By Paul Nicholson
November 20 – Organisers of the Copa America Centenario to be played in the US next year have selected 10 metropolitan areas across the country to host matches.
This is the first time the oldest international national team tournament in the world has been played outside the South American continent and will feature 10 teams from CONMEBOL and six from CONCACAF.
The final 12 venues were chosen from 24 candidates that had to meet minimum standards including a seating capacity of no less than 60,000. Each venue will host matches on multiple days through the tournament with most venues hosting at least three games.
The host areas and 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).
The commercial rights to the Copa America tournament triggered the exposure of biggest corruption scandal ever to hit football with the indictment by the US Department of Justice of 14 officials from within the CONMEBOL and CONCACAF regions and their agency partners. That scandal has spun over into what has become a wider reform of FIFA and most likely its federations.
With the same agency partners in place representing the tournament’s commerical rights it looked as though the hosting of the tournament in the US in 2016 had become a non-starter. However after intensive negotiation and the cancellation of the agency agreement with Datisa by both confederations the US agreed to host the tournament.
The agreement also came with a strict operational protocol on how rights would be sold and monies handled before the US came back on board.
The tournament will also allow the US to showcase its hospitality and ability to host some of the cream of the football world and their fans, a fact not lost on US Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati.
“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 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.”
CONMEBOL President Juan Angel Napout. “This long-time, carefully planned dream would not have been possible without the fantastic efforts of the U.S. Soccer Federation, CONCACAF and CONMEBOL. It’s the first time in the history of the event, since 1916, that the mythical Copa America will be played outside South America, with 16 teams from throughout the Americas and the Caribbean. Without a doubt, this event will provide the luxury of stars on display whose talents shine in the most competitive leagues in the world. The party in the United States is a certainty.”
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