Copa America 2016 coming to Seattle
Copa America is coming not only to the United States for the first time, but to the Puget Sound area.
CenturyLink Field was announced Thursday as one of 10 U.S. stadiums that will play host to 2016 Copa America Centenario, the centennial edition of the championship of South American soccer.
This centennial tournament is the first to be held outside of South America. It will feature 10 teams from CONMEBOL (the South American soccer confederation), and six from CONCACAF (representing North America, Central America and the Caribbean).
The tournament will be played June 3-26 in the metro areas of Boston (Gillette Stadium), Chicago (Soldier Field), Houston (NRG Stadium), Los Angeles (Rose Bowl), New York (MetLife Stadium), Orlando, Florida (Citrus Bowl), Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field), Phoenix (University of Phoenix Stadium), San Francisco (Levi’s Stadium) and Seattle. Those venues were chosen from an original list of 24 applicants.
Most venues will host at least three games.
“On behalf of Seattle Sounders FC, we are honored to welcome Copa America Centenario to Seattle next summer,” Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer said in a news release. “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.”
Sounders FC season ticket holders are eligible to purchase Copa America tickets in a presale. Others can receive ticket information at www.CA2016.com.
CONCACAF will be represented by the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and the winners of Jan. 8 matches in Panama City that pit Trinidad & Tobago vs. Haiti and Panama vs. Cuba.
The South American field is made up of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Uruguay has won the tournament a record 15 times, while Chile is the defending champion.
Don Ruiz: 253-597-8808, @donruiztnt
This story was originally published November 19, 2015 at 8:35 PM with the headline "Copa America 2016 coming to Seattle."