A devastated Graham Arnold says it is too soon to know whether the Socceroos will be able to compete in the rescheduled Copa America next year after the tournament was postponed due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

The governing body of South American football, CONMEBOL, announced the 2020 Copa America in Colombia and Argentina will not go ahead this year and will instead be played a year later due to the coronavirus and subsequent travel chaos.

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold would be devastated if Australia can't play in the Copa America. Credit:Getty

That delay could jeopardise Australia's participation in the tournament with the Socceroos already battling with a congested scheduled and backlog of games in 2020/21 due to the postponement of Asian World Cup qualifiers.

Australia are one of two invited nations at the next South American championship. Their guest status remains for the delayed tournament but Arnold says Australia would not take part if it was to come to the detriment of the Socceroos' preparations for World Cup qualifying games.