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Over the course of 2022 there has been constant speculation about the United States potentially hosting Copa America 2024. Reports have been suggesting that we could see a 16-team tournament with 10 teams from Conmebol and 6 teams from Concacaf hosted in the USA.
Last week the Conmebol president Alejandro Dominguez addressed these rumours and he certainly didn’t rule the idea out. In fact he confirmed that talks were happening with Concacaf in regards to the Copa America 2024 but also said that it is just speculation at the moment.
Dominguez said “Until today, it is speculation. If it happens, we are in constant conversation and today we do not have anything signed yet.
“We have spoken several times [with CONCACAF], we were very close to getting it done on other occasions and unfortunately, it did not happen. The conversation is still open, there is more to do, always united, not divided.”
The idea of Concacaf teams joining the Copa America is one that could definitely make the tournament a lot more interesting and attractive.
Under the current format the Copa America only really gets interesting from the knockout stage. In a tournament you ideally want 2 teams out of a group of 4 going through. When only 3 teams out of a group of 4 are getting through there’s a real lack of any jeopardy. The only thing they’re useful for is deciding the seeding of the quarter finals.
The rumour going around has been that Conmebol teams want the Copa America to be in the US in 2024 in order to prepare for the 2026 World Cup where the United States will be a host.
Since the United States, Mexico and Canada are automatically qualified for the 2026 World Cup due to being the hosts, it’ll be a huge benefit to play in the 2024 Copa America. Playing competitive games against South American opposition in a huge continental tournament would be great preparation for the World Cup. Otherwise these 3 teams will be relying solely on international friendlies, nations league games and the Gold Cup so it’s a win win for both confederations.
Inviting the United States, Canada and Mexico then letting the other Concacaf nations battle it out for the other 3 spots could make for an intriguing tournament. But either way it’s all speculation at the moment and we await to see who will be hosting the 2024 Copa America.
