What is the Copa America, and when did it begin?
It began in 1916.The Copa America is a tournament for national teams of South America, and it began in 1916. Four teams took part in the first tournament, held in Argentina, and Uruguay won. The South American Football Confederation, which runs it, was also founded that year.
A tournament for South American national teams
The Copa America is a football tournament for national teams of South America. It is run by the South American Football Confederation, known as CONMEBOL.
It began in 1916
The first tournament was held in 1916 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Four teams took part: Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay. They played each other once, and Uruguay won with two wins and one draw.
The confederation was founded the same year
On 9 July, in the middle of that tournament, the South American Football Confederation was founded in Buenos Aires. Representatives of Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay gathered for it. The confederation has since gained more members, and 10 associations belong to it today.
The oldest national team tournament
CONMEBOL describes the Copa America as the oldest national team tournament in the world. In South America, the first World Cup was also held, in 1930, in Uruguay. The Copa America is a tournament that has lasted alongside that history of South American football.
Want to know more?
- The first tournament was played from 2 to 17 July 1916, as a round robin among the four teams.
- The 10 associations now in CONMEBOL are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Quick quiz: test yourself
When did the Copa America begin?
Show the answer
- 1900
- 1916
- 1930
1916 The first tournament was held in Argentina in 1916, with four teams, and Uruguay won.
The first tournament was held in Argentina in 1916, with four teams, and Uruguay won.
Next quiz ›Sources
- 110 Years of the CONMEBOL Copa América: The Oldest National Team Tournament in the WorldCONMEBOL Copa América (official site)
- La InstituciónCONMEBOL
- La Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol conmemora 99 años de su fundaciónCONMEBOL
- Hace 105 años: el recuerdo de la primera Copa AméricaESPN Argentina
This article was written after checking the sources above as of 2026-10-03. Explanations may change as research progresses. Photo credits are shown below each photo.
