Argentina, Colombia to host revamped Copa America in 2020

Article posted by Coliseum, April 29^th, 2019

Image: ole.com.ar

The 2020 Copa America will mark a tournament revamp, with six teams beginning the campaign in a north zone in Colombia and six playing in a south zone in co-hosts Argentina, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) said in April, Reuters news agency reported.

Argentina will be in the southern group, alongside Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia and an as yet undisclosed guest. Brazil will feature in the northern group with Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and another invited nation.

The teams will play each other once in their groups, and the top four sides in each group will then qualify for the quarter-finals. The final is to be played in Argentina.

The changes are part of a widespread attempt to revitalize South American club and international competitions and bring them more into line with Europe.

CONMEBOL have abandoned their six-decades long tradition of playing the Copa Libertadores final on a home-and-away basis, and will this year play the final at a neutral ground for the first time, much like the Champions League.

Next year’s Copa America will be the fourth in six years. Officials want the tournament to be played at the same time as the European Championship, Europe’s equivalent.

Earlier in March, CONMEBOL rejected a proposal from the United States and awarded the 2020 Copa America tournament to Argentina and Colombia.
CONMEBOL officials said the joint bid was accepted as a way of “bringing South American football to the fans” and would be subject to a more detailed presentation by both countries.

The next edition of the tournament, usually played by all 10 South American nations and at least two invited guests, is due to be held in Brazil in June.

CONMEBOL want to hold another Copa America the following year and thereafter host it every four years, to bring it into line with its equivalent in Europe, the European Championship.

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