The Copa America—CONEMBOL’s tournament to crown the Champion of South America, and the world’s longest-running international football competition—will celebrate its 100th year in 2016, pairing with CONCACAF as the United States prepares to host next summer’s special Copa America Centenario. The century mark means that the tournament will be played in back-to-back seasons, as Chile both hosted and won the Copa America earlier this year, but that’s not necessarily a huge anomaly; since its inception a hundred years ago, the tournament’s timing has been anything but uniform, with intervals between championships ranging from six months to seven years.
Regardless of the fact that Chile won the South American crown less than a year ago, the Copa America Centenario 2016 will mark a significant occasion for US soccer fans. For the first time in more than two decades—dating back to the 1994 World Cup—the United States will host a major international tournament. The Gold Cup is great; I’ve enjoyed watching the games, and even attended a final at Soldier Field in 2013. But the Gold Cup does not have Lionel Messi; it does not have Alexis Sanchez; it does not have Neymar. The Gold Cup features stars from throughout North and Central America, many of whom are known around the globe. The Copa America, however, will include two of the three 2015 Ballon d’Or finalists.
These are not just world-renowned players. These are the world’s best.
And yet, despite its scintillating lineup of stars, despite the almost ludicrously lucrative prospect of multiple sold-out 70,000 seat stadia, earlier this year, the fate of the Copa America on US soil seemed in doubt. In fact, the money to be made from the tournament was at the root of the problem, as CONEMBOL and the Copa America were implicated in FIFA’s recent bribery scandals. An unsealed indictment revealed that Datisa, a new marketing company, was complicit in more than $100 million worth of bribes surrounding the South American championships.
Both CONEMBOL and CONCACAF already have sullied reputations in the wake of this year’s FIFA scandals, and neither organization was keen to be associated with yet more corruption in the buildup to the 2016 Copa America. After some petty recriminations on both sides—little more than shots across the bow, in hindsight—the two soccer federations agreed to cut all ties with Datisa. Thankfully—both for soccer fans in the United States, and for FIFA’s floundering reputation—CONCACAF and CONEMBOL got things sorted, and last month, officially announced that the tournament would go ahead as planned, in the US, naming the ten cities slated to host games.
The tournament will be played from coast-to-coast, including games in the Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco metro areas. With the prospect of stars like Lio Messi and Sergio Aguero in the offing, the planning committee decided to snub the MLS’ soccer specific stadiums in favor of larger capacity venues, mostly home to NFL franchises, with some notable dual-function stadiums home to both NFL and MLS teams such as Gillette Stadium outside of Boston and CenturyLink Field in Seattle. (Full list of stadiums included below.)
Beyond the excitement on the pitch itself, the tournament also provides an important logistical opportunity for US Soccer. If ticket sales and public transit are somewhat less intriguing than a perfectly weighted through ball or a free kick curling into the top corner, for US Soccer and its fans, they’re arguably more important in the long run. As the United States prepares to throw in a bid for the 2026 World Cup, the chance to host a major international tournament just before the bidding begins is priceless.
In addition to simply selling out the games (which is, of course, important), the United States will be hoping the Copa America will be a major stage to prove that soccer has grown by leaps and bounds in the twenty years since the 1994 World Cup. Ticket sales, adequate security, and crowd management are doubtless of great importance, but US Soccer will also be keen to prove that the beautiful game has gained a large fan base in the United States. With a great tournament and a bit of luck, after the 2016 Copa America champion has been crowned next summer, it’ll be one decade, not two, before the world’s best return to the States.
Copa America Centenario 2016 Host Cities and Stadia:
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Citrus Bowl, Orlando
Soldier Field, Chicago
NRG Stadium, Houston
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale
Rose Bowl, Pasadena
Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
CenturyLink Field, Seattle.