United States Eyes Historic Bid to Host 2028 Copa America Tournament
The Copa América may make its way back to American shores by 2028, which would represent the third occasion in a four-year span that a premier international competition takes place within the nation's borders.
Ongoing discussions between CONCACAF and CONMEBOL—the governing bodies for North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America—are exploring the possibility of staging another consecutive Copa América tournament in the United States, as reported by The Athletic.
Argentina and Ecuador are also under consideration as prospective host nations.
Should negotiations succeed, the U.S. men's national team would participate once more. The USMNT took part in both the 2016 and 2024 editions by virtue of serving as tournament hosts. Before 2016, the United States also received invitations in 1993, 1995, and 2007 when the competitions were held in Ecuador, Uruguay, and Venezuela respectively.
A CONMEBOL spokesperson indicated that "nothing is finalized at this point," according to The Athletic, while CONCACAF and U.S. Soccer have remained silent and declined comment respectively.
Copa América 2028 Timing Conflicts and Advantages
Should the United States serve as Copa América 2028 host, there would be a scheduling conflict with the Los Angeles Summer Olympics. While hosting a third major international soccer competition within four years could foster additional growth, potential complications may influence the ultimate decision.
The Olympic Games are set to commence on July 14, which coincides with the date of the 2024 Copa América championship match. The Olympics will also feature a soccer competition, potentially creating logistical challenges for nations participating in both events. Nevertheless, Olympic men's soccer tournaments typically consist of under-23 players with allowances for three overage roster positions.
Other issues that impacted the 2024 tournament, particularly regarding Major League Soccer, would not pose problems for the next edition. MLS plans to modify its annual calendar to synchronize with top European leagues and other global competitions beginning in 2027. Consequently, the league would not have matches scheduled during that summer period as it did previously.
If the tournament returns to American soil, it would mark a fourth major soccer competition in the country since 2024, including the recent FIFA Club World Cup.
USMNT Seeks Copa América Redemption
The USMNT made unwanted history by becoming the inaugural Copa América host nation to be eliminated during the group phase of the competition. Defeats against Panama and Uruguay highlighted deterioration under former coach Gregg Berhalter, with their elimination marking a pivotal moment.
The Copa América was promoted as the ultimate competitive examination before the 2026 World Cup co-hosting duties. Following the disappointing outcome, Berhalter was dismissed from his position as U.S. Soccer appointed Mauricio Pochettino.
Although the USMNT initially faced difficulties, outcomes have begun improving under the Argentine manager's guidance. A roster missing several key players even defeated Uruguay to conclude 2025, achieving a measure of vindication.
Their attention remains fixed on the upcoming summer, but the USMNT likely welcomes the chance to alter their narrative in 2028.