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Brazil to stage Copa America despite nearly 500k COVID deaths

Brazil is to step into the breach as host of this summer's Copa America.  Argentina's status as ...



Brazil to stage Copa America d...
Soccer

Brazil to stage Copa America despite nearly 500k COVID deaths

Brazil is to step into the breach as host of this summer's Copa America. 

Argentina's status as host was withdrawn 13-days before the tournament is due to begin, with CONMEBOL citing “present circumstances”.

The 47th edition of the Copa America was originally due to be jointly hosted by Argentina and Colombia, but the latter stepped away on May 20.

CONMEBOL confirmed on Monday that Brazil will instead host the competition, with venues and fixture details revealed in the coming hours.

Over 462,000 people have died with COVID-19 in Brazil, the second highest death toll behind the United States of America.

Thousands took to the streets in at least sixteen different cities on Sunday to protest the handling of the pandemic by the country's far-right president Jair Bolsonaro.

Despite the mounting death toll, Bosonaro told his citizens to "stop whining" about the virus earlier this year.

CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez contacted the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) chief Rogério Caboclo to sound out the country as a potential host.

Caboclo then spoke with Bolsonaro who - according to CONMEBOL - "supported the initiative immediately".

Ten countries are due to contest this year's Copa America, which is scheduled to begin on June 13 and finish up on July 10.

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Argentina Brazil Colombia Copa America Coronavirus Covid-19 Jair Bolsonaro