Soccer

Copa America 2015: Bracket, groups, schedule and scores

Everything you need to know about Copa America.

Updated Jul 5, 2015, 2:27 AM UTC

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South America’s continental championship is back, and theoretically, for the last time in an odd year. Next year’s Copa America in the United States is going to be the tournament’s first back on a schedule that puts it two years out from the World Cup, and that format should continue indefinitely if the tournament actually goes forward. Stupid corruption scandals.

This edition of Copa America is in Chile, who got the tournament after Brazil passed on hosting. CONMEBOL has an alphabetical rotation policy, everyone would throw a fit if the tournament was at altitude in Bolivia, and Brazil have had their fair share of major international football tournaments lately. Therefore, La Roja get the benefit of playing at home and are one of the tournament’s big favorites.

All your big favorites are here, from Neymar to Lionel Messi to Alexis Sanchez. Well ... that’s not entirely accurate. One of South America’s stars is out -- Luis Suarez. He’s suspended for his biting incident in last summer’s World Cup. Good job, Luis!

Here’s everything you need to get caught up on how the tournament works and how the schedule will unfold.

The format

There’s no qualifying for this tournament -- in fact, CONMEBOL needs to invite outsiders just to fill it out. The 10 South American nations qualify automatically and are joined by two CONCACAF teams, this year Jamaica and Mexico. El Tri are a permanent invitee, while Jamaica have replaced Costa Rica from last tournament, and the United States before them.

The 12 teams are separated into three groups of four, with the top two teams in each group advancing automatically. The two best third-placed teams will advance to the quarterfinals as well. At that point, it’s single elimination, with extra time and penalties to be played in the event of ties.