committee (i.e. at random).

The knockout stage is a single-elimination tournament in which teams play each other in one-off matches, with penalty shootouts used to decide the winner if a match is still tied after 90 minutes in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, and after extra time in the final. It begins with the quarter-finals, then semi-finals, the third-place match (contested by the losing semi-finalists), and the final.

Participating teams

All registered national federations of CONMEBOL, of which there currently are ten, are eligible for automatic berths in the tournament. Since the competition's rebranding in 1975, there has been only one occasion when one of those teams missed out on a tournament: Argentina withdrew from the 2001 edition due to scheduling and security disagreements.

Owing to this somewhat limited number of available participants, countries from other continents have usually been invited to make up the 12 teams necessary for the current tournament format since 1993. Most often those have been from CONCACAF, whose members are geographically and culturally close. For the centennial edition in 2016 and for the one in 2024, reflecting the number of teams being increased to 16, qualification stages were held for the CONCACAF teams.

In all, ten non-South American nations have participated in Copa América at least once: CONCACAF members Canada, Costa Rica, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, and the United States, as well as AFC members Japan and Qatar. Two other teams, China and Australia, had accepted invitations respectively for 2015 and 2021, but both did not end up appearing because of clashes with other commitments.[24][25][26] Moreover, Spain was invited to the 2011 edition but declined to participate.[27]

Team records

Trophies

Current Copa América trophy (left) at the Conmebol Museum and the special edition awarded exclusively for Copa América Centenario in 2016

The Copa América trophy, which is awarded to the winners of the tournament, was donated to the Association by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Argentina, Ernesto Bosch, in 1910, when Argentina organized an event to commemorate the centenary of the May Revolution. That competition (also attended by Uruguay and Chile) was named "Copa del Centenario" (Centennial Cup).[28]

The current Copa América trophy was purchased in 1916 from "Casa Escasany", a jewelry shop in Buenos Aires, at the cost of 3,000 Swiss francs.[29]

The Copa América trophy is a 9 kg (20 lb) weight and 77 cm (30 in) tall silver ornament, with a 3-level wooden base which contains several plaques. The plaques are engraved with every winner of the competition, as well as the edition won.[30] The trophy previously had a one- and two-level base [citation needed], and prior to 1979 there was no base at all,[31] like the one used in 1975.

In April 2016, a commemorative trophy – specifically designed for the Copa América Centenario – was introduced at the Colombian Football Federation headquarters of Bogotá to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the competition.[32] The trophy was based on the original Copa América trophy's shape, added with the 2016 edition logo. The trophy was not to have a base. The CAC was 61 cm (24 in) tall with a weight of 7.1 kg (16 lb), covered by 24-carat gold. The emblems of CONMEBOL and CONCACAF were also engraved on its body.[33]

The commemorative Copa América Centenario trophy was designed by Epico Studios in the United States and manufactured by London Workshops of Thomas Lyte in England.[34][35] The winning team will keep the trophy in perpetuity.

Apart from the main trophy, the "Copa Bolivia" (a small trophy made in silver) has been awarded to the runner-up of the competition since the 1997 edition.[36] The trophy is named after the country that hosted the 1997 Copa América, with a small Bolivian flag attached on one of its sides.[37]

Results

Tournament name
  • 1916–1967: "South American Championship"
  • 1975–present: "Copa América"
Key
  • aet: after extra time
  • p: penalty shoot-out
  •   Final played in two-legged format (with a playoff if necessary).
Ed. Year Host First place game Third place game Teams
1st place, gold medalist(s) Champion Score 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Third Score Fourth
1 1916  Argentina
Uruguay
round-robin
Argentina

Brazil
round-robin
Chile
4
2 1917  Uruguay
Uruguay
round-robin
Argentina

Brazil
round-robin
Chile
4
3 1919  Brazil
Brazil
round-robin
Play-off: 1–0 (a.e.t.)

Uruguay

Argentina
round-robin
Chile
4
4 1920  Chile
Uruguay
round-robin
Argentina

Brazil
round-robin
Chile
4
5 1921  Argentina
Argentina
round-robin
Brazil

Uruguay
round-robin
Paraguay
4
6 1922  Brazil
Brazil
round-robin
Play-off: 3–0

Paraguay

Uruguay
round-robin
Argentina
5
7 1923  Uruguay
Uruguay
round-robin
Argentina

Paraguay
round-robin
Brazil
4
8 1924  Uruguay
Uruguay
round-robin
Argentina

Paraguay
round-robin
Chile
4
9 1925  Argentina
Argentina
round-robin
Brazil

Paraguay
round-robin 3
10 1926  Chile
Uruguay
round-robin
Argentina

Chile
round-robin
Paraguay
5
11 1927  Peru
Argentina
round-robin
Uruguay

Peru
round-robin
Bolivia
4
12 1929  Argentina
Argentina
round-robin
Paraguay

Uruguay
round-robin
Peru
4
13 1935  Peru
Uruguay
round-robin
Argentina

Peru
round-robin
Chile
4
14 1937  Argentina
Argentina
round-robin
Play-off: 2–0 (a.e.t.)

Brazil

Uruguay
round-robin
Paraguay
6
15 1939  Peru
Peru
round-robin
Uruguay

Paraguay
round-robin
Chile
5
16 1941  Chile
Argentina
round-robin
Uruguay

Chile
round-robin
Peru
5
17 1942  Uruguay
Uruguay
round-robin
Argentina

Brazil
round-robin
Paraguay
7
18 1945  Chile
Argentina
round-robin
Brazil

Chile
round-robin
Uruguay
7
19 1946  Argentina
Argentina
round-robin
Brazil

Paraguay
round-robin
Uruguay
6
20 1947  Ecuador
Argentina
round-robin
Paraguay

Uruguay
round-robin
Chile
8
21 1949  Brazil
Brazil
round-robin
Play-off: 7–0

Paraguay

Peru
round-robin
Bolivia
8
22 1953  Peru
Paraguay
round-robin
Play-off: 3–2

Brazil

Uruguay
round-robin
Chile
7
23 1955  Chile
Argentina
round-robin
Chile

Peru
round-robin
Uruguay
6
24 1956  Uruguay
Uruguay
round-robin
Chile

Argentina
round-robin
Brazil
6
25 1957  Peru
Argentina
round-robin
Brazil

Uruguay
round-robin
Peru
7
26 1959  Argentina
Argentina
round-robin
Brazil

Paraguay
round-robin
Peru
7
27 1959  Ecuador
Uruguay
round-robin
Argentina

Brazil
round-robin
Ecuador
5
28 1963  Bolivia
Bolivia
round-robin
Paraguay

Argentina
round-robin
Brazil
7
29 1967  Uruguay
Uruguay
round-robin
Argentina

Chile
round-robin
Paraguay
6
30 1975 home-and-away basis
Peru
0–1 / 2–0
Play-off: 1–0

Colombia

Brazil
[n 1]

Uruguay
10
31 1979 home-and-away basis
Paraguay
3–0 / 0–1
Play-off: 0–0 (a.e.t.)

Chile

Brazil
[n 1]

Peru
10
32 1983 home-and-away basis
Uruguay
2–0 / 1–1
Brazil

Paraguay
[n 1]

Peru
10
33 1987  Argentina
Uruguay
1–0
Chile

Colombia
2–1
Argentina
10
34 1989  Brazil
Brazil
round-robin
Uruguay

Argentina
round-robin
Paraguay
10
35 1991  Chile
Argentina
round-robin
Brazil

Chile
round-robin
Colombia
10
36 1993  Ecuador
Argentina
2–1
Mexico

Colombia
1–0
Ecuador
12
37 1995  Uruguay
Uruguay
1–1
(5–3 p)

Brazil

Colombia
4–1
United States
12
38 1997  Bolivia
Brazil
3–1
Bolivia

Mexico
1–0
Peru
12
39 1999  Paraguay
Brazil
3–0
Uruguay

Mexico
2–1
Chile
12
40 2001  Colombia
Colombia
1–0
Mexico

Honduras
2–2
(5–4 p)

Uruguay
12
41 2004  Peru
Brazil
2–2
(4–2 p)

Argentina

Uruguay
2–1
Colombia
12
42 2007  Venezuela
Brazil
3–0
Argentina

Mexico
3–1
Uruguay
12
43 2011  Argentina
Uruguay
3–0
Paraguay

Peru
4–1
Venezuela
12
44 2015  Chile
Chile
0–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–1 p)

Argentina

Peru
2–0
Paraguay
12
45 2016  United States
Chile
0–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p)

Argentina

Colombia
1–0
United States
16
46 2019  Brazil
Brazil
3–1
Peru

Argentina
2–1
Chile
12
47 2021  Brazil
Argentina
1–0
Brazil

Colombia
3–2
Peru
10
48 2024  United States
Argentina
1–0 (a.e.t.)
Colombia

Uruguay
2–2
(4–3 p)

Canada
16
49 2028
Notes
  1. ^ a b c No third place match was played; teams are listed in alphabetical order.

Summary

Team Title(s) Runners-up
 Argentina 15 (1921 *, 1925 *, 1927, 1929 *, 1937 *, 1941, 1945, 1946 *, 1947, 1955, 1957, 1959 *, 1991, 1993, 2021) 14 (1916 *, 1917, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1935, 1942, 1959, 1967, 2004, 2007, 2015, 2016)
 Uruguay 15 (1916, 1917 *, 1920, 1923 *, 1924 *, 1926, 1935, 1942 *, 1956 *, 1959, 1967 *, 1983, 1987, 1995 *, 2011) 6 (1919, 1927, 1939, 1941, 1989, 1999)
 Brazil 9 (1919 *, 1922 *, 1949 *, 1989 *, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2007, 2019 *) 12 (1921, 1925, 1937, 1945, 1946, 1953, 1957, 1959, 1983, 1991, 1995, 2021 *)
 Paraguay 2 (1953, 1979) 6 (1922, 1929, 1947, 1949, 1963, 2011)
 Chile 2 (2015 *, 2016) 4 (1955 *, 1956, 1979, 1987)
 Peru 2 (1939 *, 1975) 1 (2019)
 Bolivia 1 (1963 *) 1 (1997 *)
 Colombia 1 (2001 *) 1 (1975)
 Mexico 0 2 (1993, 2001)
* Host nation

Records and statistics

Copa América champions' results in the Confederations Cup

Qualified via Team Edition Result
1991 Copa América  Argentina 1992 Champions
1993 Copa América  Argentina 1995 Runners up
1995 Copa América  Uruguay 1997 (4th)
1997 Copa América  Brazil 1999 Runners up
1999 Copa América  Brazil 2001 (4th)
2001 Copa América  Colombia 2003 (4th)
2004 Copa América  Brazil 2005 Champions
2007 Copa América Brazil 2009 Champions
2011 Copa América  Uruguay 2013 (4th)
2015 Copa América  Chile 2017 Runners up

Copa América champions' results in the CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions

Qualified via Team Edition Result
1983 Copa América  Uruguay 1985 Runners up
1993 Copa América  Argentina 1993 Champions
2021 Copa América  Argentina 2022 Champions

Awards

There are currently five post-tournament awards

  • the Best Player for most valuable player, first awarded in 1987;
  • the Top Goalscorer for most prolific goal scorer;
  • the Best Goalkeeper for most outstanding goalkeeper, first awarded in 2011;
  • the Team of the Tournament for best combined team of players at the tournament;
  • the Fair Play Award for the team with the best record of fair play, first awarded in 2011.

See also

References

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