Argentina is asking Japan to reconsider its decision to pull out of the Copa America, offering the Asian nation until April 15 to change its mind.
Japan withdrew on Monday from the Copa America - the South American continental championship - with Japan federation president Junji Ogura saying the country needed to attend to the catastrophe at home set off by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
Jose Luis Meiszner, president of the Copa America organizing committee, said Ogura met Tuesday with Argentine football federation president Julio Grondona. He did not say what Grondona might have said to help change Ogura's mind.
Japan was invited to play in the tournament as a guest nation along with Mexico.
''President Ogura understood our reasons, and we understood their reasons,'' Meiszner said. ''He will return to Japan to explain to his association what we have said.''
The Spanish federation has acknowledged it has been invited to replace Japan, and Costa Rica and Canada have also been mentioned as possibililties.
Meiszner declined to speculate who might play in Japan's absence.
''The situation is that Japan is still in our plans,'' Meiszner said. ''We can't think about another team until we receive a response (from Japan).''
Japan was to play in the a four-team group with Argentina, Colombia and Bolivia.
The Copa America consists of the 10 South American federations and two guests - this time Japan and Mexico - to increase the field to 12 teams. Both Japan and Mexico had planned to send youth teams to the event.
Japan is the defending Asian champion and an attractive draw. Spain would be attractive, but it seems unlikely the defending World Cup champions would play in the Copa America with its top players wishing to take the summer off.
