Donovan McNabb and the State of Football
The United States will reportedly warm up to hosting the 2026 World Cup by first playing host to one of the world’s great cup competitions.
The 2024 Copa América will be played in the United States after an invitation to host from CONMEBOL, per Fox Sports MX.
Ecuador was initially slated to host the tournament, but the Ecuadorian Football Federation would not commit to hosting — and finally recused itself from the responsibility in November.
Earlier this week, multiple reports suggested that the USA, Mexico, and Canada were all in talks to play in Copa América as guest participants. Fox Sports MX’s new report implies that all three will now compete.
As crazy as it all sounds for North American teams to host and play in South America’s premier soccer tournament, none of this is unprecedented.
The U.S. hosted the 2016 Copa América — the centennial celebration of the tournament and CONMEBOL — as the first country outside of South America to have the honor.
Of the three North American nations, Mexico has played in the tournament the most times (10), finishing second in 1993 and 2001.
The United States has participated four times, finishing as high as fourth in 1995 and at home in 2016. Canada’s first appearance in the tournament would be in 2024.
After exiting the 2022 World Cup in the Round of 16, the USMNT could use its entry in Copa América to tune up for a deeper run when it hosts the world’s most famous soccer tournament in 2026. For host stadiums, it would also serve as a good dry run.
