Japan said Tuesday that it will not play in the Copa America soccer tournament after initially deciding to compete in the wake of the March 11 quake and tsunami.

"We are sorry to inform you that the Japanese team cannot participate in the Copa America 2011 in Argentina," the Japanese Football Association said in a letter to the Argentine Football Federation. "We apologise deeply."

Japan and Mexico were invited as teams from outside South America to play in the regional tournament in July, and the Japanese had been drawn in Group A with the hosts, Bolivia and Colombia.