After traveling to seven countries, the Copa América arrived in Bolivia for its 28th edition. With seven participants, the Cup was held in La Paz, capital of the country, also known as the “Roof of America”, due to its altitude, over 3,600 meters above sea level. Playing at this altitude, the hosts didn’t find it difficult to win their first South-American competition. In six matches, they earned five wins, one draw and scored 19 goals. Other factors that helped Bolivia achieve this historic feat was the absence of Uruguay, while Brazil and Argentina didn’t show up with their first-choice players.
The 1963 Copa América also revealed other surprise-packages, such as Paraguay, runners-up with four wins and only one loss, apart from disclosing striker Carlos Alberto Raffo, first and only Ecuadorian to become top scorer of the competition to date. The Argentine-born player scored six times in as many matches.
Uruguay is the country with the greatest number of matches in Copa América – 184 matches. Argentina is in the second place (173), followed by Brazil (167).