ANKARA
The 44th Copa America begins on Thursday with the opening match between Chile and Ecuador.
For the seventh time in history, Chile hosts the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) tournament, which takes place from June 11 to July 4.
Twelve teams are split into three groups. The group leaders and runners-up advance to the quarterfinals; the two best third-place teams also qualify for the last eight.
Chile, Mexico, Ecuador and Bolivia are in Group A. Group B is composed of Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Jamaica, and Group C is made up of Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela.
Defending Copa America champions Uruguay have won the tournament the most times, with 15 titles. Argentina won it 14 times and Brazil were crowned winners eight times.
- Three players from the Turkish Super League in Chile
Three players from the Turkish Spor Toto Super League will compete in Chile with Argentine forward Lionel Messi, Brazilian forward Neymar, Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez as well as Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez.
They are Galatasaray's Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, Besiktas's Colombian defender Pedro Franco and Mersin Idmanyurdu's Bolivian striker Ricardo Pedriel.
