Report: US national team invited to 2019 Copa America

Bill Hamid with USMNT teammates during friendly vs. Bosnia — 1/28/18

A few weeks after reports emerged in South America that the US national team may be approached to take part in the 2019 Copa America, comes a new report that the invitation has been made.


SI.com's Grant Wahl reported on Wednesday that the USMNT have been invited to participate, citing a US Soccer source.


The 2019 Copa America is to be held in Brazil. South America's regional championship, the tournament has long included guest countries outside the region to help make up the numbers.


The 2019 tournament is reportedly mooted to be a 16-team affair, meaning there would be six outside countries participating in addition to the 10 CONMEBOL member nations. Mexico, invited to every tournament since 1993, is likely to return for the 2019 edition.


The United States hosted a special centenary version of the Copa America in 2016, and reached the semifinal round. The last time the USMNT were invited to an edition of the tournament in South America was 2007 in Venezuela, where Bob Bradley's side did not advance past the group stage. 


The Copa America is likely to come back-to-back with the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup, meaning the US would most likely need separate rosters for the respective tournaments.