COPA AMÉRICA 2024
Why is the 2024 Copa América played in the US?
The United States stage the tournament, soccer’s oldest continental competition for the second time. The defending champions Argentina set out as favorites but the hosts are expected to go far.
The 2024 Copa América, the 48th edition of the soccer tournament - the world’s oldest and longest running continental soccer competition will kick off in just a few days’ time. Argentina and Canada have the honor of getting proceedings underway and set the ball rolling at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia in the inaugural game on Thursday 14 June.
The US hosted the 2016 Copa América
This will be just the second time that the United States have held the Copa América. North America was elected to host the Centennial America Cup - to mark CONMEBOL‘s centenary in 2016. It was the first time that the tournament had been staged outside South America. It will be remembered for being the second time in successive years that Chile and Argentina contested the trophy in the final.
And just like the previous year’s contest, the game ended without goals and ended up being settled from the penalty spot. Lionel Messi, who at the time was still without any major honors with Argentina’s national team, was cruelly denied again by the same opponents.
2024 Copa América venues
- Levi Stadium: Santa Clara, California
- Allegiant Stadium: Las Vegas, Nevada
- SoFi Stadium: Inglewood, California
- State Farm Stadium: Glendale, Arizona
- Children’s Mercy Park: Kansas City, Kansas
- GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium: Kansas City, Missouri
- Q2 Stadium: Austin, Texas
- NGR Stadium: Houston, Texas
- AT&T Stadium: Arlington, Texas
- Hard Rock Stadium: Miami Gardens, Florida
- Inter&Co Stadium: Orlando, Florida
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium: Atlanta, Florida
- Bank of America Stadium: Charlotte, North Carolina
- MetLife Stadium: East Rutherford, New Jersey
2024 Copa América - why the States?
On 27 January 2023, CONMEBOL confirmed that the United States would host the 2024 edition of the Copa América rather than Ecuador, who turned down the opportunity to stage the competition in November 2022. Ecuadorian Football Federation president Francisco Egas explained at the time that the country was not suitably prepared to stage such a major competition - especially after the turmoil and disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Changes to the format were introduced for the expanded 2024 Copa América which features 16 teams: 10 from CONMEBOL and six guest teams from CONCACAF - four of them qualifying via the 2023-24 CONCACAF Nations League with two berths going to teams from the Play-In round (Canada and Costa Rica).
One of the reasons why the 2024 tournament is being held in the United States due to a strategic partnership between CONMEBOL and CONCACAF to strengthen and develop the sport in both regions. Another is that is serves as a prelude for the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in North America, Canada and Mexico.
The 2024 Copa América gets underway on Thursday 14 June 2024 and reaches its conclusion on Sunday 14 July with the final to be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. Title holders Argentina will be seeking their 16th title and are the favorites with the bookmakers with odds of +175. They are followed by Brazil (+225), Uruguay (+500), Mexico (+1200), Colombia (+1300) and the USMNT (+1400).