The governing bodies of Conmebol and Concacaf have joined forces to bring an unprecedented international tournament to the United States: the 2024 Copa America. The upcoming tournament, to be held two years before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, will serve as an opportunity for South American teams to acclimate to the expanded 48-team World Cup, which is set to be mainly hosted on US soil.

In an accompanying move, the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup will include four Conmebol representatives along with eight Concacaf squads.

The tournament comes as part of a strategic collaboration agreement between Conmebol and Concacaf that seeks to strengthen and develop the football in both regions. Ten South American teams and six North, Central American and Caribbean teams will qualify for the tournament through the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League.

This unprecedented alliance allows both federations to benefit financially and provide ample opportunity for their representatives to compete against the elite of South America. Fans in South America may not be happy the tournament will be heading north, but participating teams have the opportunity to test themselves in a large-scale event in a World Cup host country.

Assuming he does not retire, Lionel Messi will have the chance to play in a major tournament for the first time since the last month's World Cup triumph in Qatar. Host cities for this summer's event have not been determined but will likely include major NFL stadiums. It could also be an opportunity for an MLS club to earn the title of the Americas' top team.