![The Brazilian national team is against the idea of having the tournament at home [Diego Vara/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-06-05T012446Z_820484_HP1EH6503X7IT_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-WORLDCUP-BRA-ECU-REPORT.jpg?resize=770%2C513)
BRASILIA, June 8 (NNN-XINHUA) — It is fitting that the underused Estadio Mane Garrincha football stadium in Brasilia sits almost within sight of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s office.
In a little more than a week, the cavernous arena is scheduled to host the opening match of arguably the most contentious and politicised Copa America in the history of the world’s oldest international football tournament.
Players taking part in the Copa America in Brazil will be tested every 48 hours under sanitary protocols outlined by local officials on Monday.
As expected, there will be no fans at the stadiums while players, coaches and other team staff are only allowed to leave their hotels for training, matches or to attend to health matters.
The Copa America will be played in four Brazilian cities from June 13 to July 10, despite soaring COVID-19 cases in the South American country.
“With proper sanitary controls, I don’t see the competition posing an additional risk,” Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga told a news conference.
“The Brazilian Football Confederation’s sanitary protocols have been validated by experts,” he added.
In addition to the swab tests, each team’s medical staff must complete “epidemiological surveys” with information related to their squads on a daily basis, Queiroga said. He added that participating teams and their staff would not need to be vaccinated.
Brazil was confirmed as the Copa America host last Monday, less than 24 hours after the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) said Argentina would no longer stage the tournament because of surging coronavirus cases in the country.
Colombia was stripped of its co-host status earlier in May due to violent anti-government protests.
According to official figures, Brazil has had more than 16.9 million confirmed coronavirus cases, of which over 470,000 have been fatal. The United States is the only country with a higher death toll.
Brazil registered 1,010 more deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the nationwide tally to 474,414, the health ministry said on Monday.
A total of 37,156 new infections were detected, raising the caseload to 16,984,218, the ministry said.
The South American country is experiencing a new wave of infections, with hospitals overwhelmed by patients.
More than 71.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered nationwide, and over 22.9 million people have received two jabs, it said. — NNN-XINHUA
