Two brands get off the Copa América 1:08
(CNN Spanish) -
The Copa América 2021 will start in Brazil this Saturday not free of controversies due to a pandemic that has not given truce in the countries of the region.
Between June 13 and July 10, 10 South American teams will play the 47th version of the oldest tournament of soccer teams in the world, reported the South American Football Confederation, Conmebol, on its website.
Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela will meet in four Brazilian cities starting this weekend, where 28 games will be played.
"The Copa América 2021 will be held under strict observance of a package of security measures that reaches both competitors and all those involved in the national team meeting," Conmebol said in a statement.
Players and staff of the Brazilian soccer team criticize the Copa América in a public letter
Brazil's obstacles to organizing the Copa América 2:10
Change of venue for the Copa América
The 2020 edition of the Copa América was postponed a year due to the coronavirus pandemic and was scheduled to be held in both Argentina and Colombia between June 13 and July 10.
It was the first time in the history of the tournament that it would be organized jointly in two countries.
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However, Colombia was stripped of its co-hosting responsibilities on May 20, 2021 after protests across the country that were sparked by a controversial tax reform preset by President Iván Duque.
The same thing happened in Argentina and on May 31 it stopped hosting the Cup. Conmebol did not specify why the tournament had been withdrawn from Argentina, but the country is experiencing an increase in coronavirus cases, with an average of seven days of more than 30,000 new cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
FIFPro, the global players union, says it has "serious concerns" about relocating the Copa América with so little time to prepare and will support any player who decides it is unsafe to compete.
"The latest plan to organize, in a very short time, for hundreds of footballers to compete in a tournament of such complexity leaves uncertainty open for each and every one of them and their families," FIFPro said in a statement.
The Supreme Federal Court of Brazil will evaluate a request to suspend the celebration of the Copa América in the country
Reactions after the confirmation of the Copa América 1:21
Players from Brazil, the new headquarters, criticize the Copa América
After withdrawing Colombia and Argentina as hosts of the tournament, Conmebol announced that Brazil would host the championship.
President Jair Bolsonaro announced that the Copa América will be held in the Federal District of Brazil and the states of Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grosso and Goiás.
He added that the four state governors agreed to host the tournament.
Meanwhile, the players and staff of the Brazilian soccer team published a letter on their social media accounts early Wednesday morning criticizing the organization of the Copa América tournament, but assuring that they would continue to participate if the tournament continued.
Players criticize the organization of the Copa América 2:54
"We are a cohesive group, but with different ideas," says the document.
“For various reasons, whether humanitarian or professional, we are dissatisfied with the conduct of the Copa América by Conmebol, whether it is subsequently held in Chile or even in Brazil.
All recent events lead us to believe in an inadequate process in its realization ”.
The Brazilian team, however, emphasized that "at no time" did they want to "make this a political discussion."
"We are against the organization of the Copa América, but we will never say no to the Brazilian team," the statement concluded.
The Supreme Court of Brazil will have a special session this Thursday to consider the possible suspension of the tournament.
The president and judge of the Tribunal, Luiz Fux, scheduled the emergency session on Tuesday following requests made by the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) and the Confederation of Metalworkers, who had argued that the tournament should be halted due to the possibility of that could increase cases and deaths from covid-19.
PAHO alerts of possible increases in covid-19
The Director of Sanitary Emergencies of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Ciro Ugarte, advised countries that host events with large numbers of people in the Americas region to "reconsider or postpone."
At PAHO's weekly press conference, Ugarte was asked about the Copa América, and while Ugarte did not directly mention the tournament, he recommended to countries planning an event with a large number of people that, “the organizers they should reconsider or postpone the event until conditions are more favorable and when the risk is within the limit of what is manageable.
Copa América in Brazil: who wins and who loses?
Two brands get off the Copa América 1:08
Ugarte added that "any country that decides to organize this type of event must be extremely careful and work with all internal and external partners in such a way that the risk is minimized."
Brazilian Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga defended the government's decision to host the Copa América on Tuesday.
"There is no evidence that [Copa América] increases the level of contamination by covid-19 among athletes."
Queiroga made the comments while testifying in a Senate investigation into the Brazilian government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
When asked about the concerns in the host country of the tournament, he said that "the protocols adopted by CONMEBOL were evaluated" and that "it gives us confidence in terms of security to host the matches in Brazil."
Sponsors resign
Mastercard and Brazilian brewer Ambev confirmed that they will not sponsor this year's Copa America in Brazil.
In a statement to CNN on Thursday, Mastercard said, "After careful consideration, we have decided not to activate our sponsorship of the Copa América in Brazil."
Ambev said that his brand will not be present, although "the company continues with its commitment and support to Brazilian soccer."
The tournament was approved by the government despite the fact that Brazil registered close to 17 million cases of covid-19 and 473,000 deaths according to the World Health Organization.
