The central, North American and Caribbean federation established the criteria for how the CONMEBOL continental competition is classified.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada. These three nations belong to CONCACAF, the regional body for North America, Central America and the Caribbean, where the next World Cup host nations reside.
With that arrangement in mind, the three National Teams have secured their spots in the 2026 World Cup. Yet this arrangement could influence the teams’ preparation rhythm and level of play as they approach 2026, given the limited number of official qualifying matches available in certain periods.
To maintain competitive momentum, Concacaf officials agreed to participate in the Copa America 2024. This prestigious CONMEBOL tournament invites the ten South American nations—Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela—and will be staged at major stadiums across the United States.
Although Mexico, the United States and Canada have already clinched their World Cup berths for 2026, they will not automatically secure Copa America participation. Instead, they must earn one of the six invitations allocated to provide a full field from the South American confederation for the 2024 championship.
Within GOAL, the pathway to these six berths for the 2024 tournament is outlined to explain how teams from Concacaf can qualify through the intercontinental playoff structure and the Nations League outcomes.
How are Concacaf’s national teams classified for the 2024 Copa América?
The six Concacaf teams that will participate in this significant intercontinental competition will be decided through the Concacaf Nations League 2023/2024, as follows:
- The four winners of the League A quarter-finals will advance. These tie-ups involve round-trip matches in November 2023, featuring the top four teams in League A ranked by the Concacaf standings and the top two teams from the group stage of the expanded League TO.
- The two winners of a Copa América playoff will then earn their spots. These knockout matches take place at a central site in March 2024, pitting the four losers of the League A quarter-finals against one another for a final shot at entry to the Copa América field.