Belo Horizonte, Brazil – It is fitting that the underused Estadio Mane Garrincha football stadium in Brasilia sits almost within sight of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s office.
In a little more than a week, the cavernous arena is scheduled to host the opening match of arguably the most contentious and politicised Copa America in the history of the world’s oldest international football tournament.
Whether it happens though, regardless of Bolsonaro’s obstinacy, remains to be seen.
Until late last month, the 10-team, month-long tournament was to be, for the first time, co-hosted by two countries: Colombia and Argentina.
The former’s plans were scrapped on May 20 due to civil unrest. Ten days later, with COVID cases in Argentina having risen 54 percent, the country swapped its hosting rights for the unwelcome title of having the world’s fifth-worst coronavirus outbreak per capita.
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Belo Horizonte, Brazil – It is fitting that the little-used Estadio Mane Garrincha football stadium in Brazil is almost overlooked by the office of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
Just over a week ago, the cave will host the opening match of the most controversial and politicized Copa America in the history of the world’s oldest international football tournament.
Whether it happens, despite Bolsonaro’s frustration, remains to be seen.
Until the end of last month, the tournament, made up of 10 teams, was for the first time organized by two countries together: Colombia and Argentina.
Belo Horizonte, Brazil – Brasilia’s underutilized Mane Garrincha Stadium is located near the office of Brazilian President Bolsonaro, which is appropriate.
Already forced to delay the Copa America by a year, organisers are struggling to pull off the world s oldest running international football competition in a region still reeling from COVID-19 and - in the case of original co-hosts Colombia - violent unrest.