1997 Copa América

The 1997 Copa America was the 38th edition of the Copa America. It was held in Bolivia from 11 to 29 June. It was organized by CONMEBOL, South America's football governing body.

In this edition, Costa Rica and Mexico were the invited teams to bring up the total number of competing teams to 12.

The tournament was won by Brazil, who became the first team to hold the Copa América and the World Cup at the same time, a feat they would repeat in 2004.

Squads
For a complete list of participating squads: 1997 Copa América squads

Match officials
🇦🇷 Argentina
 * Horacio Elizondo

🇧🇴 Bolivia
 * René Ortubé
 * Juan Carlos Paniagua

🇧🇷 Brazil
 * Antônio Pereira

Chile
 * Eduardo Gamboa

🇨🇴 Colombia
 * Rafael Sanabria

Costa Rica
 * Rodrigo Badilla

🇪🇨 Ecuador
 * Byron Moreno

🇲🇽 Mexico
 * Antonio Marrufo

Paraguay
 * Epifanio González

🇵🇪 Peru
 * José Arana

Uruguay
 * Jorge Nieves

🇺🇸 United States
 * Esfandiar Baharmast

🇻🇪 Venezuela
 * Paolo Borgosano

Group stage
The teams were divided into three groups of four teams each. The formation of the groups was made by CONMEBOL, in a public drawing of lots that took place on 17 December 1996.

Each team plays one match against each of the other teams within the same group. Three points are awarded for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat.

First and second placed teams, in each group, advance to the quarter-finals. The best third placed team and the second best third placed team, also advance to the quarter-finals.


 * Tie-breaker
 * If teams finish leveled on points, the following tie-breakers are used:
 * greater goal difference in all group games;
 * greater number of goals scored in all group games;
 * winner of the head-to-head match between the teams in question;
 * drawing of lots.

Ranking of third-placed teams
At the end of the first stage, a comparison was made between the third-placed teams of each group. The two best third-placed teams advanced to the quarter-finals.

Goalscorers
With six goals, Luis Hernández was the top scorer in the tournament.