Copa América is the premier international football tournament in South America. Organized by CONMEBOL, it features the continent’s strongest national teams and is one of the oldest international competitions in world football. This guide explains how the tournament works, including format, match rules and knockout structure.
What Is Copa América?
Copa América is the South American continental championship for national teams.
It is organized by CONMEBOL (South American Football Confederation).
The tournament has been held since 1916, making it the oldest international football competition.
Unlike the World Cup, only South American nations compete — although invited guest teams have occasionally participated.
Participating Teams
CONMEBOL consists of 10 member nations:
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Uruguay
- Colombia
- Chile
- Peru
- Ecuador
- Paraguay
- Bolivia
- Venezuela
Recent editions have expanded to 12 or 16 teams, sometimes including invited teams from North America (CONCACAF).
Qualification Process
Unlike UEFA competitions, Copa América typically does not have a long standalone qualification campaign.
Participation is usually:
- Automatic for CONMEBOL members
- Based on invitation or regional agreements for guest teams
In expanded editions, teams may qualify through regional tournaments or rankings.
Tournament Format
The format may vary slightly between editions, but a common structure includes:
Group Stage
- Teams divided into groups
- Round-robin format
- 3 points for a win
