CHICAGO -- U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati denied that there have been discussions with the USSF, or between CONCACAF and CONMEBOL, about hosting future Copa America tournaments in the United States, though he left the door open for a new event.
A report from ESPN Deportes indicated that an agreement between CONMEBOL and CONCACAF to host future versions of the Copa America in the U.S. was close to being completed. But Gulati, speaking at round-table with reporters, called that report "completely inaccurate."
The U.S. is currently hosting the Copa America Centenario which is comprised of 10 countries from CONMEBOL and another six from CONCACAF.
Gulati said newly elected CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani had not brought up the subject with anyone in the South American confederation.
"I talked to Victor yesterday. He's had no discussions with anybody at CONMEBOL about it," Gulati said. "So there is nothing imminent, no plans, no discussions have taken place.
"Having said all that, could there be discussions about it? Sure, but nothing has happened to date."
Gulati said any joint tournament involving the two confederations in the future would have to be in the form of a new tournament, and would be separate from Copa America.
"This is the Centenario for Copa America," he said. "If we were thinking about a combined event in the future, it wouldn't have to be a Copa America. It would be some new-created event where there might be an equal number of teams, where all of those things that are specific to Copa America wouldn't necessarily be in place.
"This is a specific event, 100th anniversary, approved on the FIFA calendar. What we might talk about for a future event would be for a new event."
A day earlier, U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann backed the idea of keeping the Copa in the U.S., while Uruguay federation chief Wilmar Valdez said hosting even one event in North America was a mistake.