The Brazilian National Team publicly criticized Conmebol for the conditions given to the teams in the Copa América 2025 and managed to change things.
At the crossroads between Brazil and Bolivia in Group B of the Copa América 2025 something unusual and embarrassing happened: the players from both teams were all sent together to warm up in a closed room at the Gonzalo Pozo Ripalda Stadium, without amenities and even smelling of paint, according to they declared.
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Conmebol's explanation was that no team was allowed to warm up on the playing field, since the stadiums accumulated a lot of load receiving two games on the same day during the competition, and that unleashed the drill of the green-and-yellow squad.
After this explanation, the Brazilian players did not sit idly by and spoke out without hesitation. Marta, one of the leading figures of women's football worldwide, expressed that “if they demand a high level of us, we also have the right to demand a high level of organization.”
In addition, the star added: "There was not enough space for both teams, but both wanted to be there to prepare. I really don't understand why we can't warm up on the court. This is a problem for us, because it is very hot inside, in addition to the altitude." The coach of Brazil, Arthur Elías, agreed with her.
Another of the Rio players, Ary Borges, targeted the president of Conmebol, Alejandro Domínguez. "Even the amateur matches are better organized than what we have here. Ask Alejandro if he was ever able to warm up in a space of 5 or 10 meters that smelled of paint," he said. In addition, he added that they had to share "a space of 10 or 15 square meters to warm up. It is something that we, as president, must continue to ask him."
The players continued to press, comparing the organization of the tournament not only with the men's Copa América, but also with the Euro Cup, a competition whose disposition with the players and the national teams is completely different.
The change that Brazil's players achieved in the Copa América 2025
Finally, after the complaints, Conmebol relented and authorized the teams to warm up on the playing field. The teams will have 15 minutes of warm-up on the field before the matches.
Since the continental tournament was organized, the South American football regulatory body knew that the stadiums were going to have complications. Group A composed of Uruguay, Argentina, Ecuador, Chile and Peru plays all its games at the Banco Guayaquil Stadium in Independiente del Valle; The same occurs with Group B, made up of Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia and Paraguay, which plays all matches at the Gonzalo Pozo Ripalda. In total, each stadium receives 11 matches in 15 days.