Copa America postponed until 2021 due to coronavirus

South American tournament will be staged next summer

This year's Copa America has been postponed until 2021 due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus, the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) said on Tuesday.

The tournament had originally been scheduled to take place in Argentina and Colombia from June 12 to July 12 this year, but will now be pushed back to next summer in a move that echoes Uefa’s decision to postpone the European Championship.

The decision was taken due to the number of players based in Europe who would be required to travel back to South America for the tournament, with the World Health Organisation stating last week that Europe had become the new epicentre of the Covid-19 outbreak.

The new tournament dates will mirror the European Championship, with the 2021 Copa America kicking off on 11 June and the final taking place in 11 July.

“It is an extraordinary measure for an unexpected situation, and therefore responds to the fundamental need to avoid an exponential evolution of the virus; already present in all the countries of the Member Associations of the Confederation,” said Alejandro Domínguez, president of Conmebol.

“Conmebol has not been easy to make this decision, but we must safeguard at all times the health of our athletes and of all the agents who are part of the great family of South American football. Have no doubt that the oldest team tournament in the world will return with renewed strength in 2021, ready to make the continent and the whole world vibrate again with the passion that always characterises us.”

Argentina has already recorded at least two deaths from coronavirus, while Colombia has banned entry of non-residents through its borders, and on Tuesday a first death was recorded in nearby Brazil, with the continent braced for similar devastation witnessed across Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East.