A meeting "Mathematics in the Americas" was held at IMPA, Rio de Janeiro, on May 16-17, 2011 to which representatives of all mathematical societies and major mathematical institutes in the Americas were invited.

During the event it was decided that the inaugural Mathematical Congress of the Americas will take place in Guanajuato, Mexico, on August 5 – 9, 2013. Participation of mathematicians and students from countries throughout the continent is expected.

The founding sponsors of MCA are the American Mathematical Society (AMS), the Brazilian Mathematical Society (SBM), the Canadian Mathematical Society (CMS), the Mathematical Union for Latin America and the Caribbean (UMALCA), the Mexican Mathematical Society (SMM), and the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM). Other mathematical societies and institutions are expected to join.