Soccer doesn’t go hand in hand with the Copa América.

A new edition of the Copa América is underway, considered by some as one of the oldest and most traditional tournaments in football history. Speaking of the South American continental tournament means talking about passion, color, and folklore.

However, this edition has brought some changes. In preparation for the 2026 World Cup, FIFA and CONMEBOL decided to paradoxically bring the South American tournament to North American territory.

Stadiums. Hotels. Shopping centers. Airports. Highways. The United States has it all. There’s no doubt about it; it’s probably one of the few countries where a tournament of this magnitude can be organized virtually overnight.

A week ago, as the opening ceremony was about to take place, I tuned in to an Argentine station while heading to the office. The defending champions were set to debut, and I often listen to stations from different countries to understand the various perspectives they bring to a particular tournament or match.

It turns out Argentina debuted at the Mercedes Benz Stadium, one of the most luxurious and spectacular in the world. During the pre-match discussion, my Argentine colleagues spent nearly 20 minutes debating whether they would like a stadium of that kind.

As illogical as it may seem, none of the panelists favored such a situation (regardless of Argentina’s current economic constraints). It was somewhat strange that, being so passionate about football, they didn’t want a world-class stadium.

The reason?

Among themselves, they argued that such venues go against their history and traditions. More modernity and luxury mean losing the football culture, especially the South American essence.

The seats are far from the pitch, the concourses are filled with shops and restaurants offering a fantastic experience but making you feel more like you’re in a shopping center than a stadium. Today, riding an elevator up to your seat area distances you from those ramps where thousands of fans used to climb, singing and chanting for their team.

In the United States, they play ‘soccer’. Yes, it’s also 11 vs. 11 with a referee, aiming to score goals. But it’s truly a sport experienced differently there.

The Copa América 2024 has given us more empty stadiums than full ones. Aside from Argentina in Atlanta and New York, not even the Mexican national team managed a sold-out crowd in their debut. Brazil came close but also fell short in Los Angeles.

It’s worth mentioning that these stadiums have capacities close to 70,000-80,000 spectators, which poses a significant challenge.

However, teams like Brazil and Argentina always ensure good ticket sales due to the quality of their squad. What is really concerning is the low attendance expectations generated by the rest of the teams.

Uruguay, for example, didn’t even achieve 50% attendance. Not to mention the Ecuador vs. Venezuela match that appeared completely empty in Santa Clara. Or the Canada vs. Peru match, which also didn’t draw a good crowd.

The fans in the United States are not interested in soccer. Those same stadiums would fill up for a regular MLB or NFL game, but not for soccer. While interest in soccer has grown, it is still far from generating the expected attendance.

In addition to this, the state of the pitches has been terrible, bringing us back to the same point. There, technology prevails over tradition, and matches are played on synthetic pitches, which are prohibited by FIFA and definitely not suitable for playing good football.

Advíncula, Diego Valdés, and Edson Álvarez are three players who have already suffered from the condition of the playing surface. It’s no wonder Lionel Scaloni expressed his dissatisfaction from day one, a sentiment now shared by players like Vinicius Jr.

To top it off, the high temperatures have also been a significant factor leading to unexpected circumstances. Ronald Araujo had to leave the field at halftime due to the intense heat in Miami, and just a few days ago, the assistant referee in the Peru vs. Canada match collapsed during the game.

Take note, FIFA, because in two years these same stadiums will host the World Cup, and they do not appear adequately prepared today.

The vibrant atmosphere has disappeared from the stands, and this Copa América is far from what we’re accustomed to. Hopefully, as the tournament progresses, the fans can get more engaged, and we’ll see some South American passion in North American territory.

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