Copa América confirmed to stick to the quadrennial schedule, returning in 2028

Copa América will not return to the weird schedule: It will be held every four years.
Text: Javier Escribano
Published 2026-08-11

Copa América, the main football competition between nations in South America, the CONMEBOL region, will stick to the quadrennial schedule with the upcoming edition taking place in 2028, exactly four years after the 2024 edition held in the United States and won by Argentina.

Copa América has had a weird cadence: in 110 years of history (the oldest active continental football competition) it has sometimes been held every four years, every three years, every two years, and even annually, and it has had longer gaps without editions of up to eight years. Between 2001 and 2007 it was held every three years, but then switched to be held every four years to better align it with other continental competitions including UEFA Euro Championships.

However, a special centennial tournament alongside CONCACAF was held in 2016 (one year after the regular 2015 edition). It was held again in 2019, and then another edition was approved in 2020 to switch it to odd years, to align it with UEFA Euro. However, due to Covid, the 2020 edition was held in 2021. It returned as usual in 2024 and will again be held in 2028, in a still undecided country, rumoured to be United States again, and with rumours that Mexico (from CONCACAF) could also be invited.

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