2022 Women's Copa America: Four teams vie for continental glory and Paris 2024 spots in upcoming semi-finals
The Copa América Femenina is reaching a decisive stage in Colombia. Which sides will represent South America at Paris 2024? Will Brazil extend their dominance? Here is what you need to know about the semi-finals on 25 and 26 July.
Football
After 15 days of competition, including an exciting group phase, the stage is now set for a thrilling finale at the 2022 Copa América Femenina, the biggest women’s football tournament in South America.
As the tournament moves into its final stage on the line will be a continental crown - but it's not the only thing at stake.
This year's showpiece event, hosted by Colombia, will be used to determine which two national teams will represent South America at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as well as also providing three direct qualifying places (winner, runner-up and 3rd place winner) to the 2023 Women's World Cup, and two spots for an intercontinental play-off which will determine the last qualified teams for the same event.
And if all that wasn't enough there will also be three additional places for the 2023 Pan American Games tournament in Santiago, Chile meaning everything is to play for.
Four contenders for continental glory and two spots for Paris 2024
Defending champions Brazil, hosts Colombia, Argentina and Paraguay make up the four semi-finalists.
The two sides that advance to the final will automatically qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and will face off for the South American crown.
The last three matches will be held at the Alfonso López stadium in Bucaramanga: the first game will be Colombia vs Argentina on Monday 25 July, followed by the duel between Brazil and Paraguay on Tuesday 26 July.
The big final will then take place on Saturday 30 July.
So, how has the journey been so far for the four semi-finalists?
Brazil: Chasing their eighth South American title
With seven Copa América titles (in eight editions of the tournament), La Seleçao arrived in Colombia as the pre-tournament favourites.
The defending champions have a squad bursting with talent but, for the first time since 1995, they won't be able to field three of their legendary players: Cristiane, Formiga and Marta. The first two retired from international competition after Tokyo 2020, with a Rainha still recovering from a knee injury suffered in March.
Still, Pia Sundhage’s renewed team has been nothing but impressive in the tournament with four wins out of four matches to finish on top of Group B.
They started their campaign with a 4-0 win in the Superclásico against Argentina, the only other team who has ever won the tournament (2006). Brazil has scored 17 goals and their goalkeeper Lorena is still unbeaten.
Colombia: Las Superpoderosas are back
Spurred on by the home crowd, Colombia have reached the semi-finals after winning all their group stage matches, including a hammering 4-0 win against previous runners-up Chile.
With a squad combining veterans like Daniela Montoya and exciting talents like playmaker Leicy Santos, the hosts are pulling out all the stops to make it to Paris 2024.
Should they reach the Copa América final, Las Cafeteras will qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time in their history.
Paraguay: Nothing to lose for the underdogs
With strong rivals like Colombia and Chile in the same group, not many would have tipped La Albirroja to reach the semi-finals.
But here they are, closer than ever to their first continental final since 2006 and on the precipice of reaching their first ever Olympics.
Paraguay finished second in Group A with three wins and one defeat. On 26 July Marcello Frigerio’s side will try to continue to write more history by upsetting defending champions - and overwhelming favourites - Brazil.
Argentina: Bouncing back from a bad start
The Albiceleste suffered a nightmare start in the tournament after being smashed by arch-rivals Brazil.
Since then, they have booked two comfortable wins against Peru (4-0) and Uruguay (5-0) respectively putting them back on track.
In the last match of Group B, Argentina needed to beat Venezuela to qualify for the semi-finals: it was a tight and even game decided by a goal from Flor Bonsegundo in the second half.
Now, the team captained by veteran Estefanía Banini is chasing a spot in the final, and the qualification for their second Olympics after Beijing 2008.
2022 Women's Copa America: Semi-finals and Final schedule
Times are local (GMT-5).
- 25 July at 19:00: Colombia vs Argentina in Bucaramanga
- 26 July at 19:00: Brazil vs Paraguay in Bucaramanga
- 30 July at 19:00 Winner SF 1 vs Winner SF 2 in Bucaramanga