History of Copa America Timeline

Up to 1967, if there was a tie of points at the top of the standings, a playoff match (or matches) would be held to determine the champion.

The founding of the Copa Libertadores in 1959 affected the way the tournament was viewed by its participants, as clubs gained a prestigious continental competition of their own.

Image source: Copa Libertadores

After eight years of absence, the event resumed in 1975 and officially acquired the name Copa América. The current name has been used since 1975, and between 1975 and 1983 it had no fixed host nation, being held in a home and away fashion.

In 1984, CONMEBOL adopted the policy of rotating the right to host the Copa América amongst the ten member confederations.

In 1986, CONMEBOL decided to return to having one country host the tournament and to contest it every other year, ending the four-year home-and-away system used since 1975.

The 1993 Copa América tournament in Ecuador took its current form. Since 1993, the tournament has generally featured 12 teams — all 10 CONMEBOL teams and two additional teams from other confederations. Mexico participated in every tournament between 1993 and 2016, except for 1999, when AFC team Japan filled out the roster.

Image source: 1993 Copa América

Beginning in 1995, three points have been awarded for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss; before, winners received two points. That same year, Uruguay managed to win the competition as host, ending a period of decline for Uruguayan football.

Image source: 1995 Copa América

CONMEBOL approved a permanent switch from odd to even years beginning with the 2020 Copa América to move in line with the UEFA European Championship. It would be jointly hosted by Argentina and Colombia and split into two groups, though Australia accepted an invitation but did not appear due to clashes with other commitments.

For the centennial celebration of its independence, Argentina held a tournament between 2 and 17 July 1916 with Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Brazil as the first participants. Uruguay won, and the current trophy was purchased from Casa Escasany in Buenos Aires for 3,000 Swiss francs.

Image source: 1916 South American Championship

Uruguay won its second title in 1917, this time on home soil, after having won its first title abroad in 1916. It is one of only two teams to win a first title on foreign soil, alongside Paraguay in 1953.

After a flu outbreak in Rio de Janeiro canceled the tournament in 1918, the competition was postponed, resuming the following year when Brazil hosted the event.

Brazil hosted the tournament in 1919 and was crowned champion for the first time after defeating the defending champions 1–0 in a playoff match to decide the title.

Image source: 1919 South American Championship

The Chilean city of Viña del Mar hosted the 1920 event, which was won by Uruguay.

After losing the final at the 1928 Summer Olympics held in Amsterdam, Argentina gained revenge in the 1929 South American Championship by defeating Uruguay in the last, decisive match.

Image source: 1929 South American Championship

After the first World Cup held in Uruguay in 1930, the enmity between the football federations of Uruguay and Argentina prevented the competition from being played for a number of years.

Only in 1935 was it possible to dispute a special edition of the event, which was officially reinstated in 1939 after the hiatus caused by the rivalry between Uruguay and Argentina.

Peru became the host nation of the 1939 edition and won the competition for the first time, marking a milestone in the nation's footballing history.

Uruguay hosted and won the 1942 edition of the South American Championship, adding to its growing list of titles.

Image source: 1942 South American Championship

Argentina became the first and so far only team to win three consecutive titles by winning the championships of 1945, 1946 and 1947.

There were even two tournaments held in 1959, one in Argentina and a second in Ecuador. In the Ecuador edition, Brazil entered a team from the state of Pernambuco as some nations sent lesser sides or did not participate every year.

Bolivia won for the first time when it hosted the 1963 tournament, aided by the high altitude conditions in La Paz.

Bolivia was defeated in the first game of the 1967 tournament by debutant Venezuela, marking Venezuela's first appearance in the competition.

Brazil lifted its first official international title since the 1970 FIFA World Cup upon winning the 1989 Copa América held on home soil.

Image source: 1989 Copa América

Argentina won the Copa América after 32 long years in 1991 in Chile, thanks to a refreshed squad led by the prolific goalscorer Gabriel Batistuta.

Image source: 1991 Copa América

Brazil entered a series of victories, winning four of the five continental titles between 1997 and 2007. The first, in 1997, was won after defeating host nation Bolivia 3–1, with goals from Leonardo, Denílson and Ronaldo becoming crucial in the Verde-Amarela's consecration on Bolivia's altitude.

Image source: 1997 Copa América

Brazil successfully defended the title in 1999 after thumping Uruguay 3–0 in Asunción, Paraguay. That year, Japan was the invited guest team filling out the 12-team roster.

Image source: 1999 Copa América

The 2001 Copa América saw one of the biggest surprises in the history of the sport as Honduras eliminated Brazil in the quarterfinals. That year, Argentina withdrew due to scheduling and security disagreements — the only time since the 1975 rebranding that a regular participant missed out.

Image source: 2001 Copa América

Running from an embarrassing performance in 2001, Brazil reestablished itself in the South American pantheon after defeating Argentina on penalties to win the 2004 competition held in Peru.

Image source: 2004 Copa América

The 2015 competition was hosted in Chile, who swapped hosting positions with Brazil in light of the latter's hosting of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics.

The 2016 edition broke tournament records for attendance, with 1.5 million total spectators and an average of 46,000 per match through the semi-finals.

The centenary edition took place in June 2016 and was held in the United States, the first time the tournament was hosted outside of South America. It featured 16 teams from CONMEBOL and CONCACAF, with six CONCACAF teams qualifying through qualification stages. Mexico's run of participation between 1993 and 2016 ended after this edition.

Brazil hosted the 2019 edition, played in the normal four-year cycle, and won their ninth title by defeating Peru in the final at the renovated Maracanã Stadium. Japan and Qatar featured as guest teams.

Image source: 2019 Copa América

The 2021 Copa América was played by 10 teams with no spectators at most matches due to the pandemic; the final at the Maracanã was limited to 10 percent of capacity. Argentina won the title, ending a long drought.

The 2024 tournament featured 16 teams, with six teams from CONCACAF in addition to the 10 from CONMEBOL, reflecting qualification stages held for the CONCACAF teams. It shared some venues with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States. Eight of the ten CONMEBOL national teams have now won at least once across 48 stagings since 1916, with Ecuador and Venezuela still awaiting a first title.