Copa America, the oldest international continental football competition, has a rich history and evolving structure.

Initially known as Campeonato Sudamericano de Futbol (South American Championship of Football) and officially referred to as the South American Championship of Nations in English, the tournament adopted its current name in 1975.

Historical Format Changes

Early Copa America tournaments featured a round-robin stage where all teams competed against each other. This format persisted until 1967, and in the case of a tie in points at the top of the standings, a playoff match (or matches) was held to determine the champion. From 1975 to 1983, the tournament had no fixed host nation and was conducted in a home-and-away fashion, adding a unique dynamic to the competition.

Modern Tournament Structure

There are 16 teams in the tournament, with 10 coming from CONMEBOL (South America’s governing body) and six from CONCACAF, who qualified through recent Nations League competitions.

Group Stage

These 16 teams are divided into four groups of four. The top two teams from each group move on to the knockout rounds, while the bottom two teams are eliminated from the tournament.

Round-Robin Matches: Each group plays a round-robin tournament, with each team scheduled for three matches against the others in the group. Unlike many global tournaments, the last round of matches in each group is not scheduled simultaneously.

Advancement: The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage, along with the two best third-place teams. Points are used to rank the teams within each group. Since 1995, three points have been awarded for a win, one for a draw, and none for a loss (prior to this, winners received two points).

Tiebreakers: The ranking of teams within each group is determined by the following criteria:

a) Greatest number of points obtained in all group matches. b) Goal difference in all group matches. c) Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches.

If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above criteria, their rankings are determined by:

d) Greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned. e) Goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned. f) Greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned. g) Drawing of lots by the CONMEBOL Organizing Committee (i.e., at random).

Knockout Stage

The knockout stage is a single-elimination tournament. It begins with the quarter-finals, followed by the semi-finals, the third-place match (contested by the losing semi-finalists), and the final.

Match Resolution: In the quarter-finals and semi-finals, if a match is tied after 90 minutes, a penalty shootout decides the winner. In the final, if the match is still tied after 90 minutes, it proceeds to extra time. If it remains tied after extra time, a penalty shootout determines the champion.

Betting on Copa America Soccer

Betting on the Copa America tournament involves understanding team form, player conditions, and historical data. Popular bets include match results, total goals, and outright winners. To learn more, check out our bet guide on betting on the Copa America tournament.