Copa América 1997

Brazil's first Copa América win outside Brazil, and a historic double with the World Cup.

The 1997 Copa América was the 38th edition of the Copa América, held in Bolivia from 11 to 29 June. It was organized by CONMEBOL. Costa Rica and Mexico were invited to bring the total number of competing teams to 12. The tournament was won by Brazil, who became the first team to hold the Copa América and the World Cup at the same time.

Quick Facts

Tournament host: Bolivia
Final score: 3–1
Top scorer (brazil): Ronaldo (7 goals)
Key playmaker: Dunga
Notable debutant: None (Cafu had already debuted for Brazil in 1990)

Lore & Background

Brazil's victory in 1997 marked the first time they won the Copa América outside of Brazil. They would repeat the feat of holding both titles simultaneously in 2004, and Argentina would also achieve it in 2024.

Reader's Guide

The 12 teams were divided into three groups of four. The group stage used a round-robin format, with three points for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss. The top two teams from each group advanced to the quarter-finals, along with the two best third-placed teams. Tie-breakers: goal difference, goals scored, head-to-head result, then drawing of lots.