New Pictures Why are Japan and Qatar in the Copa America and have they played in it before?

THE Copa America draw is set to be made this Thursday.

And joining ten South American nations at the proceedings in Brazil are Qatar and Japan, of Asia.

Japan will be looking for Copa America glory this summer

EPA

Why are Qatar and Japan playing in the Copa America?

As the South American football association (Conmebol) only has ten members, additional invitees are required to create a workable tournament structure.

Initially, six extra teams – three from North America and three from Asia – were set to be invited in order to create a 16-team tournament, as was the case for the 2016 competition in the United States.

But instead, in May 2018, Conmebol decided the tournament should follow the structure of all other competitions since 1993 and have 12 teams, with Qatar and Japan those invited.

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Has either team played in the Copa America before?

Japan have played in one previous Copa America, appearing at the 1999 tournament in Paraguay.

In that competition they finished bottom of a group containing Peru, Paraguay and Bolivia as they picked up just one point – a 1-1 draw with the Bolivians.

Qatar have never played in the Copa America before and will be using the competition to get used to a higher standard of football ahead of the 2022 World Cup, which will be hosted in their country.

In 2015, Mexico and Jamaica were the two teams invited to participate in the Copa America.

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News Photo Why are Japan and Qatar in the Copa America and have they played in it before?
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