RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- FIFA on Friday approved a request by the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) to stage the Copa America in even-numbered years.

The decision, made at a FIFA council meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, means that the quadrennial event will be held in line with the European Championship.

Only eight times in its 102-year history has the Copa America been played in even-numbered years. The last time was in 2016, when a centenary edition of football's oldest continental tournament was staged in the United States.

The next Copa America will be played in Brazil from June 14 to July 7 next year.

The tournament will take place again in 2020 before being held every four years thereafter, FIFA said.