Copa America 2016: Contradicting reports surface on U.S. becoming permanent home

CHICAGO, June 8 (UPI) -- International soccer could be a permanent fixture in the United States, pending a possible move that would keep Copa America in-country.

CONMEBOL and CONCACAF officials are considering a permanent move for the Copa America in the United States, according to ESPN Deportes. CONCACAF could also incorporate national teams into the tournament.

But Tuesday, U.S. Soccer Federation president and CONCACAF council member Sunil Gulati said the reports are innacurate.

"...there have been no discussions about future events with US Soccer or between CONCACAF and CONMEBOL about this," Gulati told reporters Tuesday in Chicago, via Sports Illustrated.

"I made sure that in order to make the second part of that statement I talked with Victor [Montagliani, CONCACAF president] yesterday. He's had no discussions with anyone at CONMEBOL about it. So, there is nothing imminent, no plans, no discussions have taken place. Having said all of that, could there be discussions about it? Sure, but nothing has happened to date. [The report] is completely inaccurate."

U.S. men's soccer coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who also serves as U.S. Soccer's technical director, said the move would benefit the U.S. national team program.

"That would be huge for our region to play every four years the Copa America," Klinsmann told ESPN FC. "The format for us and, speaking on behalf of Mexico and Costa Rica, it would be huge for CONCACAF's top teams."

Yahoo Sports alleges that the move could be a merger between the Copa America and the Gold Cup. Copa America is held every four years, while the Gold Cup is every two years.