The venue for the 2028 Copa América remains shrouded in secrecy, as CONMEBOL has yet to issue an official statement. Could the tournament once more head to the United States?
{{{htmlAmp}}}
Reports from The Times suggest the South American championship is heavily favored to stay in the U.S. The Argentine FA allegedly pitched Buenos Aires as a host, but the continental body turned it down, as it did with Ecuador’s bid.
This edition may feature 20 squads, thanks to a U.S. proposal to invite CONCACAF sides. Organisers could split the field into four groups of five, with the best third‑place teams also advancing.
So far, ten CONMEBOL nations—Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela—are confirmed. The United States would become the eleventh participant as host, while Canada and Mexico, co‑hosts of the last World Cup, are strong candidates for inclusion.
Previous Copa América tournaments in the United States
The 2016 Centennial Cup and the 2024 tournament in the U.S. each featured 16 teams, blending the ten South American members with guests such as Haiti, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Jamaica and Canada. The top two from each group moved straight to the quarter‑finals.
In my view, expanding to twice as many teams shows CONMEBOL’s drive to craft a larger, longer‑lasting event that gives smaller nations a real shot at a deep run.