The USA ‘is increasingly likely’ to host the 2024 edition of the Copa America as talks between CONCACAF and CONMEBOL progress, according to a report.
Discussions over the USMNT’s involvement have heated up considerably since the World Cup with the US now touted as a host for the 2024 tournament, according to ESPN.
However, the report adds that there are still small obstacles for the two confederations to overcome before it is finalized.
The USA reportedly ‘is increasingly likely’ to host the 2024 edition of the Copa America
The USA’s involvement in the South American tournament have progressed since Qatar
Argentina, which was also crowned World Cup champions, won the tournament in 2021
Potential venues reportedly have already been discussed with cities for the 2026 World Cup, which the USA will co-host with Canada and Mexico, also possible options for the Copa America.
16 host cities across the USA, Canada and Mexico for the 2026 World Cup were announced by FIFA last year.
Matches will be played in 11 locations across America: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle.
Cincinnati, Denver, Nashville, Orlando and Washington D.C/Baltimore were the American candidate cities to miss out.
The MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Jets and Giants, the SoFi Stadium, which hosted the 2022 Super Bowl, and the AT&T Stadium, also dubbed ‘Jerry World’ for Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones, are among the NFL venues to host games in 2026 and are all potential candidates for the World Cup final.
Potential US venues for the 2024 Copa American have reportedly already been discussed
2026 World Cup venues, including the SoFi Stadium (pictured), could also be used in 2024
The Copa America traditionally features the best international teams from South America, including Brazil and World Cup winners Argentina.
However, the tournament has previously invited guest countries to participate and the US national team has competed in the past.
Most recently, the American side played at the tournament in 2016, which was also hosted in the US, when it went all the way to the semifinals.
Reports of the US and Canada being in negotiations to participate in the Copa America first emerged during the World Cup after both teams had exited the tournament in Qatar.
The USA reached the last-16 out at the World Cup but crashed out in a 3-1 defeat to Holland
Canada also exited the tournament in Qatar at the group stage and is a co-host of 2026 event
After the USMNT crashed out of the World Cup in the last-16 to Holland, one suggestion for it to improve was to play against better opposition more frequently – something that has become harder since UEFA introduced the Nations League to replace exhibition games in the European soccer calendar.
USA captain and Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams appeared to confirm that the Americans will be invited to the tournament, saying they were ‘going to have the opportunity,’ in December.
‘It’s very important that now we use these upcoming tournaments and upcoming games to continue to build this chemistry together,’ he said on NBC Sports, ahead of Leeds’s game against Manchester City last month.
USMNT captain Tyler Adams appeared to confirm the team will play in the Copa America
Adams reflected on the USA’s time in the World Cup before a Leeds game in December
‘One of the things we’ve lacked going into this first World Cup is it took us a long time to get our best players on the field and in camp together. Some of us were injured, some of us were not healthy, we missed out on the opportunity to maximize our time together.
‘Now leading into this World Cup, we have some big tournaments… we have the Nations League, we’re going to have the opportunity to play in the Copa America which is going to be huge for us,’ he continued.
The US, Canada and Mexico do not have to qualify for the 2026 tournament because they are hosts, meaning they will play fewer competitive games between now and the next tournament.
There is, of course, the Gold Cup in 2023 and 2025 but the trio are usually the leading sides in the event. USA hosts the 2023 tournament.
Playing in the Copa America would give the USA the chance to face the likes of World Cup winners Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador and more in competitive matches.
