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2028 Copa America: What We Know About the CONMEBOL Tournament Likely in the USA

The exact dates for the 2028 CONMEBOL Copa America haven’t been set yet. The FIFA international calendar doesn’t list specific tournament dates either, but it is expected to run from mid-June to mid-July 2028. For reference, the previous edition in 2024, also hosted in the United States, was held from June 20 to July 14.

An interesting overlap is that the 2028 Summer Olympics will also be in the United States, mainly Los Angeles, with soccer matches spread across various U.S. cities. The Olympic soccer schedule runs from July 14 to July 30, overlapping slightly with the expected Copa America timeframe.

Where Might the 2028 Copa America Be Held?

No official host has been named yet. Rumors suggest the United States could host again, following their role in 2016 and 2024. In December 2025, Adam Crafton of The Athletic reported ongoing talks about staging the tournament there. Social media chatter picked up in October, though no major outlets have confirmed this.

If the U.S. does host, it would be the third time in five tournaments, a notable trend since South American countries other than Brazil haven't hosted since Chile in 2015 and Argentina last in 2011.

Which Teams Will Participate in 2028?

All 10 CONMEBOL nations will participate, as always. Additionally, guest teams usually join. If the U.S. hosts again, the regular CONCACAF teams—United States, Canada, and Mexico—would likely return. There might also be more CONCACAF nations qualifying, similar to 2024 when Jamaica, Panama, and Costa Rica earned spots via the Nations League.

The 2024 Copa America featured 16 teams. Recent social media speculation suggests 2028 could expand to 20 teams. That would shake up the tournament format significantly, although it's unclear whether extra teams would come from CONCACAF or perhaps include invites from other confederations.

How Often Does Copa America Occur?

Currently, the tournament happens every four years, positioned midway between FIFA World Cups on even years. With World Cups in 2026 and 2030, Copa America falls in 2028.

This rhythm is fairly new. Historically, Copa America was held in odd years, the year after World Cups—for instance, in 2011 and 2015 after the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. Occasionally, extra editions occur, like the 2016 Centenario celebrating 100 years of CONMEBOL, or the 2021 tournament postponed from 2020 due to COVID-19.

Past Copa America Winners and Hosts

  • 2024: Host: USA | Winner: Argentina | Runner-up: Colombia
  • 2021: Host: Brazil | Winner: Argentina | Runner-up: Brazil
  • 2019: Host: Brazil | Winner: Brazil | Runner-up: Peru
  • 2015: Host: Chile | Winner: Chile | Runner-up: Argentina
  • 2011: Host: Argentina | Winner: Uruguay | Runner-up: Paraguay
  • 2007: Host: Venezuela | Winner: Brazil | Runner-up: Argentina
  • 2004: Host: Peru | Winner: Brazil | Runner-up: Argentina
  • 2001: Host: Colombia | Winner: Colombia | Runner-up: Mexico
  • 1999: Host: Paraguay | Winner: Brazil | Runner-up: Uruguay
  • 1997: Host: Bolivia | Winner: Brazil | Runner-up: Bolivia
  • 1995: Host: Uruguay | Winner: Uruguay | Runner-up: Brazil
  • 1993: Host: Ecuador | Winner: Argentina | Runner-up: Mexico
  • 1991: Host: Chile | Winner: Argentina | Runner-up: Brazil
  • 1989: Host: Brazil | Winner: Brazil | Runner-up: Uruguay
  • 1987: Host: Argentina | Winner: Uruguay | Runner-up: Chile
  • 1983: No host | Winner: Uruguay | Runner-up: Brazil
  • 1979: No host | Winner: Paraguay | Runner-up: Chile
  • 1975: No host | Winner: Peru | Runner-up: Colombia
  • 1967: Host: Uruguay | Winner: Uruguay | Runner-up: Argentina
  • 1963: Host: Bolivia | Winner: Bolivia | Runner-up: Paraguay

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