The U.S. State Department says Americans who plan to travel to Venezuela for the Copa America football (soccer) tournament should be aware of continuing security concerns there and possible changes to official entry requirements.

A public announcement issued Friday says Americans considering travel to Venezuela should carefully consider the risks to their safety and security. Officials warn that violent crime has become a daily occurrence in the capital, Caracas, and that the murder rate there is one of Latin America's highest.

Additionally, the State Department says Americans should be aware that uncertainties in the availability of tournament tickets has led to local protests.

The announcement urges Americans to monitor Venezuela's government Web sites and contact its embassy or consulates for information on whether vaccinations are required to enter the country during the tournament.

The Copa America competition begins June 26 and ends July 19.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.