- Hosts Chile face Ecuador in Group A in the opening game of the tournament
- Argentina, captained by Lionel Messi, are favourites to win the tournament
- There are a host of Premier League players on show including Alexis Sanchez, Sergio Aguero and Angel di Maria
- Other big stars include Neymar, James Rodriguez and Carlos Tevez
By
Published:
22:58 GMT, 11 June 2015
|
Updated:
23:54 GMT, 11 June 2015
The Copa America began in spectacular style in the early hours of Friday morning with a vibrant opening ceremony ahead of the tournament curtain-raiser between hosts Chile and Ecuador in Santiago.
Fans from both nations packed into the arena for the ceremony ahead of the opening clash in the 44th instalment of the tournament.
Chile, who have never won the competition, will be hoping their star duo of Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez and Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal can deliver a first title.

Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the Copa America at the Nacional stadium in Santiago

A spectacular fire show accompanied the dancers during the opening stages of the curtain-raising ceremony

Tribal dancers perform amid a stunning display of pyrotechnics during the curtain-raiser for Chile vs Ecuador

Fans from both nations packed into the arena for the ceremony ahead of the opening clash in the 44th installment of the tournament

The Copa America is the world’s oldest continental competition having begun in 1916.

Chile will be hoping their star duo of Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez and Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal can deliver a first title.

World Cup finalists Argentina are favourites to win the event for the first time in 22 years

The tournament will feature in nine different stadiums spread out across eight different cities in Chile

The final will be held in Chile’s largest stadium, the Estadio Nacional in Santiago – the same venue for Friday’s opening clash

There are 10 countries in the South American association CONMEBOL who all qualify automatically for the tournament

Mexico and Jamaica have been invited to take part this year taking the total number of participating nations to 12

Fireworks light up the Santiago skyline outside the stadium as excitement builds of the opening match of the tournament

Fans from both nations packed into the arena for the ceremony ahead of the opening clash in the 44th instalment of the tournament

The Copa Amercia predates the first World Cup which began in 1930; 14 years after the South American tournament’s inception
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World Cup finalists Argentina are favourites to win the event for the first time in 22 years, not least because they have a certain Lionel Messi leading them after capping a glorious season for Barcelona by winning the Treble.
The tournament will feature in nine different stadiums spread out across eight different cities in Chile – Antofagasta, La Serena, Valparaiso, Rancagua, Temuco, Concepcion, Vina del Mar and the capital, Santiago.
The stadiums involved are: Estadio Nacional (capacity: 48,665), Estadio Monumental David Arellano (47,347), Estadio Regional de Antofagasta (21,178), Estadio La Portada (17,194), Estadio Sausalito (22, 340), Estadio Elías Figueroa (20,575), Estadio El Teniente (15,252), Estadio Municipal de Concepción (30,448), Estadio Municipal Germán Becker (18,936).

Ecuador supporters took up their positions in the stadium hours before their side’s clash with Chile at the Estadio Nacional

Two Ecuador supporters takes a selfie prior to the opening tie of the Copa America in the early hours of Friday morning

Supporters from both nations get into the party mood early on in the day before the 44th instalment of the tournament
The final will be held in Chile’s largest stadium, the Estadio Nacional in Santiago.
There are a host of Premier League players involved in the 12 squads.
Manchester City have the most players represented with four – Sergio Aguero, Martín Demichelis, Pablo Zabaleta and Fernandinho – while Premier League champions Chelsea – Juan Cuadrado, Willian and Felipe Luis – and Manchester United – Angel di Maria, Marcos Rojo and Angelo Henrique – have three apiece.
The Copa is the world’s oldest continental competition having begun in 1916. The tournament predates the first World Cup which began in 1930.

Chile supporters makes their voices heard early in the day ahead of their side’s Group A clash
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