The Copa América is South America's major tournament in senior men's football and determines the continental champion. It is the oldest continental championship in the world with its first edition held in 1916. Until 1967, the tournament was known as South American Championship. It was that last edition of the old format when Venezuela participated for the first time.
Venezuela did not win a match in twelve consecutive participations from 1975 to 2004. They have never been in the top three, and are the only CONMEBOL member to be outside the top ten of the Copa América's all-time table, because regular invitee Mexico surpassed them.
With four goals, José Luis Dolgetta became the top scorer of the 1993 tournament and thus the only Venezuelan ever to receive a reward at a continental competition.