History of CONMEBOL in Timeline

CONMEBOL, the South American Football Confederation, is the oldest continental football governing body and one of FIFA's six confederations. Headquartered in Luque, Paraguay, it organizes and governs major international football tournaments in South America. It comprises only 10 member football associations, making it the smallest FIFA confederation in terms of membership.

July 1916: Founding of CONMEBOL

On July 9, 1916, CONMEBOL was founded in Buenos Aires under the initiative of Uruguayan Héctor Rivadavia Gómez, with the approval of the football associations of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay.

1916: Inaugural Copa América

In 1916, the Copa América started as the main competition for men's national teams.

1952: Venezuela joins CONMEBOL

In 1952, Venezuela was the last football association in South America to join CONMEBOL.

1960: First Copa Libertadores held

In 1960, the Copa Libertadores was held for the first time.

1988: Beginning of Supercopa Libertadores

In 1988, the Supercopa Libertadores was established.

1989: Inception of Recopa Sudamericana

In 1989, the Recopa Sudamericana, an annual match between the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana winners, came into being.

1992: Beginning of Copa CONMEBOL

In 1992, the Copa CONMEBOL was started.

1999: Abolishment of Copa CONMEBOL

In 1999, the Copa CONMEBOL was abolished.

2002: Launch of Copa Sudamericana

In 2002, CONMEBOL launched the Copa Sudamericana as an indirect successor to the Supercopa Libertadores.

2009: First Copa Libertadores Femenina held

In 2009, the Copa Libertadores Femenina for club teams was held for the first time.

May 2015: Arrests of CONMEBOL leaders in Zürich

On May 27, 2015, several CONMEBOL leaders were arrested in Zürich, Switzerland, by Swiss police and indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice on charges of corruption, money laundering, and racketeering.

December 2015: Arrest of CONMEBOL President Juan Ángel Napout

On December 3, 2015, CONMEBOL President Juan Ángel Napout was arrested.

December 2015: Arrest of Juan Ángel Napout

On December 3, 2015, Juan Ángel Napout, the president of CONMEBOL, was arrested in a raid in Switzerland as part of the U.S. Justice Department's bribery case involving FIFA.

January 2016: Election of Alejandro Domínguez as president

In January 2016, specifically on January 26, Alejandro Domínguez from Paraguay was elected as the president of CONMEBOL, succeeding interim president Wilmar Valdez.