With Copa America and Gold Cup right around the corner, most fans were also looking forward to 2016 as the Copa America Centenario was expected to be held in US soil. The tourmanent would consist of 10 CONMEBOL teams and six CONCACAF teams in an event that would gather the likes of Neymar, Lionel Messi, Alexis Sanchez, James Rodriguez and Clint Dempsey - among others - in a tournament that would gather top class player of the entire continent.
According to some CONMEBOL officials, however, the tournament might not be played at all considering that several FIFA officials from both Latin and Central America have been sindicated as participants in the bribery and corruption scandals that have hurt FIFA's image over the last few weeks.
U.S. Attorney General Lorreta Lynch directly mentioned the tournament in her speech right after seven officials were captured last week and with all the scrutiny the organization has gone through, there's a direct possibility of the tournament not being played at all. This concern is also shared by CONMEBOL's secretary general Jose Luis Meiszner.
“Today one has to question the possibility of playing this tournament,” Meiszner said. “…We have to be prepared for enormous turmoil to hold this event, given the rights holders are also being questioned.”
There is no official word about a possible cancellation of the tournament and as of now, the Copa Centenario still stands as a real possibility. However with South, Central and North American officials involved in the bribery, racketeering and corruption charges and the ongoing investigation happening, a cancellation of this spectacular tournament isn't entirely out of the question.