What is the Copa Interamericana? CONCACAF & CONMEBOL team up for revival

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami can add another potential trophy to their case as the old competition has been revived by CONCACAF and CONMEBOL.

Although not yet confirmed, there are widespread reports suggesting that the Copa Interamericana will be revived for 2024, featuring top clubs from both North and South America in the intercontinental tournament.

The tournament was established in 1968 and was originally intended as a one-match showcase between the continental club champions from each federation. However, with clubs from both confederations appearing in continental competitions from the other (mostly Mexican clubs were invited to participate in the Copa Libertadores), the Copa Interamericana was abolished in 1998.

It now looks like it will be revived in a more modern, expanded format and Messi could be right at the centre.

What is the Copa Interamericana?

While the old format of the competition was intended as a one-off game between the reigning Copa Libertadores champion and CONCACAF Champions Cup winner, that looks to be getting an update with the revival of the tournament.

According to multiple reports, CONCACAF has proposed to CONMEBOL the revival of the Copa Interamericana, which has not been contested since 1998. This jives with confirmation from CONCACAF back in January of a then-unnamed cross-continental competition.

In its new format, according to the reports, the winners of the previous year’s Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana, Leagues Cup, and CONCACAF Champions League will come together in a four-team knockout tournament.

This, however, could use some alteration, because there is already a competition in South America called the Recopa Sudamericana, which pits the previous winners of the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana together, and another competition for them would feel quite redundant.

Who has qualified for 2024 Copa Interamericana?

Assuming the competition does indeed become official in the proposed format discussed above, one CONCACAF participant has already be determined, and another will be soon to follow.

The 2023 CONCACAF Champions Cup (then known as the CONCACAF Champions League) was won by Liga MX side Club Leon, who would be one qualifier. The other comes from the Leagues Cup, with the final won by Lionel Messi and Inter Miami.

In CONMEBOL, the 2023 competitions are still in play, and winners have not been crowned. The Copa Libertadores quarterfinals feature three Brazilian clubs, two Argentine teams, and three from other nations, while the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinal participants are over half Brazilian, plus two from Argentina and one from Ecuador.

All Copa Interamericana champions

Across its 19 previous editions, the Copa Interamericana was won by 13 different clubs.

The only club with three titles is Argentine side Independiente, while Uruguayan side Nacional, Mexico’s Club America, Atletico Nacional of Colombia, and Olimpia of Paraguay each have two.

Of the 19 prior competitions in this tournament’s history, only four were won by North American clubs, while the other 15 were won by teams hailing from South America. Only one U.S. club has won the title, with D.C. United the current holders having won in 1998, the final edition of the competition.

Incredibly, no Brazilian club ever won the competition, while an Argentine side won seven times. In fact, only one Brazilian club ever reached the final, with Vasco da Gama doing so in 1998. This was partly due to Brazilian clubs declining to participate in 1993 and 1995.