2024 Copa América

Lore & Background

The tournament was originally expected to be hosted by Ecuador due to CONMEBOL's rotation order, but Ecuador declined in November 2022. Peru and the United States expressed interest. On January 27, 2023, it was announced that the United States would host, with six CONCACAF guest teams qualifying through the 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League. The opening match was at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, and the final at Hard Rock Stadium. The group stage draw was held on December 7, 2023, in Miami, Florida. Argentina was seeded into Group A as reigning Copa América champions.

In Their Own Story

The humid Miami air hung heavy over Hard Rock Stadium on that July night. Floodlights cut through the darkness, illuminating the pristine green grass pitch where legends stood. The roar of the crowd was a mix of anticipation and anxiety as the final minutes ticked away. When the referee blew the whistle, the blue and white kits erupted in celebration, arms raised toward the sky.

Reader's Guide

The tournament featured 16 teams: ten from CONMEBOL and six from CONCACAF. The six CONCACAF participants qualified through the 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League. The group stage consisted of four groups of four. The top two teams from each group advanced to the quarter-finals. In the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and third place play-off, no extra time was played; draws were resolved by penalties. In the final, extra time was played if the score was level after 90 minutes, followed by penalties if still tied. The final started 82 minutes late due to security incidents.

Did You Know?

• The tournament was the second time the United States hosted the Copa América, after the Copa América Centenario in 2016.
• The match ball, the Puma Cumbre, was unveiled during the group stage draw on December 7, 2023.
• The official mascot was an eagle named Capitán, unveiled on December 7, 2023.
• No official song was released for the tournament; Darude's 'Sandstorm' became an unofficial anthem among fans.