Brazil to Host Copa America 2021, Confirms CONMEBOL

Brazil replaces Argentina as the new hosts of the Copa America 2021, Latin American football federation CONMEBOL confirmed officially.

Earlier today, CONMEBOL declared that Argentina will no longer host this summer’s Copa América due to COVID-19 concerns. The 2021 tournament had lost its other co-host, Colombia, 10 days earlier. The most viable alternative, the United States, who had previously hosted a special centenary edition of the tournament in 2016 but only as a participant were mooted as the frontrunners to take over the event. It has three times been a playing guest in the South American competition but has never hosted without fielding a team.

The 2021 edition of Copa America was till now without a viable host nation less than two weeks before it kicks off. Notably, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), on Sunday, revealed that Argentina will no longer host Copa America 2021.The tournament, featuring 10 South American nations, was due to take place in Argentina and Colombia from June 13 to July 10.

CONMEBOL said earlier on Sunday that Argentina’s hosting of the Copa America football tournament has been suspended “in view of the current circumstances,” , as the country endures a record coronavirus surge. The South American football body, which last week stripped Colombia of co-hosting duties over deadly unrest, said it was considering other offers to hold the tournament. “CONMEBOL informs that in view of the current circumstances it has decided to suspend the organization of the Copa America in Argentina,” the governing body tweeted.

It also comes after Argentina had to suspend its domestic football season until at least May 30 due to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Argentine government had imposed a strict lockdown earlier this month amid a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the country. The death toll crossed the 77,000-mark on Saturday, while over 29,000 new cases were reported. CONMEBOL (The South American Football Confederation) added that it will analyze what other countries who have expressed interest in hosting the tournament have to offer.