World Cup champ Spain declines Copa America invite

Published Apr. 13, 2011 2:56 p.m. ET

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World Cup champion Spain has declined an invitation to replace Japan at this summer's Copa America.

The Spanish football federation says on its website that a board of directors meeting decided against playing the July 1-24 tournament in Argentina due to ''conflicts with the calendar.''

The federation says a dense schedule of fixtures makes the World Cup and European champion's participation ''impossible.''

The federation says it remains open to playing in the South American championship in the future.

Japan pulled out last week because of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck the country on March 11.