Copa America 2019
If England is considered the home of football, then Brazil is without a doubt its beating heart. The Copa America is finally returning to South America’s larger than life nation, Brazil.
Hosting their first Copa America since 1989, the Brazilians are looking to put on a show to remember - and to win it.
Copa America Host Cities
Five of Brazil’s biggest cities are taking charge of hosting the Copa America 2019. Six of the country’s most iconic as well as their most modern stadiums will be the setting for the tournament.
Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre and Salvador will all take centre stage once the Copa America 2019 kicks off. São Paulo is the only host city to feature two stadiums for the competition.
Rio de Janeiro
The jewel of Brazil and the one of the most iconic cities in the world, Rio de Janeiro is famous for its beaches and its party atmosphere.
The former capital of the Portuguese empire and thereafter an independent Brazil, Rio is still the go to destination for those visiting the country and it’s no wonder why.
The city also home to some of Brazil’s most successful football teams such as Flamengo, Vasco da Gama, Fluminense and Botafogo.
Rio is also renowned for one of the most famous football stadiums in the world - the Estádio do Maracanã. The Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, more commonly and affectionately known as the Maracanã is smack bang in the central of Rio’s sprawling central suburbs.
The Maracanã will host the final of the 2019 Copa America
Rio de Janeiro and the Maracanã will be hosting games from Group A and Group C as well as playing a central role in the knockout stages of the tournament as well.
The Maracanã, having already hosted two World Cup finals in 1950 and 2014, and the opening and closing ceremonies is a fitting host for the final of the Copa America 2019.
Rio de Janeiro will once again the final but the big question is whether it will be Brazil lifting South America’s highest honour come July.
São Paulo
Brazil’s behemoth São Paulo is a sprawling supercity and the biggest city not only in Brazil, but the whole of South America.
São Paulo is the only host destination to feature two stadiums for the 2019 Copa America. The Estádio do Morumbi, home of São Paulo FC and the Arena Corinthians home of Brazilian giants will be central to the Copa America.
São Paulo is will host group games as well as the Third Place Playoff on the 6 July.
The Arena Corinthians is the most modern stadium in São Paulo
Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte is the only inland city to host games at this year’s 2019 Copa America tournament. Widely regarded as the culinary capital of Brazil, Belo Horizonte also has a long and central history as one of Brazil’s main regional capitals.
The Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto, more commonly known as the Mineirão will host games from Group A and Group C, as well as one of the one matches from the quarter finals and one from the semi finals also.
The Mineirão was first opened in 1965 but has since been refurbished for the 2014 World Cup. It is the home of Belo Horizonte’s Cruzeiro while arch rivals Atlético Mineiro also play games there from time to time.
Salvador
Brazil’s first capital and most northerly host city in 2019 Copa America, Salvador will host Argentina and Colombia from Group B. Not one of the main centres of the tournament, Salvador’s Arena Fonte Nova is one of the newest stadiums in Brazil.
First opened in April 2013 ahead of the 2014 World Cup, the Arena Fonte Nova is now home of Esporte Clube Bahia, as well as staging some matches from Esporte Clube Vitória on occasion.
Porto Alegre
From the northernmost outpost of the 2019 Copa America to the most southerly lying city, Porto Alegre will host one group match, but also take pride in hosting a quarter final as well as a semi final.
Home to Brazil’s most recent Copa Libertadores champions Grêmio, the Arena do Grêmio has seen its fair share of action since opening ahead of the 2014 World Cup in December 2012. It'll be no different when to Copa America heads south to the shores of Rio Grande do Sul.
Brazil at the Copa America
Brazil are hosting the Copa America for the first time since 1989. It’s been a long time coming but after the major construction and the renovation projects for the 2014 World Cup, Brazil is finally ready to stage a Copa America worthy to remember.
Home Advantage
Brazil have never failed to win a Copa America on home soil and they’ll certainly want to keep their 100% record in tact.
They’ve won the Copa America on four occasions since they last won it but haven’t managed to win an honour in 12 years.
Brazil’s perfect record at home is certainly something the nation hold proud.
They have hosted the tournament on four separate occasions, the 2019 Copa America being the fifth time they have the honour of welcoming South America’s best and brightest to their shores.
The early tournaments of 1919 and 1922 only contained four teams: Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile.
It wasn’t until 1949 that Brazil hosted another Copa America and just as long since they’d won a title. By this point the tournament had been enlarged to include eight teams.
Brazil topped the initial group stage to play a final against second placed Paraguay whom they beat a whopping 7-0 in Rio de Janeiro.
Brazil had to wait another 40 years to host another tournament and win another Copa America title.
The 1989 edition of the Copa America saw Brazil go undefeated with a team that contained the ferocious striking partnership of Bebeto and Romário who would go on to become world champions only five years later.
More Recent Success
Despite not hosting the Copa America for three decades the Brazilian national team has since managed to break it’s curse of not being able to win a Copa America abroad.
They’ve since claimed four Copa America titles in 1997, 1999, 2004 and 2007 ushering in a period of utter dominance over the continent.
Since then the Seleção have faced tougher times and will be hoping to win their first major honour in 12 years.
