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what's the difference between the gold cup and the copa america?

i used to think the gold cup was only north & central america, and that the copa america was north, central & south ... but im not really sure. whats the difference between the cups? which is more important?

Public Comments

1. You got it right about what they are and the copa america is more important because it has tougher teams like Brazil and Argentina
2. Copa America is the oldest tournament, even older that the World Cup. It is organized by the CONMEBOL (South American Soccer Federation). Gold CUP organized by the CONCACAF (North America, Central America & the Carribean). The Copa America is by far more important. Conmebol started letting Mexico and the US enter as guests in 1993. Mexico has done really good in the tournamets. Maybe we could win this year. Arriva Mexico!! Arriva las AGUILAS!!
3. Both tournaments are qualifiers for the Confederations Cup. The winner gets to represent the confederation- as long as the winning team is a member of that confederation. Gold Cup is for North , Central America, and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) nations while Copa America is for South American (CONMEBOL) nations. Both tournaments have had invited members from other confederations, which is why you'll see CONCACAF teams (like USA and Mexico) playing in Copa America. Neither cup is more important than the other, because the top prize is the same for both- represent your confederation at the Confederations Cup. However, the Copa America is seen as more prestigious as it is an older tournament and usually offers tougher competition.
4. Gold Cup is between teams from North , Central America and the Caribbean. Copa America is South america with two outside teams being guests, this year it was mexico and the US that were invited. Copa America is considered more important mainly because the competition is better but also because it has more prestige. It is the oldest tournament between national teams in the world. Oder than the World Cup but not as prestigious.
5. The Copa América (English: "America Cup") is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by CONMEBOL, the South American football confederation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_Am%C3%A9rica The CONCACAF Gold Cup is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by the CONCACAF. When it was held for the first time in 1963, it was originally called the CONCACAF Championship, changing to the name CONCACAF Gold Cup in 1990. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CONCACAF_Gold_Cup USA and Mexico both belong to CONCACAF so they compete for the Gold Cup. But they were both invited to compete in the 2007 Copa America for CONMEBOL. That's why USA and Mexico were in both Gold Cup and Copa America this year.
6. Well, as you said, the Gold Cup is a CONCACAF tournament mainly for the teams in the North, Central American and the Carribean. Teams from outside the region can be invited if necessary. However, for the 2007 edition, no team outside the CONCACAF were invited for the purpose, and out of respect for qualifying for the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009, which gives a team from the CONCACAF a chance to represent the confederation in that tournament. The Copa America, despite this tournament being much older than any other international tournament, other than the olympics, it is no different from the Gold Cup in terms of regional competition. It is a tournament that refers to all teams in the CONMEBOL, the south American confederation. Teams outside the CONMEBOL can be invited if necessary as well. However, the teams automatically invited to the tournament are the two CONCACAF power teams, USA and Mexico. However if either one turns the invitation down, another team can play. Now, if the USA, for example, won both the Gold Cup and the Copa America (same if it were Mexico), the team, a south american one, that had a best finish will represent the CONMEBOL in the 2009 Confederations Cup. Now, USA won the Gold Cup, which means Mexico lost its chance to represent the CONCACAF for the ConfedCup in 09, so even if Mexico made up the win if they won the Copa America, as largely PRESTIGOUS this tournament is to many, that still WILL NOT give them the chance to represent CONMEBOL at the ConfedCup. The south american runner-up will represent the continent. Vice-versa if Mexico won the Gold Cup and USA won the Copa America. Mexico goes on, USA wins Copa but won't go to the ConfedCup. Big difference? Indeed.
7. COPA, OLD IS GOLD.
8. the CONCACAF Gold Cup is open to all football associations in the North & Central America plus the Carribbean nations while the CONMEBOL Copa America is open to all football teams from South America with the exception of SURINAM & GUYANA. both countries are affliciated under CONCACAF. the CONMEBOL Copa America is clearly more important than the CONCACAF Gold Cup coz it features some of the best football teams in the world like BRAZIL, ARGENTINA & URUGUAY. the South American continent is a football mad continent compared to the North American continent.