March 16 – Co-hosts Argentina will kick off the 2020 Copa America in Buenos Aires on June 13, with South American Football Confederation Conmebol releasing the competition’s new calendar after both invitees Australia and Qatar withdrew because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Conmebol says it invited other countries to participate and replace the Asian dropouts, but invitations were declined because of the coronavirus pandemic. As a consequence the Copa America will now be reduced to a 10-team playing field.
“As is traditional, Conmebol invited teams from other confederations,” the body said in a statement.
“However, the suspended matches and delays brought about by the pandemic that affected world football impeded other nations from participating.”
Even so, the competition will be stretched to a maximum number of matches with the first round eliminating just two teams. Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile and Argentina play in the southern group in Argentina, while Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru and Colombia play in the northern section in Colombia. It is the first time the competition will be co-hosted.
Argentina kick off the competition against Chile. Brazil open their campaign on June 14 against Venezuela in Medellin, Colombia. Barranquilla will stage the final on July 10.
This will be the fourth Copa America in six years, with the competition taking place in 2015, 2016 and 2019. This summer’s tournament was postponed by a year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The next finals are scheduled for 2024 in Ecuador.
Brazil are the reigning champions. They won the competition on home soil in 2019, defeating Peru 3-1 in the final.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1714077886labto1714077886ofdlr1714077886owedi1714077886sni@o1714077886fni1714077886