体坛英语新闻：Qatar, Japan to play in 2019 Copa America

RIO DE JANEIRO, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Qatar and Japan have accepted invitations to participate in the 2019 Copa America in Brazil, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) said on Friday.

The tournament will also feature CONMEBOL's 10 member nations from South America, but will not include Mexico for the first time since 1991.

Japan will play in their second Copa America, having participated in 1999, while 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar will make their maiden appearance in the oldest continental football tournament.

"The 2019 Copa America in Brazil will be a keenly disputed competition in which any team could win the title," CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez said in a statement.

The tournament will be held in June and July next year.

Chile have won the past two Copa America finals, having secured the trophy for the first time in 2015 when they were hosts before defending their title in the 2016 centenary edition in the United States.

Brazil last hosted the competition in 1989.