NEW DELHI: Sony Network has bagged the Indian broadcasting rights of Copa America 2021, a football gala that will feature biggies of the beautiful game like Lionel Messi and Neymar.

The tournament will be held from 14 June to 11 July, and Sony Network will telecast the matches live for people in the Indian subcontinent. This edition of Copa America will be held in two nations, Argentina and Colombia. The tournament will have 10 teams participating with two groups of five teams each.

The first group comprises Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay, and Bolivia, and all their group matches will be played in Argentina. All the second group matches featuring Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela will be played in Colombia. 

"With this acquisition, we will be presenting our viewers the best of international football from Europe to South America through the months of June and July. From Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe in the UEFA EURO 2020 to Lionel Messi and Neymar in the Copa America 2021, our football calendar will showcase the best football players and teams from across the world," said Sony Pictures Networks India chief revenue officer & sports business distribution head Rajesh Kaul. 

Even though Sony has acquired the broadcasting rights of the tournament, it is still unclear whether the event will run as per plans. Uncertainties surrounding the league emerged on Thursday night when the Argentina president Alberto Fernandez gave a radio interview and talked about Copa America. 

"I don't want to frustrate the spectacle which is the Copa America. What I want is for us to be very sensible, very careful," said Fernandez, referring to the ongoing pandemic which is currently at its worst in South America.