The announcement, jointly made by the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association (CONCACAF) and the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) in Miami, has been billed as a "true uniting of the Americas".

The tournament will take place just a year after the next Copa America, in Chile in 2015, as a special exception to the quad-annual cycle to mark the centenary of CONMEBOL, set up in 1916.

It is hoped it will allow South American countries to benefit from greater commercial exposure in a new market, as well as allowing North American fans to see some of the best players in the world in action first-hand.

It will also provide greater competition for the stronger CONCACAF nations than they currently enjoy in the Gold Cup, the region's major tournament, although the US, Mexico and Costa Rica have all competed in the Copa America before as guest entries.

The 2016 event will feature 16 participants: the 10 countries which make up CONMEBOL together with six of the 41 members of CONCACAF.

Along with the US hosts and the region's most successful nation Mexico, this will consist of the two winners of the Caribbean and Central American Cup events in 2014 as well as the four best placed finishers of the 2015 Gold Cup not to have already qualified. 

Organisers have asked FIFA to put the event on the international calendar, which would mean clubs would have to release players to national teams, although a decision is not expected before September

The tournament will begin on June 3 and continue for three weeks until June 26, meaning it will also overlap with the 2016 UEFA European Championships in France from June 10 to July 10. 

Uruguay celebrate winning the 2011 Copa America in Argentina ©Getty Images





Specific US cities which will host matches are still to be chosen, but an Organising Committee will soon be set up to which expressions of interest can be made.

Among those thought to be in contention is the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, which staged the 1994 World Cup final between Brazil and Italy, the RFK Stadium in Washington, Houston's Reliant Stadium, and New York's MetLife Stadium, which staged the 2014 Super Bowl.

It remains to be seen whether the announcement paves the way for greater cooperation between the two bodies, and even an eventual merger, but for now it is being hailed a necessary step to boost the appeal of the event.

"We are all part of the American continent," said CONMEBOL president Eugenio Figueredo.

"Globalisation will revolutionise football, we have to respond to be more competitive, young people will be proposing this [greater integration] quickly.

"We are proud to play a leading role in the celebration of the centennial of a tournament born to unite all America.

"Year after year the Cup has gained prestige, which has allowed the opening of doors to the football of an entire continent."

Similar views were expressed by CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb when he claimed "football can unite the Americas in a way that has never been done before".

"The Americas were discovered in 1492, but I can't find a better way to unite this vast continent in 2016," he added.

The last edition of Copa America was played in Argentina in 2011, with Uruguay winning a
record 15th title, with the next edition to take place in Chile from June 11 to July 4, 2015.

The announcement also throws into question the long-term future of the Gold Cup which will next be held from July 7 to 26, 2015, although the host country has not yet been announced. 

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