Written by Megan Gutter, April 30 2016
Since 1993, the Copa America is usually contested for among 12 national teams: the 10 national teams that compose the South American Football Association (CONMEBOL) and 2 invited participants, typically from the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF). However because the Copa America Centenario celebrates the hundredth year anniversary of the tournament, 16 teams will play – all 10 from CONMEBOL and 6 from CONCACAF. The 10 CONMEBOL teams competing will be Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela while the 6 CONCACAF teams will be the USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Haiti, and Panama. Of course, the 10 teams from the CONMEBOL didn’t have to compete in anything beforehand to qualify for the Copa America 2016 since it is their tournament but the other 6 teams from the CONCACAF had to be selected.[2]
There are only six open slots in the Copa America but 41 possible CONCACAF teams to fill those positions. How do the organizations decide which teams gets to play? As the host country of the first Copa America to be held outside of South America, the United States automatically qualified. In addition, the Mexican national team also automatically qualified due to their reputation as a good team and outstanding record in past tournaments. Two more spots are given to the champion of the 2014 Caribbean Cup and the champion of the 2014 Copa Centroamericana, Jamaica and Costa Rica respectively. The last two spots on the team had to be earned through a qualifying play-off tournament in which four teams battled against each other on the soccer field. The four teams that got a chance to qualify for the Copa America were selected from the top four teams at the 2015 Gold Cup that haven’t already qualified, which were, from highest rank to lowest, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, and Cuba. Panama, the highest ranked, faced last-seeded Cuba and dominated in an easy 4-0 win. Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti had a much closer match, with Haiti emerging victorious.[1] With these slots determined, the stage is set for the groups to be selected and the Copa America Centenario to be underway.
Sources:
[1] Stejskal, Sam. “Copa America.” MLS. 21 February 2016. Web. 24 April 2016. <http://www.mlssoccer.com/meta/competition/copa-america/centenario-101>.
[2] “It’s official: Copa America will be held on US soil in special tournament.” MLS. 1 May 2014. Web. 24 April 2016. < http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2014/05/01/its-official-copa-am-rica-will-be-held-us-soil-special-centennial-tournament-2016>.
How to cite this page:
“Qualification for the Copa America Centenario”, Written by Megan Gutter (2016). Copa America Centernario 2016 Guide, Soccer Politics Blog, Duke Univsersity, http://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/tournament-guides/copa-america-centenario-2016-guide/copa-america-centenario-2016-team-guide/qualification-for-the-copa-america-cenentario/ (accessed on (date)).
