CONMEBOL · National Championship
Copa América
In US-sports termsThe oldest international tournament on Earth — older than the World Cup itself — and Argentina and Uruguay guard its record books like family silver.
What it is
The championship of South America's national teams, first played in 1916. Argentina hold the record haul after winning the 2024 edition — hosted, notably, in the United States.
How you get in
Be one of the ten CONMEBOL nations; guest teams (including the USA and Mexico) are sometimes invited to fill the bracket.
What it feeds
Continental glory. World Cup places run through CONMEBOL's separate qualifying gauntlet.
CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying is its own epic: all ten nations in one home-and-away league — 18 games through Bolivian altitude and Amazon heat. The 2026 format sends the top six straight through.