What a Draw

I have always found soccer in South America interesting.

And the draw for the Copa America is even more interesting.

Since the tournament was expanded to 12 teams (with two invitees from other federations) in 1993, where the teams are divided into three groups of four, only once was Venezuela, the weakest team in South America, not in the same group as the host nation (1999).

1993
Host nation: Ecuador
Other teams in the same group as the host nation: Uruguay, USA, Venezuela
Host nation's results in the group: Won 3-Drawn 0-Lost 0

1995
Host nation: Uruguay
Other teams in the same group as the host nation: Mexico, Paraguay, Venezuela
Host nation's results in the group: W2-D1-L0

1997
Host nation: Bolivia
Other teams in the same group as the host nation: Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela
Host nation's results in the group: W3-D0-L0

1999:
Host nation: Paraguay
Other teams in the same group as the host nation: Bolivia, Japan, Peru
Host nation's results in the group: W2-D1-L0

2002
Host nation: Colombia
Other teams in the same group as the host nation: Chile, Ecuador, Venezuela
Host nation's results in the group: W3-D0-L0

2004
Host nation: Peru
Other teams in the same group as the host nation: Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela
Host nation's results in the group: W1-D2-L0

2007
Host nation: Venezuela
Other teams in the same group as the host nation: Bolivia, Peru, Uruguay
Host nation's results in the group: W1-D2-L0

Well, I should probably have left out 2007 as Venezuela is the host nation. But incidentally, the three other teams in the group are some of the, if not the, weakest teams in South America at the moment.

The top two teams of each group, plus the two best third-placed teams, will all qualify for the second round. History tells us that four points from three matches will usually be good enough for qualification.

Let's see. If you can beat the hell out of Venezuela (which has only one win, in 1967, prior to this year's tournament), and then eke out a draw against either of the remaining teams, then you are through.

Now you can see why Venezuela is always in the same group as the host nation.

The question is: How does the host nation manage to team itself with Venezuela year after year, despite the supposedly and apparently fair draw process?