The Copa América 1999 was the 39th game of the South American continental championship in football and took place for the first time in Paraguay from June 29 to July 18. As since the 1993 tournament , two non-South American visiting teams took part. With Japan, this was the first time a team from Asia and the fourth time Mexico. In contrast to the other national teams, a junior selection played for Uruguay.
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 Brazil had to start in the group stage as usual. With two exceptions, all group stage matches and one quarter-finals in the context of double events were played on one day in the same stadium.
Brazil defended their 1997 title , winning all of their six games, the sixth time the Copa America. With this victory, Brazil qualified as representative of South America for the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup .