This summer is going to be a busy one for football. The biggest European Championships ever start on June 10th and the Olympics are in August where football, even though it is an Under 23 event, has become quite the significant tournament. But before both of these events the Copa America starts on June 3rd.
The Copa America is this year the Copa America Centenario, a special edition to mark 100 years since the first one was played. For the unknowing (sorry, but I can't make assumptions about my audience's knowledge) the Copa is the South American championship, where a couple of guest countries (USA, Mexico, Jamaica) usually join the 10 South American teams. The winners go on to represent the continent in the Confederations Cup, held a year before the World Cup. But this year, this will not happen. Chile, who won last year's "real" Copa, will play in Russia next year.
But that's not all. To mark the 100 years since South America crowned their first continental champions the Copa is going to be held....in the USA. Of course. The official excuse, sorry, reason is that it is a joint celebration of football in the COMNEBOL (South America) and CONCACAF (North, Central America, Caribbean) regions. Six CONCACAF countries will join the South Americans. There were initial discussions to host some matches in Mexico and the U.S. However, the then acting CONCACAF president Alfredo Hawit (who became president after the president was arrested as part of the Fifa corruption scandal but was then arrested himself on similar charges) said that the market, the stadiums and the people are in the U.S. So off they went to the land of (more) bigger stadiums bigger TV deals and more corporate sponsors.
There was a potential obstacle to the success of the tournament. The Central and North American teams are usually guests and in Fifa's eyes are not officially playing in the championship. Therefore, by their rules clubs who's players are from these guest countries did not have to release their players for the tournament. Also, there was doubt as to whether Fifa would add the Centenario to its International Match Calendar. Both these issues were overcome as Fifa have officially recognised it.
Therefore all the teams are expected to be at full strength. This is not great for players from Mexico, for example. As I wrote a few months ago Mexicans, or Chileans, will be finish their club season, then play in the Copa, some will play in the Olympics, go back to their clubs for a full season, go to Russia for the Confederations Cup next summer play another club season and be back in Russia for the World Cup in 2018. Who needs a rest?
Back to the reasons for why the Copa is not being held in a South American country, I don't like making assumptions. So I am writing to COMNEBOL to see if I can get an official explanation. I'll get back to you.
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