The upcoming 48th edition of the Copa America, scheduled to be held in the United States, is set to bring together some of the world’s most renowned football players. While the tournament is traditionally organized by the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), this edition will be co-organized by the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF). Initially, Ecuador was slated to host the 2024 Copa America, adhering to CONMEBOL’s rotation order. However, in a surprising turn of events, Ecuador declined to host the tournament in November 2022. Both Peru and the United States expressed interest in taking over as hosts, with the United States ultimately being chosen.
This isn’t the first time the Copa America, the world’s oldest football tournament involving national teams, has been embroiled in controversy. The history of the South American continental showpiece event is dotted with incidents that have sparked debates and raised eyebrows.
One of the recurring controversies surrounding the Copa America is the inclusion of teams outside CONMEBOL. While the tournament is known for inviting nations from other confederations to participate, the selection process for these guest teams has often been met with criticism. Ahead of the 2019 edition held in Brazil, CONMEBOL announced the inclusion of three nations each from CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). This move saw Qatar and Japan joining the tournament, a decision that was not universally welcomed. Notably, Qatar, the host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, was eliminated from the group stage of the Copa America.
The 2019 Copa America also witnessed a memorable and controversial incident involving Lionel Messi. In the third-place playoff match between Argentina and Chile, Messi was shown a red card before halftime. With Argentina leading 2-0, Messi and Chile’s Gary Medel engaged in a heated altercation that involved shoving. Messi used only his chest, while Medel seemingly attempted a headbutt. Both players received red cards for their actions. This tense moment, which appeared on the verge of escalating into a full-blown fight, remains one of the most bizarre incidents in Messi’s illustrious career.
