Canada‘s long wait to compete in the Copa America continues following a loss to Jamaica.
Canada’s wait for the Copa America continues.
After losing to Jamaica in the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals on Tuesday, Canada’s bid to qualify for the 2024 Copa America will have to wait until a March play-in game.
Canada’s ambition to qualify for the 2024 Copa America will have to wait until a March play-in game after losing its CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Jamaica on Tuesday.
The 45th-ranked Canadian men could have won the game at BMO Field, but they fell 3-2 due to a second-half collapse. To qualify for the Copa America, Canada must defeat No. 99 Trinidad & Tobago in March.
It’s not the first time Canada’s bid to compete as a guest squad in South America has been rebuffed.
As a reward for winning the Gold Cup in February 2000, Canada was scheduled to compete in the 2001 Copa America. However, less than a week before the tournament’s scheduled start in Colombia, Canada Soccer chose not to attend.
Colombia’s participation as host country was put into question following a string of urban explosions in May 2001 and the kidnapping of the Colombian Football Federation’s vice-president just weeks before the competition was supposed to begin.
The tournament was set to take place from July 11 to July 29, with Canada taking on Argentina on July 13 in Medellin.
The South American association, CONMEBOL, stated on July 1 that the tournament will be moved to 2002 owing to security concerns. However, five days later, it decided to hold the tournament in Colombia.
“In response to the decision to reinstate the Copa America tournament, the Canadian Soccer Association will not be able to participate,” declared association president Jim Fleming at the time.
“Preparation for the Canadian team had already begun, with a pre-tournament camp and a friendly against Panama scheduled.” The CSA was notified on June 30 that the tournament had been postponed until 2002. We honoured this decision by cancelling our preparations and releasing our players to return to their clubs.
“At this time it would be impossible for us to regroup as our players are scattered across Europe with their clubs in various pre-season camps.”
Canada’s long wait to compete in the Copa America continues following a loss to Jamaica.
Costa Rica then replaced Canada as a visitor team at the 12-country tournament, joining Mexico.
Argentina also withdrew, claiming that it had sent its players home after the competition was officially cancelled. Honduras was a last-minute substitution.
The competition, which was held under strict security, went off without a hitch.
Colombia won the trophy after defeating Mexico 1-0 in the final. Honduras finished third, edging Uruguay in a penalty shootout.
