Australia, Qatar 2021 Copa America pull-out – CONMEBOLL

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Updated: February 24, 2021
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The secretary-general of the South American Football Federation (CONMEBOL) said on Tuesday that Australia and Qatar, the two non-South American sides scheduled to take part in this year’s Copa America, have dropped out of the competition.

In the tournament, which will be hosted by Argentina and Colombia in June and July, the two teams are expected to enter 10 others from South America.

The Qatari FA apologized for the removal that it said followed the “decision to postpone the joint qualifying round for the 2022 World Cup and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup to be held in June 2021, which conflicts with the schedule of matches… in the Copa America.”

Australia is now a member of the Asian Federation and is also influenced by the modifications.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Copa America, the largest international soccer competition, was held over from 2020 and is due for the first time to be played in two countries.

The 12 sides were to be divided into northern and southern sections, with Qatar competing against Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru, and hosts Colombia in the northern portion.

With Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile and hosts Argentina, Australia was in the southern party.

A source from CONMEBOL told Reuters that they would look at the possibilities of allowing two other teams to substitute Australia and Qatar, but with 10 or 12 sides, the competition will go forward.

The tournament is scheduled to kick off on June 11 in Buenos Aires and conclude with the finals on July 10 in Barranquilla, Colombia.