3 yıl önce

Copa America moves to Brazil as Covid-19 cases surge in Argentina

The South American Football Confederation says the start and finish dates of next month's tournament are confirmed and the host cities and the matches would be revealed soon.

AFP

In this file photo taken on December 03, 2019, the Copa America trophy and the official ball are seen during the draw of the Copa America 2020 football tournament, at the Convention Centre in Cartagena, Colombia.

The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) has said it would move next month's Copa America to Brazil, after original host nation Argentina pulled out at the last minute due to a surge in Covid-19 cases.

The decision means the oldest international tournament in the world will kick off as planned on June 13, with the final on July 10.

"The 2021 Copa America will be played in Brazil!" CONMEBOL said in a statement on Monday.

"The start and finish dates are confirmed. The host cities and the matches will be revealed by CONMEBOL in the coming hours."

The announcement comes less than 24 hours after Argentina said its Covid-19 outbreak meant it could not longer host and despite the fact that Brazil is still fighting its own battle with the coronavirus.

The Copa América will be held in Covid-denying Jaír Bolsonaro's Brazil, where 462,000 people have died of the virus. Argentina were removed as hosts yesterday after a surge in cases, while original co-hosts Colombia were dropped 10 days earlier because of ongoing protests. https://t.co/vVRhnUjhYh
— John Bartlett (@jwbartlett92) May 31, 2021

Financial importance

More than 450,000 people have died from Covid-19 in Brazil.

Brazil has routinely reported the continent's highest case numbers and deaths, and ranks second highest in the world for both daily reported cases and deaths at present.

This year's Copa America was to be the first featuring joint hosts, but Colombia was removed as co-host on May 20 after a wave of protests demanding social and economic change spread across the country.

CONMEBOL hoped Argentina could then host all 28 games or share them with South American neighbours.

Organisers had been reluctant to call the tournament off because of its importance financially.

The last Copa America, held in Brazil in 2019, brought in $118 million in revenue.