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SALT LAKE CITY — World Cup, Gold Cup, World Cup qualifying, another Gold Cup, repeat. USA soccer fans are used to the consistent soccer cycles.
This month things get interesting, not only for team USA but for the rest of the countries in the American continents. Copa America Centenario is the most significant soccer tournament to hit stateside since the 1994 World Cup.
Big names will be present from all the top soccer leagues in the world including Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi, top goal scorer in Europe, Luis Suarez, and top scorer in the 2014 World Cup, James Rodriguez.
The tournament field will not lack firepower. Eight of the nations that made the round of 16 in the 2014 World Cup will be present as well as six of the current top 12 nations in the world ranked by FIFA.
A strong showing from fan attendance could catapult USA as the favorite to host the 2026 World Cup. The US finished second to Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup.
Copa America Centenario celebrates the tournament’s 100-year existence. It is the oldest international continental soccer competition in the world. The tournament paved the way for the World Cup and other international team tournaments.
The 2016 Copa America will be the first ever played outside of South America. The tournament is usually played every four years, the year after the World Cup.
The field is expanded to a record 16 teams for this edition, six from North America and 10 from South America.
Tournament officials are expecting big crowds. All stadiums chosen to host have seating capacities for over 50,000 spectators.
Games will be held in 10 different cities from June 3 to June 26.
USA kicks the tournament off against Colombia, Friday at Levi’s Stadium, in Santa Clara. The final will be played at Metlife Stadium, in East Rutherford, N.J.
The 16 teams will have a total of 29 MLS players on their roster’s providing plenty of influence from the host countries’ domestic league. Kyle Beckerman will be representing RSL and likely starting for team USA’s midfield.
The league is combating the player losses and viewer eyes on other matches by stopping league play from June 3 to June 18.
The tournament almost didn’t take place after FBI raids, indictments, and arrests of soccer officials hit many of the countries and federations involved. Alleged bribes involved commercial rights for the Copa America. Now that the corrupt officials are out, the tournament is going on as planned.
USA and key group stage games to watch. All game times in Mountain Time.
United Sates vs. Colombia: Santa Clara: June 3, 7:30 p.m.
Brazil vs. Ecuador: Pasadena, June 4, 8 p.m.
Mexico vs. Uruguay: Phoenix, June 5, 6 p.m.
Argentina vs. Chile: Santa Clara, June 6, 8 p.m.
United States vs. Costa Rica: Chicago, June 7, 6 p.m.
United States vs. Paraguay: Philadelphia, June 11, 5 p.m.
