By
The Associated Press
The 2024 Copa América will be played in the United States in the middle of next year and will feature six CONCACAF teams as guests.
CONMEBOL, an entity that brings together the ten South American soccer federations, confirmed this Friday the venue for the next edition of the continental national team championship after signing a strategic collaboration agreement with its counterpart in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
The agreement also includes joint participation in other women's national team competitions and a new club tournament.
The venue for the next Copa América,
the oldest national team tournament in the world
, became vacant after Ecuador resigned as the venue in 2024, as it should according to the rotation of the ten countries that make up CONMEBOL.
The South American country cited insecurity problems.
It is not clear if Lionel Messi will participate in the continental tournament.Getty Images
At the same time, the United States, Mexico and Canada — co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup — are especially interested in playing against teams from other confederations to stay competitive, since they will not play qualifiers.
When exactly will the Cup be played?
The six CONCACAF teams invited to the next Copa América will qualify through the 2023-24 Nations League.
The exact date on which the Copa América will begin in 2024 is not yet known, but CONMEBOL announced that it will take place during the summer.
[Dani Alves once again changes his version of the alleged rape. The woman who accuses him waives compensation]
The United States organized the centenary edition of the Copa América in 2016, where Chile emerged victorious after eliminating Argentina on penalties in the final.
Will Messi play?
In 2024, Argentina will defend the title obtained in 2021 and will also do so as the most recent FIFA world champion.
It is not clear if his captain Lionel Messi will participate in the continental tournament, but the star indicated after obtaining the maximum trophy in Qatar 2022 that he wants to enjoy
playing for his country "as world champion".
This young Salvadoran who is missing a leg will finally be able to play soccer in Spain
Jan 23, 202300:53
“CONMEBOL and CONCACAF are linked by historical and affective ties.
But above all, we are united by the characteristic passion of all of America for soccer and sport”, highlighted the president of the South American entity, Alejandro Domínguez.
As part of this new CONMEBOL-CONCACAF alliance, a new club tournament will be organized in which the two best teams in the competitions of each confederation will participate.
The first edition would be in 2024.
While the four best women's teams in South America —Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and Paraguay, according to their location in the last Copa América— will participate in the 2024 CONCACAF Gold Cup, which will also be organized by the United States, according to the agreement.
“This partnership is to
support the continued growth of men's and women's soccer
, and
it will really be of mutual benefit for both Confederations”, valued Victor Montagliani, president of CONCACAF.