FIFA on Friday announced that it supports the proposal by the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) to switch the Copa America to even-numbered years from 2020 onward.
The world soccer governing body released this decision at its council meeting in Kigali, Rwanda. Since the Copa America was founded in 1916, it has not follow a fixed pattern, though for a relatively long time, the event only took place in odd-numbered years. However, immediately following the 2015 Copa America, CONMEBOL hosted the Copa America Centenario in 2016.
The change will take effect in 2020 but the 2019 Copa America will still be held in Brazil. After that, the most important international soccer event in South America will take place in line with UEFA's European Championship.
Chile win championship of the Copa America Centenario 2016 held in the US. /VCG Photo
According to ESPN, the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) said that the country will try to send "a full-strength squad" to the Copa America starting from 2020. The FMF is a member of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) which holds the CONCACAF Gold Cup in odd-numbered years. Mexico was not able to send their best players to both events before but things should change after 2020.