| The Copa America is South American's equivalent of | | | | previous winners such as Brazil, Argentina and Chile. In |
| the European Championships. It is the world's oldest | | | | the most recent competition the United States and |
| surviving football tournament, having been established | | | | Mexico accepted invitations to participate. |
| in 1916. Brazil are the current holders of the Copa | | | | The twelve teams are divided into three groups of |
| America trophy after they defeated rivals Argentina in | | | | four who then all play each other once. Teams collect |
| 2007. Read on to discover the historical origins of the | | | | three points for a win, one point for a draw and |
| tournament, how the Copa America is organized and | | | | receive no points for a defeat. The top two teams in |
| finally how the tournament was won last time around. | | | | each group then qualify for the quarter finals along with |
| Historical Origins of the Copa America | | | | two of the three teams that finished third. This is |
| The first tournament took place in July 1916. It was held | | | | determined by the points that they accumulated over |
| in Argentina as a part of the country's centenary | | | | the group matches. |
| independence celebrations. With only four teams | | | | The second part of the tournament is a straight |
| participating, the winner was decided after all the | | | | knockout. Four teams advance to the semi-finals |
| teams played each other once. | | | | before the winners of those matches meet in the Final. |
| Hosts Argentina were joined in the tournament by | | | | Each game is decided firstly through extra time |
| Chile, Uruguay and Brazil. The final match in this series | | | | periods of thirty minutes and then a penalty shoot out |
| was between Argentina and Uruguay and it finished | | | | should the scores be level at the end of the normal |
| 0-0 and this meant that the first ever tournament was | | | | period of play. |
| won by Uruguay. | | | | The Copa America In 2007 |
| The tournament was originally called the South | | | | The most recent tournament was held in Venezuela in |
| American Championship of Nations and was known | | | | 2007. The organizers of the Copa America have |
| as this until it was renamed the Copa America in 1975. | | | | decided that the hosting of the tournament should |
| Over the years the tournament as evolved to feature | | | | rotate through the ten members alphabetically and |
| up to twelve teams in the tournament. Prior to the last | | | | 2007 represented the end of the first cycle and the |
| tournament in 2007 the Copa America was held | | | | first time that the Venezuelans had played host. |
| every two years, but due to increasing fixture | | | | The tournament was regarded as an entertaining |
| congestion and the large number of South American | | | | spectacle with lots of goals scored in the group stages |
| players that now feature for European teams the | | | | of the tournament. Pre-tournament favorites Argentina |
| tournament will now take place every four years. | | | | lived up to their billing by defeating the United States |
| Organization of the Copa America | | | | 4-1 and Columbia 4-2. They eased through to the Final |
| The Copa America tournament has evolved over | | | | by defeating Peru 4-0 and Mexico 3-0. However they |
| many years to its current format. | | | | were defeated by Brazil after they also displayed |
| In the last tournament held in Venezuela there were | | | | great skills and team play as well. |
| twelve teams that took part. Each time there are ten | | | | Brazil defeated Argentina 3-0 to lift the Copa America |
| teams that qualify automatically and two teams that | | | | for the eight time. |
| are officially invited. The automatic teams include | | | | |