The Copa América is returning to the U.S in 2024, giving the American men, Mexico and Canada the chance to test themselves in a prestigious inter-regional event ahead of the ’26 World Cup.
The three World Cup co-hosts won’t have to go through the grind of qualifying, so were faced with looking elsewhere for competitive opportunities during the build-up to 2026. Enter the partnership between Concacaf and CONMEBOL announced Friday morning. Soccer’s North American and South American governing bodies previously worked together to stage the 2016 Copa América in the U.S. That event, a one-time celebration of the South American championship’s centenary, was well received (average attendance surpassed 46,000 across 10 venues).
For CONMEBOL, returning to lucrative U.S. shores was attractive (the 2024 Copa was originally scheduled to be held in Ecuador). For Concacaf, offering its teams the chance to compete beyond continental borders was vital to its continued growth. The arrangement also includes a ’24 tournament for women’s national teams and a four-team event for men’s club sides that’s designed to be an annual fixture.
