SEATTLE, WASH. – Tournament organizers for the 2016 Copa America Centenario today announced the match dates and group seeds for the historic tournament, with Seattle’s CenturyLink Field playing host to three contests, including two Group Stage fixtures on June 4 and June 14, as well as a Quarterfinal match on June 16. The June 14 match features 2014 FIFA World Cup runner-up and two-time World champion Argentina, while the June 16 Quarterfinal matchup could potentially see the U.S. Men’s National Team come to CenturyLink Field. Seattle is one of 10 metropolitan areas selected to host matches during the Copa America Centenario, which honors 100 years of the Copa America tournament and runs from June 3-26, 2016 throughout the United States.
“It’s an honor to welcome a prestigious tournament like the Copa America Centenario to Seattle next summer, and we’re thrilled to bring this historic event to the proud soccer fans of the Pacific Northwest,” said Sounders FC Owner Adrian Hanauer. “Hosting an international power like Argentina and a potential Quarterfinal match featuring the United States at CenturyLink Field only adds to the rich and storied tradition of soccer history in this city.”
2016 Sounders FC Season Ticket Members are eligible to purchase tickets for Copa America Centenario during an exclusive private sale in January. More information on the ticket allocation process will be communicated in the coming weeks. Fans can visit www.CA2016.com for more information.
2016 Sounders FC Season Ticket Packages and access to the Copa America Centenario exclusive private sale can be purchased by calling 1-877-MLS-GOAL or via the following link: http://sndrs.com/uxb7. The 2016 Sounders FC Season Ticket Package, which includes the first leg of the 2015-2016 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinal Round against Club America on February 23, is available now for as low as $24 per mach. Non-Season Ticket Members can access tickets to this once-in-a-lifetime event by visiting www.CA2016.com.
The June 4 match features the third and fourth seeded teams from Group B, while the June 14 fixture pits Argentina against the fourth-seeded side in Group D. In the June 16 Quarterfinal bout, the winner of Group A – which includes the U.S. Men’s National Team – and runner-up in Group B, headlined by Brazil, is set to face off at CenturyLink Field.
In addition to match dates being announced, the tournament organizers also revealed the top-seeded teams in each group. As the host nation, the United States earns the Group A seed, while Argentina, as the highest FIFA-ranked nation in the Americas (per December FIFA rankings), will be seeded top of Group D, while the national teams of Brazil and Mexico have also been awarded group seeds, and will head Groups B and C, respectively. The remaining 12 participating nations will be sorted into the four groups in early 2016 based on a public draw. Details of groups and procedures for the draw will be announced leading up to that event.
It was previously announced which 10 U.S. metropolitan areas were selected to host matches during the Copa America Centenario, with MetLife Stadium unveiled as the host of the Copa America Centenario Final on Sunday, June 26 in the New York metropolitan area. 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. Seattle, New York/New Jersey, Foxborough and Santa Clara will all host Quarterfinal matches, while Houston and Chicago are sites of the two tournament Semifinals.
The 2016 Copa America Centenario is the historic centennial edition of Copa America – the South American championship – and is being staged outside of South America for the first time. The tournament features six teams from CONCACAF and all 10 teams from CONMEBOL.
CONCACAF and CONMEBOL have partnered for the historic 2016 Copa America Centenario, 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.
