The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and the Copa America Centenario Local Organizing Committee (LOC) on Thursday announced the 10 U.S. metropolitan areas which have been selected to host matches during the historic Copa America Centenario to be played from June 3-26, 2016, in the United States.
The host metropolitan areas and respective stadiums are: Boston (Gillette Stadium), Chicago (Soldier Field), Houston (NRG Stadium), Los Angeles (Rose Bowl), New York (MetLife Stadium), Orlando (Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium), Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field), Phoenix (University of Phoenix Stadium), San Francisco (Levi’s Stadium) and Seattle (CenturyLink Field). Similar to the FIFA World Cup, each venue will host matches on multiple days through the tournament. Most venues will host at least three games.
2016 Sounders FC Season Ticket Members are eligible to purchase tickets for Copa America Centenario during an exclusive private sale. More information on the ticket allocation process will be communicated in the coming weeks. Non-Season Ticket Members can access tickets to this once-in-a-lifetime event by visiting www.CA2016.com. Due to the expected high demand for this premium soccer tournament, fans are urged to register early to guarantee access to information as it becomes available. More ticketing information will be released in the coming weeks.
“On behalf of Seattle Sounders FC, we are honored to welcome Copa America Centenario to Seattle next summer,” said Sounders FC Owner Adrian Hanauer. “This is a prestigious tournament that is truly global in scale, and we’re thrilled for fans in the Pacific Northwest that will be able to take part at CenturyLink Field in 2016. Seattle has a proud history of hosting high-profile soccer events – both domestic and international – and we’re excited to continue that tradition next year with Copa America.”
Chosen from among 24 candidates that originally submitted bids earlier this year, the stadiums passed rigorous standards – including minimum seating capacity of 60,000 and other world-class infrastructure requirements – in order to host matches of this high-profile tournament which is sure to draw multitudes of fans to venues across the country.
"With Seattle serving as a host city, CenturyLink Field as host venue, and Sounders fans loud and proud in the building, Copa America stands to be a huge success next year," said Sounders Chief Operating Officer Bart Wiley. "We're honored to help bring such a global event to our wonderful city. Lots of work went into bringing this event to Seattle and CenturyLink Field, and we couldn't be more proud to serve as a host venue. This event will give soccer fans in the city an amazing opportunity to take part in a global experience."
The 2016 Copa America Centenario is the historic centennial edition of Copa America – the South American championship – and will be staged outside of South America for the first time. The tournament will feature six teams from CONCACAF and all 10 teams from CONMEBOL.
“I join millions of Washingtonians in excitement upon hearing Seattle was selected as a host city for the Copa America Centenario tournament," said Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. "The people of Washington State have shown an intense passion for the sport of soccer through their embrace of the Seattle Sounders FC, and are eager to host this historic tournament in Seattle. The greater Seattle area is extremely well-prepared to accommodate the thousands of attending fans and will benefit greatly from the increased tourism that will come into the city from this prestigious event.”
From CONCACAF, host United States and Mexico are automatic qualifiers, while Costa Rica (2014 Central American Cup winner) and Jamaica (2014 CFU Caribbean Cup winner) qualified with regional championships last year.
The final two teams from CONCACAF will be determined in a double-header playoff set to be disputed Jan. 8, 2016, in Panama City. Trinidad & Tobago will face Haiti, and Panama squares off against Cuba with the winners qualifying for the Copa America Centenario.
The South American field for the tournament features Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Uruguay has been crowned champion of the Copa America a record 15 times, while Chile won its first title at this past year’s edition, which it hosted.
“These 10 cities and venues will provide a fantastic setting for fans across the world to attend Copa America Centenario and allow them to see the amazing passion for soccer in the United States,” said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati. “The participating teams and fans will be treated to a first-class environment in each city and stadium, adding to the world-class talent that will be competing on the field. We are looking forward to working closely with all of the cities and venues in hosting this prestigious event and creating an extraordinary experience for fans.”
CONCACAF and CONMEBOL have partnered for the historic 2016 Copa America tournament, setting a new standard for inter-confederation cooperation in the Americas and worldwide. The Copa America Centenario Local Organizing Committee, formed by tournament host U.S. Soccer, is a separate entity responsible for certain logistical and organizational details of the competition.
