The 1997 Copa America was the 38th game of the South American continental football championship and took place in Bolivia from June 11 to June 29 for the second time since 1963 . As in the two previous tournaments in 1993 and 1995 , two non-South American visiting teams took part. These were Costa Rica and Mexico.
Nothing changed in terms of the competition mode. The game was played in a combination of a group phase and a subsequent knockout round . The group stage was played in three groups of four teams each. The two best teams in each group and the two best third-placed teams reached the quarter-finals. In the event of a tie, the goal difference decided. In the final round there was no extra time after 90 minutes if the score was tied, but instead a penalty shoot-out . Defending champions Uruguay had to start in the group stage as usual. In groups A and C, the games were played in double events on one day in the same stadium.
Brazil won all of their six games, making it the fifth time they have won the Copa America. For the first time, the Seleção was able to triumph outside of their own country. By winning the Copa America, Brazil qualified for the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup as representative of South America . However, by renouncing world champion France , Brazil already took part in this tournament as the reigning “runner-up”, so that finalist Bolivia moved up.
Brazil (5th title)
Bolivia
Luis Hernández (6 goals)
yellow cards
Yellow-red cards
Red cards
Ecuador
Argentina
.svg){kind=small}
Paraguay
Chile
Peru
Uruguay
.svg){kind=small}
Venezuela
Colombia
Costa Rica
