The FIFA World Cup may not be coming to the United States anytime soon. But America will get to throw a small version of its own international men's soccer party next summer.
U.S. Soccer, along with CONCACAF and CONMEBOL – the confederations of North and Central Americas and the Caribbean and of South America, respectively – confirmed on Friday that the Copa America Centenario will be played in the United States next summer.
The 100-year anniversary of the Copa America, which normally crowns the South American champion every four years, will be a special edition held June 3 through June 26. The tournament will bring together CONMEBOL's 10 South American nations featuring Lionel Messi's Argentina and Neymar's Brazil with six CONCACAF teams – USA, Mexico, Jamaica, Costa Rica and two other teams that will be determined in a future playoff.
Venues have yet to be chosen, but the requirement of a mininum seating capacity of 50,000 rules out all of Major League Soccer's soccer-only stadiums. It also guarantees that every game will be played in American football stadiums, much like the 1994 World Cup which still holds the ticket sales record for FIFA's marquee event.
Copa America Centenario tickets are not on sale, but fans can sign up for the latest ticket information.
The Centenario's long-rumored plans, which appeared to be off due to the Department of Justice's indictment of FIFA officials in CONCACAF and CONMEBOL, were put back on track as a cautious U.S. Soccer sought assurances of transparency in the organization of the event.
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