COPA AMERICA 2024 HEADS TO THE UNITED STATES... AGAIN!
Fourteen cities across the United States will host the 2024 Copa America, with the opening game taking place in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and the finale at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. This will be the second time the tournament is held outside of South America since the Centenary America's Cup in 2016.
Originally, Ecuador was set to host the 2024 tournament, but it withdrew due to financial, security, and stadium issues in November 2022. The United States and Peru were the only two countries left willing to stage the World Cup, with CONMEBOL and CONCACAF jointly choosing the US in January 2023.
While the US has a better stadium infrastructure than any South American country, the decision to host the tournament again in the US has sparked criticism in Latin America.
"South America has problems organizing its historical national team championships," argued Esequiel Fernandez Morse in February's La Nación.
CONMEBOL faced challenges in organizing the last three Copa Americas held in South America. In 2015, the tournament was relocated from Brazil due to its oversaturation of hosting events, and Colombia held the soccer World Cup 2020, but it was postponed due to COVID-19 and later Colombia backed out as the host country.
The game was eventually moved to Brazil and played behind closed doors. Now, the host country has changed three times in a row, with the US taking over organizing duties from Ecuador.
Fernandez Morse also questioned why the US was not subjected to the same levels of control, especially in terms of security.
"It doesn't matter that the game is being held in California, a state that experienced four mass shootings within ten days in January," wrote Fernandez Morse.
"There were more than 600 mass shootings in the US in 2022, and during the first three weeks of 2023, there were 39 shootings."
"It's impossible for CONMEBOL or FIFA to demand that the US visit its 'festival of naturalized violence,' which takes place in shopping malls, schools, or on any street," he continued.
However, hosting the Copa America 2024 will undoubtedly give the US a significant boost. With preparations underway for the country to co-host the World Cup in 2026 along with Canada and Mexico, the US is looking to capitalize on the opportunity.
The US is still a football shadow in the country, where NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL still hold sway. A successful tournament for the US Men's National Team could contribute significantly to its development, providing a massive impact and national interest leading up to 2026.
The 2016 Copa America saw record attendance, with an average of 46,000 spectators — the highest for any Copa America to date. The move of Lionel Messi to Inter Miami, which has sparked worldwide interest and boosted ticket sales and attendance since then, also presents significant opportunities for the 2024 tournament. It could serve as a perfect warm-up act.
Messi's performances for Inter Miami have attracted numerous stars, and tickets for both home and away games are highly sought after. But the club has been criticized for raising the cost of season tickets shortly after Messi's arrival and exploiting loyal fans.
The impact Messi will have in the US is enormous, having been named Time Magazine's Sportsman of the Year in December 2022 after leading Argentina to the World Championship title.
"With 36 years, Messi has given American football a remarkable boost after two decades of his unrivaled career. Attendance, ticket prices, merchandise sales, and interest have skyrocketed. His play has taken on the feel of a religious renaissance," wrote Sean Gregory for Time Magazine.
"In the next three years, the US will host three major international events (Copa America 2024, FIFA Club World Cup 2025, and the 2026 World Cup), which will surely attract more fans. But Messi is an accelerator.
"The world's most renowned and influential sportsman will play in Miami for at least the next two years and is still in top form – he won the Ballon d'Or as the world's best player of the year in late October for the eighth time. America is now finally a football country. A football country."
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The 2024 Copa America will be held in various stadiums across the US, including Miami Gardens, which is famous for hosting NFL games and the Miami Dolphins.
Despite having a good stadium infrastructure compared to other South American countries, the decision to host the tournament again in the US has drawn criticism in Latin America.
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The 2024 Copa América is being held across 14 stadiums in the United States. However, the actual number of stadiums was not specified in the provided sources. In reality, 16 teams will compete in the tournament. ()
Hosting the 2024 Copa América in the US could have been motivated by several factors, including:
- Financial Considerations: Organizing the tournament in the US might have provided significant financial benefits, such as higher sponsorship deals, revenue from ticket sales, and reduced organizational costs compared to holding the event in South America.
- Infrastructure: The US has an extensive sports infrastructure, with modern stadiums that can accommodate large crowds, meet FIFA's requirements, and have a proven capacity to host major events, as highlighted in source [1].
- Global Reach: Hosting the Copa América in the US could have increased the tournament's global visibility and appeal, attracting a larger audience and potentially boosting the popularity of South American football in North America.
However, the specific reasons behind the decision to host the 2024 Copa América in the US are not detailed in the provided sources. ()
The potential benefits of hosting the 2024 Copa América in the US could include:
- Economic Impact: The tournament could provide a significant economic boost to the host cities and generate revenue for the US. ()
- Cultural Exchange: Hosting the Copa América could facilitate cultural exchange between the US and South American countries, promoting mutual understanding and appreciation.
- International Exposure: The tournament could provide an opportunity for the US to showcase its organizational capabilities and attract major international events in the future.
On the flip side, the decision to host the Copa América in the US has sparked criticism and concerns in South America, such as:
- Cultural and Historical Significance: The Copa América is a deeply rooted and culturally significant tournament in South America, and some might feel that hosting it outside the continent diminishes its historical and cultural value.
- Logistical Challenges: Organizing a major international tournament in a new country can be complex, and there might have been concerns about the logistical challenges, such as transportation, accommodation, and fan support.
- Political and Social Factors: The decision to host the tournament in the US could have been influenced by political and social factors, such as diplomatic relations between countries or the desire to promote football globally.
However, the specific criticisms and reasons behind the decision to host the tournament in the US are not detailed in the provided sources. ()
