Sharjah24 – Reuters: The Copa America will take place in Brazil next month, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) said on Monday, although President Jair Bolsonaro's chief of staff said ongoing talks might not reach a formal conclusion until the next day.
The surprise announcement, which would mean relocating the competition from one South American coronavirus hotspot to another, means the world's oldest international tournament could kick off as planned on June 13, with the final on July 10.
Vice President Hamilton Mourao acknowledged the move in comments to Brazilian media, saying that if there was no audience present, there should be no issue with the pandemic.
Later on Monday, Luiz Eduardo Ramos, Bolsonaro's chief of staff, said negotiations were underway and that there was "nothing certain" about the tournament's potential relocation.
The tournament is set to feature many of the greatest players in the soccer world, with Argentines Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero, Brazilian Neymar and Uruguay's Luis Suarez among those expected to participate. CONMEBOL has promised all players will be vaccinated before the tournament begins.
"The Brazilian government has shown agility and decisive thinking at a crucial moment for South American football," CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez said in a statement.
"Brazil is in a time of stability, it has proven infrastructure and recent experience in hosting a tournament of this magnitude," he added.
Brazil hosted the Copa America in 2019 and the World Cup in 2014.
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