The 1919 South American Championship of Nations

Copa América

The Copa América —previously known as South American Championship—is an international football competition contested between the men's national teams of CONMEBOL, the sport's continental governing body...

was the third continental championship for South American nations. It was held in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...

, Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

 from May 11 to May 29, 1919.

The participating countries were Brazil

Brazil national football team

The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...

, Argentina

Argentina national football team

The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...

, Chile

Chile national football team

The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...

 and Uruguay

Uruguay national football team

The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...

 as the defending champion.

After finishing tied in the group positions, host Brazil beat Uruguay in the playoff match and obtained their first title. This was the longest match in the competition, since it was needed an extra time, which oddly consisted of four periods of 15 minutes each, and not two of 15 as is still usual nowadays.

Format

There was no qualifying for the tournament. The participating countries were Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay. All teams competed between each other in a single group. Two points were awarded for a win, one for a draw and zero for a defeat. If there was a tie of points at the top of the standings, a playoff match would be held to determine the champion.

Final standings

8

3

Team
	3	2	1	0	11	3
5
	3	2	1	0	7	4
5
	3	1	0	2	7	7	0	2
	3	0	0	3	1	12	−11	0

Matches

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Playoff

(*)Four extra times of 15 minutes each were played. This made the match last 150 minutes, the longest in the tournament's history.

Goal scorers

4 goals

Arthur Friedenreich

Arthur Friedenreich

Arthur Friedenreich was a Brazilian football player. Nicknamed The Tiger, he was arguably the sport's first outstanding black player.-Biography:...

Neco

Neco

Manoel Nunes , born March 5, 1895 in São Paulo – died May 31, 1977 in São Paulo, Brazil) was an association football midfielder. With great skill and tenacity, he was the first idol of Corinthians, being the first player to get a statue in the team's gardens...

3 goals

Edwin Clarcke
Carlos Izaguirre
Carlos Scarone

2 goals Isabelino Gradín

Isabelino Gradín

Isabelino Gradín was a Uruguayan footballer and athlete. He was one of the greatest footballers in the early era of Uruguayan football and is regarded as one of the greatest Uruguayan players before the Uruguayan win at the 1930 FIFA World Cup...

1 goal

Amílcar

Amílcar Barbuy

Amílcar Barbuy was an Italian Brazilian football player and manager...

 Haroldo Héitor
Millon Alfredo France José Pérez
Héctor Scarone

Héctor Scarone

Héctor Pedro Scarone Beretta was a Uruguayan football striker. He went on for many years Since 1930 to holds the record as the all-time leading scorer with 31 goals in 52 games between 1917 and 1930 for the Uruguayan national team...

Own goals Manuel Varela (for Argentina)

External links

• 1919 South American Championship at RSSSF