Sunday evening, a few hours after the final that will crown the future European champion between Spain and England, it is the turn of Argentina and Colombia to decide the title of South American champion. Well, more or less. In this 48th edition – which is taking place in the United States – we also find six teams from CONCACAF (the Confederation of North, Central America and the Caribbean): the United States, Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, Panama and Costa Rica. The Copa América is still organized by CONMEBOL, the South American Confederation.
Because even though this competition is supposed to only bring together South American teams, the organizers realized that a tournament with the same 10 teams diminished its appeal. Indeed, 39 of the 47 editions of the Copa América have been won by Argentina (15), Uruguay (15) and Brazil (9).
A DESIRE TO REVITALIZE THE COMPETITION THROUGH INVITATIONS
Starting in 1993, CONMEBOL decided to invite two teams from outside South America (the United States and Mexico). This led to three groups of four teams with quarter-finals, which extended the duration of the competition and made it more interesting. Inviting these two countries was not shocking either, as both were, despite everything, on the same large continent. Since then, the organizers have continued to invite countries from the CONCACAF zone (but not only).
In 2016, we went from two invitations to six to celebrate the centenary of the competition, we went back to two in 2019 then to… zero in 2021 before inviting six again this year. Note that in 2019 the two nations invited were… Japan and Qatar. The reason? The Gold Cup, the CONCACAF cup, was taking place at the same time and France, Spain and Portugal had declined the invitation from CONMEBOL. If you are lost, we are only at the beginning. Because if the format of the competition, which varies between 10, 12 and 16 teams is quite a headache, it is nothing compared to the frequency of the competition.
Canada – Venezuela, Copa America 2024
Credit: Getty Images
THE HARD STABILITY OF THE TOURNAMENT PERIODICITY
Every two, three, four years, since its creation in 1916, the periodicity of the Copa América has never ceased to be talked about. Two editions in the same year in 1959, eight years without competitions between 1967 and 1975, an edition in 2015 and then in 2016, it is hard for football fans to understand what is happening across the Atlantic.
Between 1987 and 2001, the tournament was held every two years, regaining a semblance of stability before moving to a four-year cycle, like the Euro. A choice to avoid some players having to chain Copa – World Cup – Copa, three summers in a row.
After a 2004 edition of transition between the two formats, in 2007 CONMEBOL settled into this rhythm. 2007, 2011, 2015 and… 2016! Wanting to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the competition, the organizers decided on a special edition of the Copa América, one year after the previous one, but which did not break the new rhythm of 4 years. The next “real” edition will take place in 2019. Before the next one in… 2021. Another inconsistency. It’s starting to be a lot.
The fight that broke out at the end of the match between Colombia fans and Uruguay players, Copa America 2024
Credit: Getty Images
Indeed, from 2019, CONMEBOL changed its mind again. It decided to align itself with the UEFA calendar and organize the Copa América in even years. It was then planned to hold a new edition of the tournament one year after that of 2019 but Covid would rear its ugly head. As in Europe, the competition finally took place in 2021.
Now CONMEBOL seems to have found a certain stability: an edition every four years, at the same time as the Euro. See you in 2028 for the 49th Copa America, until the next “special” edition…
2024-07-13 21:18:00
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