U.S. fans celebrating before the quarterfinal of the Copa América Centenario against Ecuador in Seattle.

The Copa América is South America's major tournament in senior men's soccer and determines the continental champion. Until 1967, the tournament was known as South American Championship. It is the oldest continental championship in the world.[1]

The United States are not members of the South American soccer confederation CONMEBOL, but because CONMEBOL only has ten member associations, guest nations have regularly been invited since 1993. With four participations (and an upcoming fifth one), the U.S. are the second-most regular guest behind Mexico (ten participations).

In 2016, the U.S. were hosts of the Copa América Centenario, which celebrated the hundredth anniversary of the tournament with a larger competition, co-organized by CONCACAF and CONMEBOL. This makes them the only non-South American country to ever host a Copa match. Before, they have been invited guests in 1993, 1995 and 2007. In 2024, the United States will again host the tournament, although for the first time they did not receive an automatic invitation and had to qualify through the CONCACAF Nations League.

Record at the Copa América

Kick-off for the semifinal against Argentina at the NRG Stadium in Houston during the United States' home tournament in 2016.
Copa América record
Year Result Position Pld W D* L GF GA
1916–1991Not invited
Ecuador 1993 Group stage 12th 3 0 1 2 3 6
Uruguay 1995 Fourth place 4th 6 2 1 3 6 7
1997–2004Not invited
Venezuela 2007 Group stage 12th 3 0 0 3 2 8
2011–2015Not invited
United States 2016 Fourth place 4th 6 3 0 3 7 8
2019–2021Not invited
United States 2024Qualified
Total Invitation 0 titles 18 5 2 11 18 29

* Draws include matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

Match overview

Tournament Round Opponent Score Venue
Ecuador 1993Group stage Uruguay0–1Ambato
 Ecuador0–2Quito
 Venezuela3–3
Uruguay 1995Group stage Chile2–1Paysandú
 Bolivia0–1
 Argentina3–0
Quarterfinals Mexico0–0
(4–1 p)
Semifinals Brazil0–1Maldonado
Third place match Colombia1–4
Venezuela 2007Group stage Argentina1–4Maracaibo
 Paraguay1–3Barinas
 Colombia0–1Barquisimeto
United States 2016Group stage Colombia0–2Santa Clara
 Costa Rica4–0Chicago
 Paraguay1–0Philadelphia
Quarterfinals Ecuador2–1Seattle
Semifinals Argentina0–4Houston
Third place match Colombia0–1Glendale

Record players

Alexi Lalas is the only American to score in two separate Copa Américas, and one of three players to appear in all nine matches in 1993 and 1995.
Rank Player Matches Tournaments
1Cobi Jones91993 and 1995
Alexi Lalas91993 and 1995
Tab Ramos91993 and 1995
4Paul Caligiuri81993 and 1995
5 Brad Friedel61993 and 1995
Mike Burns61995
Earnie Stewart61995
Kyle Beckerman62007 and 2016
Brad Guzan62007 and 2016
Michael Bradley62016
Geoff Cameron62016
Clint Dempsey62016
Gyasi Zardes62016

Top goalscorers

Eric Wynalda
Clint Dempsey
Eric Wynalda and Clint Dempsey scored three goals each at the 1995 and 2016 tournaments respectively.
Rank Player Goals Tournaments
1 Eric Wynalda31995
Clint Dempsey32016
3 Alexi Lalas21993 (1) and 1995 (1)
4 10 players1

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Copa América". Encyclopædia Britannica. December 11, 2009. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
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