2016 marked the 100th anniversary of Copa América, the tournament that determines the best national team of South America. To celebrate this special occasion, the tournament opened up to the teams from the CONCACAF, a confederation including North and Central America as well as the Carribean, to make the Copa América Centenario. This tournament was even hosted in the USA which made it the first ever Copa América to be hosted outside South America. The tournament was a success as Chile won the tournament and took home the trophy.
In the next year, US soccer, along with the coordination of the ten federations of South America, is looking to replicate this tournament and have recently invited the federations to bring their national teams. This invitation was sent by Carlos Cordeiro, US soccer president, along with offering $200 million in agreement with the invited teams and their administrative bodies to the 10 federations. In the past, many officials from US soccer have discussed such a tournament only to lead to this.
This intercontinental tournament is scheduled to take place in 2020, and the winners will be able to earn over $11 million dollars along with bonuses for each point they bring in. The event will include 10 teams from South America and 6 from the CONCACAF which combine to make a 16 team tournament. Due to the schedules of other important tournaments, the exact time of the tournament is yet to be decided. However, such details will be discussed in Miami, where Cordeiro along with officials from the 10 federations will meet.
Cordeiro’s goal is not to replace the Copa América or the CONCACAF gold cup, but to create opportunities for soccer and the lovers of the sport.
If this grand tournament were to come true, there would be many consequences. Although the tournament will cost more than a fortune, it would create an opportunity for the US soccer team to get experience and improve. By clashing with other capable teams from South America and the CONCACAF is one of the best ways to get better. With this new ambitious cup, the possibilities are limitless.
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