In 2023, Copa América to be Held in 14 U.S. Cities

Next summer, the Copa América tournament will be hosted by 14 cities across the United States. The semifinals will take place in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and Charlotte, North Carolina, followed by the championship game in Miami Gardens, Florida, on July 14.

The announcement was made on Monday by the governing bodies of South America, North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The 16-team tournament will feature quarterfinals at NRG Stadium in Houston, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, State Farm Stadium in Glendale, and Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on July 4, 5, and 6, respectively.

The semifinals will be held at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on July 9 and Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium on July 10. Additionally, the third-place game will be in Charlotte on July 13.

A draw for the tournament is scheduled to take place on Thursday in Miami. This will mark only the second time in history that Copa América will be held outside of South America since its inaugural tournament in 1916.

Cities Hosting Copa América

The cities chosen to host Copa América matches are as follows:

• Inglewood, California – SoFi Stadium
• Santa Clara, California – Levi’s Stadium
• Orlando, Florida – Exploria Stadium
• Austin, Texas – Q2 Stadium
• Kansas City metro area – Arrowhead Stadium (Missouri)
• Kansas City metro area – Children’s Mercy Park (Kansas)

The tournament will expand in 2024, with six teams from North America joining the usual 10 nations from South America. This format is similar to the Copa América Centenario held in 2016, which was the only other time the tournament was staged outside of South America.

The president of CONMEBOL, Alejandro Dominguez, stated that they aim to provide an unforgettable Copa América experience in these magnificent stadiums around the U.S.

For the 2024 edition, the CONMEBOL regulars will be joined by six CONCACAF qualifiers. The United States, Mexico, Jamaica, and Panama have already secured their spots by winning in the Nations League quarterfinals. On March 23, playoff games between Costa Rica vs. Honduras and Canada vs. Trinidad and Tobago will determine the final two entrants.

MetLife Stadium, NRG Stadium, Levi’s Stadium, and State Farm Stadium are the only returning venues from the 2016 Copa América Centenario, which also included games in Orlando and Pasadena’s Rose Bowl.

The final, won by Chile with Lionel Messi’s missed penalty kick for Argentina at MetLife Stadium, was the highlight of the Centenario tournament.

Typically, hosting duties for the Copa América rotate among the 10 COMNEBOL nations in South America. However, Ecuador, initially chosen to host in 2024, backed out due to security concerns. The United States offered to fill the vacancy, demonstrating a new partnership between CONMEBOL and CONCACAF.

A Total of 14 Stadiums to be Utilized

Two group-round games will be played at each of the following stadiums:

• MetLife Stadium
• Hard Rock Stadium
• Exploria Stadium
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• AT&T Stadium
• NRG Stadium
• Q2 Stadium
• State Farm Stadium
• Allegiant Stadium
• SoFi Stadium
• Levi’s Stadium

Additionally, two group-stage matches will be played at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City on June 25 and at Arrowhead Stadium on July 1.

Eight of the 14 stadiums selected for Copa América have also been chosen as venues for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. These stadiums are MetLife Stadium, Hard Rock Stadium, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Levi’s Stadium, SoFi Stadium, AT&T Stadium, NRG Stadium, and Arrowhead Stadium.

Some of these venues may also be considered for the expanded Club World Cup, featuring 32 teams, which will be held in the U.S. in 2025.

The President of CONCACAF, Victor Montagliani, expressed that hosting two major competitions before the World Cup will solidify the region’s status as a global hub for football.

As the tournament approaches, football fans await an unforgettable Copa América on American soil.