Uruguay National Soccer Team
Employees prepare the National Stadium for the tomorrow's Copa America soccer tournament in Brasilia, Brazil, Saturday, June 12, 2021. The stadium will host Sunday's opening match between Brazil and Venezuela. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
Copa America: Venezuela has 8 players, Bolivia 3 with virus

By Mauricio Savarese Jun. 12, 2021 11:28 AM EDT

Uruguay's Luis Suarez gestures toward Paraguay's coach Eduardo Berizzo at the end of a World Cup qualifying soccer match in Montevideo, Uruguay, Thursday, June 3, 2021. (Mariana Greif/Pool via AP)
Paraguay vs Uruguay 6/3/2021

Jun. 03, 2021 11:46 PM EDT

Argentina's Lionel Messi wears a jersey with the number and image of late soccer star Diego Maradona prior to a FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying soccer match against Chile in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, Thursday, June 3, 2021. (Juan Mabromata, Pool via AP)
Argentina draws after 7-month halt of World Cup qualifiers

Debora Rey Jun. 03, 2021 11:43 PM EDT

FILE - This May 13, 2014 file photo shows Maracana stadium behind the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Brazil will host Copa America for the second consecutive time after Colombia and Argentina were stripped of hosting rights for the tournament, according to the South American soccer body CONMEBOL on Monday, May 31, 2021, hours after it ruled out Argentina amid an increase in COVID-19 cases in the country. Colombia was removed as co-host on May 20 as street protests against President Iván Duque rocked the nation. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File)
Maracanã to host Copa America final: Brazil-Venezuela open

By Mauricio Savarese Jun. 03, 2021 12:26 AM EDT

PSG's Neymar reacts at the end of the French League One soccer match between Brest and Paris Saint-Germain at the Stade Francis-Le Ble stadium in Brest, France, Sunday, May 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
South America restarts World Cup qualifying amid COVID rise

By Debora Rey Jun. 01, 2021 03:05 PM EDT

Jose Hurtado of Ecuador's Independiente del Valle, right, and Renan of Brazil's Palmeiras battle for the ball during a Copa Libertadores soccer match in Quito, Ecuador, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. (Franklin Jacome/Pool via AP)
Montevideo to host final of Copa Libertadores, Sudamericana

By Mauricio Savarese May. 13, 2021 01:19 PM EDT

Conmebol's President Alejandro Dominguez speaks during a re- inauguration ceremony at the headquarters of the South American Football Confederation, known by its acronym CONMEBOL, in Luque, Paraguay, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz)
Qatar and Australia pull out of Copa America

By Mauricio Savarese Feb. 23, 2021 02:08 PM EST

Los Angeles FC forward Diego Rossi (9) scores on a penalty kick against the Seattle Sounders during the first half of an MLS soccer match in Kissimmee, Fla., Monday, July 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)
Two more Uruguay players test positive for COVID-19

Nov. 18, 2020 02:25 PM EST

Uruguay's Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring from the penalty spot his side's second goal against Colombia during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at the Metropolitano stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Uruguay's Suárez and Muñoz test positive for virus

Nov. 16, 2020 03:36 PM EST

Argentina's Lionel Messi stands on the field during a qualifying soccer match against Paraguay for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020.(Marcelo Endelli, Pool via AP)
Argentina match to go ahead in Peru in WCup qualifying

By Mauricio Savarese Nov. 16, 2020 12:46 PM EST

Real Madrid's Eder Militao lies on the pitch in pain during the Champions League, group B soccer match between Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk at Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Brazil loses defenders Militao and Caio for WCup qualifying

Nov. 03, 2020 10:31 AM EST

Colombia's Duvan Zapata, right, celebrates scoring his side's first goal with teammate Juan Cuadrado during a qualifying soccer match against Venezuela for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in Barranquilla, Colombia, Friday, Oct. 9, 2020. (Gabriel Aponte/Pool via AP)
Brazil, Colombia outclass rivals, lead World Cup qualifiers

By Mauricio Savarese Oct. 09, 2020 10:55 PM EDT

Uruguay's Luis Suarez celebrates scoring from the penalty point the opening goal during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 against Chile at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. (Raul Martinez/Pool via AP)
Argentina, Uruguay win in long-awaited World Cup qualifiers

By Mauricio Savarese Oct. 08, 2020 11:40 PM EDT

FILE - In this file photo dated Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, Portugal coach Fernando Santos talks to journalists after the draw for the UEFA Euro 2020 soccer tournament finals in Bucharest, Romania. Coach Fernando Santos will remain in charge of Portugal national soccer team until the 2024 European Championship, the Portuguese soccer federation said Tuesday June 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, FILE)
Portugal coach Santos extends contract until 2024

Jun. 16, 2020 12:26 PM EDT

Wearing a face mask, Venezuelan soccer player María Alejandra Peraza, who played last season with Colombia's Millonarios women's team, speaks during an interview in Bogota, Colombia, Thursday, May 21, 2020. Peraza is one of hundreds of professional female players who have received a food package from the Ministry of Sport in Colombia during the lockdown to curb the COVID-19. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Soccer players in Latin America looking for help amid virus

By Davidde Corran May. 22, 2020 01:14 PM EDT