Published: 13:06, March 16, 2021 | Updated: 22:29, June 4, 2023
CONMEBOL releases new Copa America schedule
By Xinhua

Picture of the Copa Libertadores, left at right, and Copa Sudamericana trophies taken during the draw for the next rounds of the football tournaments at the South American Football Confederation headquarters in Luque, Paraguay, on Oct 23, 2020. (PHOTO / AFP)

ASUNCION - The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) unveiled a new match schedule for this year's Copa America on Monday following the withdrawal of guest teams Australia and Qatar.

The tournament will begin on June 13 with a clash between Argentina and Chile at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires. Paraguay and Bolivia will meet later the same day at the Malvinas Argentinas stadium in Mendoza.

"As is traditional, CONMEBOL invited teams from other confederations," the Paraguay-based entity said in a statement.

"However, the suspended matches and delays brought about by the pandemic that affected world football impeded other nations from participating."

Originally scheduled for 2020, the 47th edition of the Copa America - to be played in Argentina and Colombia - was postponed by a year because of COVID-19

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Originally scheduled for 2020, the 47th edition of the Copa America - to be played in Argentina and Colombia - was postponed by a year because of COVID-19.

It will mark the first time the world's oldest international football tournament is staged in two countries.

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Australia and Qatar announced their decision to pull out of the competition last month due to a clash with rescheduled 2022 Asian World Cup qualifiers.

Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay, Chile and Paraguay make up the southern group while reigning champions Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru have been placed in the northern section. The final will be played in Colombia's Caribbean port city of Barranquilla on July 10.