Socceroos to feature in prestigious Copa America competition in 2020. The Socceroos’ participation in the prestigious Copa America tournament has been sealed. Hours after the Matildas put Brazil to the sword; the Socceroos could be lining up their own clash with the South American giants.
Graham Arnold’s team will play at least five games against a variety of South American opposition. Two overseas sides are invited each year to round out the numbers of competing teams to 12, and next year it will be Australia and Qatar taking part in June and July. The group games will be staged in nine cities across Argentina and Colombia, with the top four teams from each group advancing to the quarterfinals.
“We crave these opportunities as players and coaches,” said Socceroos boss Graham Arnold.” The knowledge we will achieve after taking part in this tournament will be hard to believe and I be familiar with by speaking to our team players, that they are uniformly keyed up regarding being part of one of the world’s most important football competition.”
“Our preparation for the football World Cup has already started. We are put up depth in the middle of our playing team as we prove it by our performance in Korea Republic last week and taking part in this contest gives us another option of inducement for our players to put themselves up for assortment for the national team.
“It will be a large couple of months as we set up in June of next year with World Cup qualifiers and then head immediately to the Copa America,” he said.
The Socceroos will find out that their World Cup qualifying opponents next month, with the road to Qatar 2022 beginning in September.
Copa America 2020 Groups
The groups have been decided, except for the whereabouts of the Socceroos and the other invited team, Qatar. The northern group will be played in Colombia, featuring the co-hosts, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. Argentina will host the southern group and face, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and arch enemy Uruguay.
Australia and Qatar, who are hosting the 2022 World Cup, will be divided. Globo Esporte has reported that the entire knockout phase will then be hosted in Colombia. It is a massive boost for the Socceroos, who crave quality competition, as they attempt to qualify for a fifth successive FIFA World Cup.
Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez are among the superstars set to feature in the competition. Qatar, the 2022 World Cup hosts, are featuring in the 2019 Copa America along with Japan, but have been invited back for the 2020 edition. While the 2019-2020 Copa Americas will be played back to back, the next edition will not be until 2024, underlining the glorious opportunity presented to FFA.
Copa America 2020 Groups
- NORTH GROUP
- Colombia
- Brazil
- Ecuador
- Peru
- Venezuela
- Australia/Qatar
- SOUTH GROUP
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Chile
- Paraguay
- Uruguay
- Australia/Qatar