FIFA International Match Calendar: Proposed Changes & General Discussion

Yes, because Mexico has nations league in early June and that's it because qualifiers got bumped until September. If 2 teams wete to get added in place of Qatar and Australia I'd expect it to be 2 of the 5 teams from concacaf that have already qualified for the final round of World Cup qualification. Schedule wise they are the only ones that could possibly do it.

 

Are you forgetting the Gold Cup that starts on the day of the final of the Copa ?

Unless the concacaf teams send a B team either to Copa or Gold Cup. I dont think the organizer of either tournament would be happy with that.

The African teams have 2 WC qualifiers from May 31 to June 15. The schedule has not been fixed yet, but I'd love to see 2 African sides compete in this tournament. That would be your best bet to get an A team participating.

 

Correct, we should not forget that Concacaf has a major continental tournament next summer. Clubs will not allow its players to be over-exposed to fatigue during off-season.

Conmebol has decided that no invitees will be present at their continental tournament. Part of it is that some CA 2021 TV rights customers backed out after Qatar and Australia pulled out.

No one is buying those TV rights, therefore no reason to have guests. Hopefully that will not translate into cancelling Conmebol's tournament.

 

Source? I don't see anything online confirming that. All I see is news on the withdrawal of the two AFC teams, nothing on the new plans. The Wikipedia page on the 2021 Copa America states that CONMEBOL is still trying to find replacements if possible.

2021 Copa América - Wikipedia

 

I wonder if in the long run CONMEBOL will try to find a way to work with CONCACAF and just have a combined Copa on a regular basis to make the tournament more appealing. The fact that there are invitees at all seems to me a reflection of the fact that CONMEBOL itself isn't fully convinced that an all-CONMEBOL tournament is appealing.

I don't think CONCACAF would want to get rid of the Gold Cup altogether, but you could maybe reduce the frequency to once every four years and have the combined Copa in place of the second Gold Cup (from CONCACAF's standpoint). Some CONMEBOL fans might not like the idea of a combined Copa permanently replacing their flagship tournament, though. Although I'd argue it wouldn't be too much of a stretch considering the current format already includes invitees and the fact that Mexico was basically a regular, anyway, up until recently.

 

Several outlets reported on Conmebol's Development Director words (02/23/21), when he announced guests withdrawal from CA 2021, indicating that the original calendar remains in place, with off dates when a team would have played with a guest.
Audio:
https://ar.radiocut.fm/radiostation/lared/listen/2021/02/23/13/27/00/

Belloso's quotes in international press:
https://comutricolor.com/seleccion-...aran-la-copa-america-argentina-colombia-2021/

 

Everything is from Feb 23 and other sources from Conembol state that they will be looking for 2 other participants.

https://www.si.com/soccer/2021/02/23/qatar-australia-out-copa-america-2021-conmebol

The off dates are if 2 participants are not found. I dont think anything is set in stone yet like you are claiming.

 

That is why I provided audio for Gonzalo Belloso's statements, ruling out team replacements for that tournament.
He is Conmebol's Director of Development.

The quote you provided about team replacements comes from Ariel Ramirez, a press spokesperson for Conmebol.

Very interesting to see that SI.com decided to suppress Belloso's statement about no replacements for Qatar+Australia, while still quoting him on "30% filled stadia", which he mentioned during his Feb 23rd interview to Argentine radio.

 

Remember this non CONMEBOL usually are only allowed to send an Olympic squad, not the full national team.

 

I don't think this is a firm rule, however it is a firm rule that clubs don't have to release players for two continental championships in the same year which has affected Concacaf teams when the gold cup has been the same year as Copa America.

 

With there being Nations League, Gold Cup, Olympics all in the summer I'd be suprised if there is replacement teams that they aren't essentially Olympic teams from CONCACAF as a tuneup for the Olympics.

 

It's official, just as Conmebol officials indicated a few weeks back: no guest teams for CA 2021.

Match calendar included:

https://www.conmebol.com/es/la-conmebol-copa-america-2021-ya-tiene-fixture-definitivo

 

I wish it were in Colombia before the USA.
USA would have been an awesome backup plan but too many hurdles and protocols that made it impossible to do on such short notice.

 

It may have been unnecessary to begin with but now with the Pandemic they need the money as much as possible.

Cancelling it is not an option financially.


Interesting about the players though. Let's see how that pans out.

 

I see Copa still going on with or without those players

 

Argentina has officially confirmed that they will be a part of Copa America in Brazil.
Them wanting to win something for Messi will probably slowly kill all this boycott talk from major teams.

Although many players will still opt out more than likely most of which Brazil is leading the way in those rumors.

 

Well, the players have shown themselves to be a bunch of effin sheep not willing to stand up to the corruption in Conmebol, so as far as I’m concerned at this point, they deserve whatever they get. They’re pathetic.

 

I absolutely agree. First Copa in years I am not watching.

I hope CONMEBOL arranges another one next year, as a WC warm-up in, lets say, USA.

 

So Copa Apertura and Copa Clausura then.

 

We have had this conversation many times before.
Smart National team managers know their players' stamina and what those players can handle...
... and do not over -work them.

I do not know about the other teams but I do know that Colombia's coach is doing exactly that bringing about unexpected results here and there but keeping to a rotation so his players are fresh and not drained.

Good National Team coaches always find ways to balance things out. They know very well it does them no good to have injured players going into long grueling tournaments.