Copa America is left without a venue due to Argentina's last-minute resignation

(ATR ) The Copa America, the continent's biggest national team tournament, was left without a venue two weeks before its start when Argentina resigned as host due to the harshness with which the covid-19 pandemic is hitting the country.

"Conmebol informs that in attention to the present circumstances it has resolved to suspend the organization of the Copa America in Argentina," the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) said in a statement on Sunday night.

The South American soccer governing body added that it is "analyzing the offer of other countries that showed interest in hosting" the tournament.

The Copa America, with ten participants, was to be held from June 13 to July 10, divided for the first time between two countries, Argentina and Colombia. Immersed in a violent political crisis, Colombia declined a few days ago to host half of the tournament and the final.

Minutes before Conmebol announced it was taking the venue away from Argentina, Home Affairs Minister Eduardo de Pedro said it was "very difficult" for the tournament to be held in the land of Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi.

Argentina is facing the highest levels of infections and deaths since the pandemic began. In the midst of the restrictions and a new confinement that a large part of the country had to comply with in the last few days, a survey by the Poliarquia consulting firm showed that 70 percent of those polled did not want the tournament. This is quite a fact, since Argentina is known to be one of the countries with the greatest passion for soccer.

Chile and the United States are emerging as possible venues for the Copa América, which will be played practically simultaneously with the European Championship (June 11 to July 11), and there are observers who do not rule out the possibility of Uruguay also joining in some way.

Written and Reported bySebastián Fest