Below, The National provides a guide to the 2016 Copa America Centenario tournament, which starts June 3 in the United States.
Didn’t they just do a Copa America?
Yes, Chile hosted and won the 2015 Copa America, following the typical four-year cycle from the 2011 Copa America.
So...
This year, 2016, however, marks 100 years since the first Copa America in 1916, so they are staging a special edition of the tournament in the United States. (The next Copa America, for those curious, will still happen at the end of the regular four-year cycle the tournament has used since 2007 in 2019).
Is anything else different?
Yes. They’re incorporating an extra four teams, all from the North and Central American and Caribbean (Concacaf) federation, for 16 instead of the customary 12. Since 1993, the 10 South American (Conmebol) have invited two Concacaf peers (Mexico and one other). This time, along with the hosts USA (the first staging of the tournament outside South America) and Mexico (competing for the 10th time), Costa Rica, Jamaica, Haiti and Panama have qualified.
How will things work with the extra teams?
Pretty straightforward. In the 12-team format, it’s a bit more complicated – the top two in each of three groups, as well as two of the three best third-placed team, advance to the quarter-finals. With 16 teams, the top two in each of the four groups will go to the quarter-finals.
What is the draw?
Group A: USA, Colombia, Costa Rica, Paraguay
Group B: Brazil, Ecuador, Haiti, Peru
Group C: Mexico, Uruguay, Jamaica, Venezuela
Group D: Argentina, Chile, Panama, Bolivia
If they played just last year, how seriously is anyone taking it?
Well, Lionel Messi is playing.
Judging by the squad lists, at least, this tournament is being treated as more than just ceremonial. Obviously, it’s a big deal for the likes of the USA, Jamaica, Haiti, Panama and Costa Rica, who do not get to participate in every tournament.
Beyond those sides, Chile, the holders, are clearly out to retain their title, with stars of last year’s winning team such as Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal on board for another go-round.
Mexico, expecting to play in front of massive crowds of supporters with the tournament in the neighbouring States, have their best players – like Javier Hernandez, Hector Herrera and Raul Jimenez – lined up.
The list goes on: Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani have been named to the Uruguay squad; Messi, Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and the rest of Argentina’s stars are provisionally going to America; James Rodriguez is with Colombia; Philippe Coutinho, Douglas Costa and Willian are among the Brazilians named to the squad; etc.
Who is not playing then?
Neymar has chosen to play in his home Olympics instead, and some other Brazilian stalwarts have been left home – David Luiz, Thiago Silva, Marcelo. Radamel Falcao has been left off Colombia’s squad, although that could be called a logical choice on form as much as anything else. Jackson Martinez, following a move to China, has also been dismissed by the Colombians. Following a year of injury, Al Jazira man Jefferson Farfan will not be playing for Peru, either. Another former Al Jazira player, Felipe Caicedo (currently of Espanyol) also will not play.
But all in all, it’s not too long a list of notable absentees.
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