Copa América 2021 Squad Regulations and Team Rosters

The 2021 Copa América was a premier international football tournament hosted in Brazil from June 13 to July 10, 2021. While the competition showcased the highest level of South American football, the administrative side of the tournament was uniquely shaped by the global health crisis, leading to unprecedented adjustments in how national teams managed their player rosters.

To ensure the tournament could proceed safely and fairly, CONMEBOL (the South American Football Confederation) implemented flexible registration rules to account for the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Key Facts

Tournament Dates: 13 June to 10 July 2021.
Host Nation: Brazil.
Squad Size: Increased from the usual 23 to a maximum of 28 players.
Matchday Limit: Despite larger squads, only 23 players could be named for any single fixture.
COVID-19 Flexibility: Players testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 could be replaced during the tournament.
Club Representation: UEFA clubs provided the highest number of players (117), followed by CONMEBOL (93).

Squad Registration and Regulations

The registration process for the 2021 tournament underwent several revisions. Initially, teams were required to submit a provisional list of 50 players, followed by a final list of 23. However, on May 28, 2021, CONMEBOL expanded these limits to allow a provisional list of up to 60 players and a final squad of up to 28 players.

Deadlines and Requirements

National teams had to submit their initial provisional lists by April 27, 2021. An additional ten players could be added until June 1. Because the FIFA World Cup qualifiers (matchdays 7 and 8) occurred shortly before the tournament, the deadline for the final 28-player squad was set for June 10, 2021—just three days before the opening match.

Player Replacements and Health Protocols

Due to the pandemic, CONMEBOL introduced specific protocols for player replacements:

Serious Injuries: Replacements were permitted up to 24 hours before the first match.
Goalkeepers: Injured goalkeepers could be replaced at any time during the tournament.
COVID-19: Any player with a positive PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 could be replaced. These replacements required approval from the CONMEBOL Medical Commission and did not need to have been on the original provisional list.
Final Stage: Teams could replace up to three players from their final list before the final stage, provided the replacements were from the provisional list.

Team-by-Team Squad Overviews

Group A

Argentina: Managed by Lionel Scaloni; announced a final squad of 28 players on June 11.
Bolivia: Managed by César Farías; announced a final squad of 27 players on June 10.
Uruguay: Managed by Óscar Tabárez; announced a final squad of 26 players on June 10.
Chile: Managed by Martín Lasarte; announced 28 players. Diego Valencia replaced the injured Guillermo Maripán on June 27.
Paraguay: Managed by Eduardo Berizzo; announced a final squad of 28 players on June 10.

Group B

Brazil: Managed by Tite; announced 24 players. Léo Ortiz replaced the injured Felipe on June 26.
Colombia: Managed by Reinaldo Rueda; announced 28 players. Yairo Moreno left due to injury on June 13, and Frank Fabra replaced Juan Ferney Otero (COVID-19 positive) on June 15.
Venezuela: Managed by José Peseiro; announced a 49-man provisional list and a final 28-man squad. The team was heavily impacted by COVID-19, with 11 delegation members testing positive. Notable replacements included Francisco La Mantía for Tomás Rincón and Luis Romero for Rafael Romo.
Ecuador: Managed by Gustavo Alfaro; announced 28 players. Carlos Gruezo replaced Damián Díaz on June 29 after the latter tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
Peru: Managed by Ricardo Gareca; submitted a provisional list of 50 players (later expanded to 60) and a final squad of 26 players.

Player and Club Statistics

The tournament saw a diverse array of club representation, with a significant number of players competing in European leagues.

Player Representation by Club and Region
Category	Top Representation / Count	Details
Top Club	River Plate Bolívar	7 Players
Top Club Nationality	Italy	27 Players
Top Confederation	UEFA	117 Players
Second Confederation	CONMEBOL	93 Players
Third Confederation	CONCACAF	38 Players

Frequently Asked Questions

How many players were allowed in the final squads for Copa América 2021?

While the usual limit is 23, CONMEBOL increased the final squad limit to 28 players per national team for this tournament.

Could teams use all 28 players in a single match?

No. Despite the larger squad size, teams were limited to naming a maximum of 23 players on the match list for each fixture, with 12 of those serving as substitutes.

What were the rules for replacing players due to COVID-19?

Any player who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 via a PCR test could be replaced before or during the tournament, subject to approval by the CONMEBOL Medical Commission.

Which club provided the most players to the tournament?

River Plate Bolívar provided the highest number of players, with a total of 7.

Which football confederation had the most player representation?

UEFA had the highest representation with 117 players, followed by CONMEBOL with 93 players.