The CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 lands in the United States over this week, with some of the planet’s most iconic national teams and legendary players set to take to the field for the latest edition of the oldest continental club competition in world soccer. Last year, Sportradar strengthened its partnership with CONMEBOL, soccer’s governing body in South America, with a new multi-year deal for exclusive global audiovisual and betting data rights, building on its successful coverage of the tournament’s most recent edition in 2021.

Q: What does this partnership with CONMEBOL mean to Sportradar?

RS: “CONMEBOL is a highly strategic partner for us in the region. This is an organisation that operates the most important club and national team competitions across South America, so it enables us to offer a very strong and relevant portfolio for our global network of AV clients. This year’s edition is taking place in the United States, which also brings a new dimension to a historic tournament.”

Q: What difference does it make that this edition is taking place in the United States?

RS: “It’s definitely a boost. I think there is special interest as there will be some iconic teams such as Argentina and Brazil playing on US soil, and of course the FIFA World Cup is just a couple of years away in the same country. So, for fans as well as the soccer community in the US and elsewhere, the Copa America will offer a taste of what to expect in 2026.”

Q: How much interest has there been in this year’s tournament from Sportradar’s AV clients?

RS: “There has been significant interest, and the footprint is bigger than in 2021, no question. Levels of interest in South American soccer from across the globe have never been higher, especially since Argentina won the FIFA World Cup less than two years ago. So, our ability to offer the Copa America alongside CONMEBOL’s flagship club competitions, the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, gives streaming platforms a really exciting proposition.”

Q: What makes the Copa America in itself such an attractive property to AV clients?

RS: “The tournament has a rich history and is the third most-watched football competition in the world with great players, great teams and great games. There is a full calendar of international soccer at the moment with UEFA Euro 2024, but the benefit of offering the Copa America is that the games take typically start at 11pm or midnight in Europe and in the morning in Asia when there are no other matches taking place.

“The Copa America therefore offers an outstanding opportunity for streaming services, such as those hosted by betting operators, to fill their schedules with compelling content around the clock. In terms of the tournament itself, the Copa America brings together historic soccer rivalries in highly charged atmospheres that in turn help to generate plenty of goals and excitement.”

Q: You mentioned how the Copa America has expanded its horizons. What sort of impact do you believe this is having on the popularity of the tournament?

RS: “The global outlook of the tournament has grown significantly in recent years. Alongside South America’s strongest teams, this year’s edition will feature six CONCACAF teams from Central and North America – the US, Mexico, Jamaica, Panama, Canada and Costa Rica – ensuring the tournament is highly relevant right across the Americas. In recent years, the likes of Japan and Qatar have been invited to participate, leading to big levels of interest in Asia.”

Q: The knockout rounds will begin in earnest for the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana in August, with the finals of both competitions taking place in November. Do you expect the Copa America 2024 to drive further global interest in these tournaments?

RS: “Each of these tournaments stand on their own merits. There are key differences between the Copa America – which brings together many of the greatest players in the world who typically play in Europe – and the other two tournaments, which enjoy extraordinarily passionate support from the clubs’ fans. However, all of these CONMEBOL competitions shine a spotlight on South American soccer – and that can only be positive.”