All eyes will be on MetLife Stadium on June 26.
The 2016 Copa America Centenario final will be played on that date at the nearly 83,000-seat venue in East Rutherford, New Jersey, next summer, according to a report from ESPNFC. MetLife Stadium was reportedly chosen over the larger Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, because it has more suites and luxury boxes and is located in the U.S.’s biggest media market.
MetLife Stadium has an artificial grass field, but has, on several occasions in the past, laid temporary grass over it for international friendlies.
While the rest of the tournament schedule and venues are still being finalized, nine of the anticipated 11 other stadiums have reportedly been selected to host matches. They are the Rose Bowl, Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California), CenturyLink Field (Seattle, Washington), Reliant Stadium (Houston, Texas), Soldier Field (Chicago, Illinois), the Florida Citrus Bowl (Orlando, Florida), Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), the University of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale, Arizona), and Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Massachusetts).
A full announcement is expected in the coming days.
The Copa America Centenario, a one-off event celebrating the 100th year of the South American tournament, will be played next summer from June 3-26. All 10 CONMEBOL nations will participate in the competition as will the U.S. Men’s National Team, Mexico and four other CONCACAF countries.
What do you think of MetLife Stadium being reportedly chosen as host of the Copa America Centenario final? Like the choice? Wishing other venues would get consideration for such high-profile games? Searching online for airplane tickets right now?
Share your thoughts below.
Orlando would be perfect – fake city with fake grass
The final is going to be played in Orlando, got an inside tip
In there like swimwear. East side!
I saw Brazil v. Argentina “friendly” there a couple years ago. Field was excellent, place was full and buzzing, full squads on both sides, hotly contested 7 goal thriller, and Messi had a hat trick. If the final is anything like that everyone will be very, very happy.
Well, it is a fake tournament so it should be played in fake grass
…in a fake city.
Somehow they managed to avoid a good chunk of the country including the Nations Capital. Basically they make a giant U across the US with the exception of Chicago. Really interested in seeing the last two stadium locations. Like to see DC and one of the following get on the stadium list: Denver, St. Louis, Minneapolis, or Nashville.
Kinda surprised that no Jerry World, Kind of not.
Me too. I thought you could bank on Me-hi-co playing at least one game there. In fact, I would have banked El Tri for their group stage games in JerryDome, RoseBowl, and Reliant.
Would have been guaranteed sellouts.
I’d like a US game there since I live closer to Dallas than Houston, but I cannot recall the last time Jones had a proper soccer field laid down for the teams to play on. It’s horrible. I had more hope for Houston, but heard that Reliant hasn’t been all that great recently as well. I’ll probably end up going to a game no matter who plays and what the surface is like. I’m hyped for this tournament…
This is my fear, is that while on paper a compelling tournament, it will actually deteriorate into the Grass Over Turf Soccer Weirdness Festival like the last Gold Cup. I wish at least the final was played on real grass.