This news is mostly about the South American tournament, Copa America, but it does affect indirectly Concacaf. I apologize for this post for those not interested. Have a good one everyone! After reading various online legitimate newspapers on this matter (both in English and Spanish; from both South American and Europe), I'm 99% sure that this is how it's going to go down from now until the next 2 decades at least... Starting with this upcoming 2019 Copa America, which will be held in Brasil, all future tournaments will have 16 nations participating. The tournament in Brasil will be the last one that will be held in an odd year. In order to 'reset' the tournament right away and have it coincide with the Euro (apparently FIFA is in favor of this because European clubs will have to release their international players only one summer instead of two consecutive summers), they will have a Copa America in 2020 in the USA (because, among others things, of their financial success with the Copa America Centenario 2016). As for those who are questioning what kind of teams will the European nations bring for 2019, I think that being how this Copa America will probably be the only and last tournament (at least for while) that will have European nations, I'm thinking that these nations would love to 'steal' one from South America; wouldn't that be a punch in the face, especially in Brasil of all place. Anyway, going forward, Conmebol will introduce a new scheduling format as to who will host the subsequent Copa Americas, which on a personal level, gives me hope... IMHO, Bolivia's 'rotational' spot was taken away unfairly and so I hope this 'reset' will give Bolivia an opportunity to get it back and get it back soon... hopefully as soon as 2024! If this is accurate, then I don't think there will be another 'Copa America Centenario' for a while (at least by name, host, and if it would ever return) but I think the 2020 Copa America will mirror the Centenario from 2016 and it will be just a great, if not better, since it will once again not 'compete' with the Gold Cup so USA, Mexico, and other North and/or Central American nations could bring their 'A' team if they chose to do so. In fact, since the Copa America would now fall in an even year, USA, Mexico, and company could continue to bring their 'A' team (again, if they chose to do so). From a level of play standpoint, I think this a great move as every continental tournament will potentially have the 'A' team for every participant. What's more, starting in 2020, when we don't have the summer of the World Cup, we can enjoy two tournaments of nations every summer and it would most likely be more competitive than before. This 'guaranteed' 2 tourneys every summer (with the highest level of play) would include the League of Nations that Europe will be introducing in 2018. It will be a promotion/relegation type of tournament that will have it's 'pool stage' from September to November and it's 'Final Four' competition in June. There are talks of Concacaf (and I'm sure Conmebol would soon follow afterwards) in creating their own League of Nations. If this happens (I'm sure it will), this will be eliminate 'friendlies' and their 'lack of importance. All those events plus the World Cup qualifying matches, it pretty much guarantees a higher level of competition/tournaments for us to enjoy every year. To get a visual idea of what I'm talking about, this is what it would look like... 2017 Gold Cup / Confederations Cup 2018 World Cup / League of Nations (UEFA Pool Stage) 2019 Copa America Brasil / Gold Cup / League of Nations (UEFA Final Four) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2020 Copa America USA / Euro 2021 Gold Cup / Confederations Cup 2022 World Cup / League of Nations (UEFA Pool Stage) 2023 Gold Cup / League of Nations (UEFA Final Four) 2024 Copa America / Euro 2025 Gold Cup / Confederations Cup 2026 World Cup / League of Nations (UEFA Pool Stage)
The European federations probably feel that way...but the clubs will be damned if they released players for any more games than they absolutely have to. And with Euro teams potentially participating in the Copa América as guests, the likes of Barcelona, Madrid, Bayern, Juve, etc. would be within their rights to slam the door in the faces of Deschamps, Lopetegui and co. if they tried to call up star players for this.
They didn't do that for the Centenario... plus they are getting something that they've always wanted. Maybe some clubs might grumble but they'll release them for the most part and come up with "injuries" for the players on the fringe. Remember that alot of this depends on the players in question and if those players have enough clout and want to go, their clubs would be wise to acquiesce.
Big difference between letting Mexico call up their best players for a guest appearance and letting the likes of Portugal call up their best players for a guest appearance.
You do realize that they also let the South American players get called up a second year in a row. That was a fixture added to the calendar. You don't think the likes of Barca, Man City and Arsenal were perturbed by having to give up Messi, Aguero and Sanchez two years in a row? Well, it was a FIFA date and if they wanted to play, noone was stopping them. If anything, they'd be more likely to pull back the Mexican players than those three. Fringe players do what they're told. World Class players do what they want.
South Americans don't count here, 'cause the Copa América is their tournament - clubs are obligated to release Messi, Agüero and Sánchez any time they're called up for official games with their NTs (injuries notwithstanding). Guest teams, OTOH, are a different matter entirely. Outside of the Centenario, in which FIFA broke from tradition for the special occasion and allowed it to count as an official tournament for both CONMEBOL and CONCACAF (obligating clubs to release players for all NTs involved), normally non-CONMEBOL invitees to the Copa América play as guest teams, with no coercive power over clubs - hence, Mexico regularly sending B-teams. Unless FIFA were to declare the 2019 Copa América an official tournament for both CONMEBOL and UEFA, the UEFA teams would participate as guest sides, with clubs free to shut the door in their faces if they ask for star players.
Well I'm operating under the assumption that FIFA might again place this tournament on the international calendar for the teams involved.
Highly doubt it, but we'll see. And if anything, we'll see if CONMEBOL actually go through with the invites - let's keep in mind that Jamaica ended up going to the 2015 Copa América b/c a bunch of other teams turned down CONMEBOL's prom invite.
Having seen Jamaica's performance recently, I wouldn't mind seeing them in the Cops America especially if they bring their A team. Not saying they'll be the dark horse but they might turn some heads.
I imagine if CONCACAF decided to drop one of the Gold Cups in favor of the Copa or at least stipulated that national teams that played in the Copa would not play in one of the Gold Cups then this would no longer be an issue. It could also give other nations in CONCACAF and opportunity to host one of the Gold Cups outside of the US.