As the football world gears up for the thrilling Copa América 2024 in the United States, fans and enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the outcomes of matches that promise to be as unpredictable as they are exciting. This sense of unpredictability not only adds to the thrill of watching the games but also opens up avenues for engaging in sports betting. For those looking to explore this aspect of the sport, platforms like https://uffiliates.me/en/, with their comprehensive affiliate programs for betting and gambling, offer a dynamic way to participate in the action.
The draw for the America’s Cup 2024 took place recently in Miami. The cities and stadiums that will host the tournament were finalized a little earlier.
Why was the South American championship entrusted to the USA in the first place?
The Copa was synchronized with the Euros
Initially, the next America’s Cup was planned to be held in Ecuador, but the country withdrew a year ago. The USA expressed interest in the tournament, and this option suited everyone.
CONMEBOL and CONCACAF immediately got involved and in January 2023 announced a strategic cooperation agreement between the confederations. In addition to the Copa 2024, they created a club tournament in the Final Four format between the winners of the two major continental cups in North and South America. Plus South American teams (top clubs and women’s national teams) have received invitations to several tournaments in SA.
But the main one is the Copa 2024, in which all 10 national teams from South America and six from North America will play. Teams from CONCACAF qualified through the League of Nations. Not even the U.S. team got a guaranteed spot, which had to compete on an equal footing.
Copa organizers often experiment. There was no constancy even in the periodicity of the event: from 1975 to 1987 – every four years, until 2001 – every two years, until 2007 – every three years, until 2019 – again every four years (which did not prevent in 2016 to insert an additional anniversary tournament). After the 2019 Copa, the championship was synchronized with the Euros, so they scheduled the next one for 2020, but the pandemic moved both tournaments to 2021.
It should be clear that the Copa and the Euros are synchronized in an even-numbered year.
Usually, 12 teams (10 home teams and two invited) play at America’s Cup. Now there are 16 national teams, which organizers have been dreaming of for a long time. Will it go on like this? So far, the plans are only for 2024.
This is a great warm-up for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The opener is in Atlanta, the finals are in Miami
The America’s Cup will take place from June 20 to July 14, 2024 (the Euros are from June 14 to July 14). The last two participants will be determined in March: Canada and Costa Rica, for example, are still in doubt.
Two teams from each group qualify for the playoffs. Potential semifinals could include teams from different confederations: Argentina-Mexico and USA-Brazil.
In the opening match, reigning champions Argentina will play Canada or Trinidad and Tobago. The game will be played in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (71,000), one of the best arenas in the world, which traditionally leads MLS in average attendance.
The tournament will also host stadiums in New Jersey (82 thousand), Arlington (80 thousand), Kansas City (76 thousand), Charlotte (75 thousand), Houston (72 thousand), two arenas in California (70 thousand each), Miami (65 thousand), Glendale (63 thousand), Paradise (61 thousand), Orlando (25 thousand), Austin (about 21 thousand), another Kansas City (from the state of Kansas, 18 thousand).
The final will be held in Miami at Hard Rock Stadium, the home arena of the NFL team Miami Dolphins. In theory, Lionel Messi can defend the title handsomely in his almost hometown.
