A few months ago, the entire Copa América Centenario schedule was released. Last night, we discovered the placement of the competition’s twelve unseeded teams. It’s safe to say that we are beyond psyched at the mere thought of having a chance to watch these star-studded squads battle for regional glory on home soil. Here’s a quick snapshot of the teams you can watch en vivo in your city this June:
Orlando
Citrus Bowl action kicks off with Costa Rica vs. Paraguay. Keylor Navas, Joel Campbell and co. will take the reins for the Ticos, but to be honest, we’re still dreaming of their first-place finish in that World Cup group with Uruguay, England, and Italy back in 2014. Meanwhile, Paraguay is a deceptively strong team that can give anyone a run for their money (lest we forget that La Albirroja tied Argentina 0-0 back in October). The two teams will face off on June 4, followed by Panama vs. Bolivia on June 6. Brazil vs. Haiti on June 9 may not sound like a marquee matchup, but read about the fútbol bond shared between the two and you’ll likely be psyched.
Costa Rica vs. Paraguay
June 4
Panama vs. Bolivia
June 6
Brazil vs. Haiti
June 9
Chicago
The Reggae Boyz of Jamaica, the only Caribbean team to ever make it to a Gold Cup final, take on Venezuela on June 5 at Soldier Field. After a pretty miserable 2015 (including a fourth-place finish at the Gold Cup and an awful 3-2 extra time loss to Mexico in a Confederations Cup playoff), the U.S. will look to start its Centenario campaign on the right foot and “regain its identity” vs. Costa Rica two days later on June 7. The icing on the cake? Messi, Tévez, Agüero, Higuaín, Di María, Lavezzi, Lamela…should we continue? Argentina is going to be too much fun, despite its recent run of poor form and current sixth-place seat in CONMEBOL qualifying. Messi and the boys vs. Panama on June 10!
Jamaica vs. Venezuela
June 5
USA vs. Costa Rica
June 7
Argentina vs. Panama
June 10
Los Angeles
LA matchups are about to be fuego, there’s simply no denying it. Brazil vs. Ecuador will get us right in the mood on June 4; Captain Neymar’s class alone is enough to fill the stands for Dunga’s Brazil. Throw Douglas Costa, Willian, Oscar, Miranda, and Marcelo in the mix and we’ve got partidazos in the making. But don’t sleep on Ecuador – yes, the squad that recently beat La Albiceleste 2-0 in Argentina and currently sits in first place in CONMEBOL qualifying with a shiny 12 points to its name. Felipe Caicedo has been killing it so hard that even Ecuador’s president wants him to be president, so moral of the story is you should see them for yourselves. Colombia vs. Paraguay on June 7 and Mexico v. Jamaica on June 9. Get your venue pass now.
Brazil vs. Ecuador
June 4
Colombia vs. Paraguay
June 7
Mexico vs. Jamaica
June 9
New York
Ecuador vs. Haiti (June 12) is the only group play we’ll get to witness at MetLife Stadium, but be on the lookout for an outrageous quarterfinal matchup (included in the venue pass!) between Group B winners and Group A runners up. Haiti earned one of the competition’s coveted final two spots in a qualifying playoff matchup against Trinidad & Tobago in Panama City this past January, shocking its Caribbean foe 1-0 on an 86th-minute strike. Who knows, maybe they’ll pull off another upset?
Seattle
Paolo Guerrero will lead his Peru crew into Centenario play after netting a hat-trick vs. Bolivia and a goal vs. Paraguay en route to a third-place finish at last year’s Copa América. Peru is ninth in CONMEBOL qualifying with three points from four games as it stands, but it did pull off a big win vs. Paraguay in November. Haiti vs. Peru on June 4 is followed by Argentina vs. Bolivia on June 14. La Verde played its way to the Copa América quarterfinals this past summer (for the first time since 1997!) thanks to a 3-2 victory over Ecuador, so don’t count them out. They sit eighth in qualifying.
Haiti vs. Peru
June 4
Argentina vs. Bolivia
June 14
San Francisco
Is it just me or does it seem like our Cali fam got all the dopest group stage matchups? Damn. Los Cafeteros haven’t looked like their Group-C-winning selves as of late, but don’t let that fool you into thinking they won’t be a blast to watch this summer. James Rodríguez will be joined by a squad of legends in Teófilo Gutiérrez, Jackson Martínez, Cristián Zapata, Carlos Bacca, and others. But let’s be real, we’d cop a ticket for the potential James golazos alone. U.S. vs. Colombia June 3? Let’s go. That impressive matchup is followed three days later by a finals rematch – Argentina vs. Chile – on June 6. I may have to make the trip cross country for that one. Finally, Uruguay vs. Jamaica closes things out on June 13.
U.S. vs. Colombia
June 3
Argentina vs. Chile
June 6
Uruguay vs. Jamaica
June 13
Houston
Colombia vs. Costa Rica on June 11 will no doubt be a matchup with huge quarterfinal implications. Your guess is as good as mine as to who will walk away from Group A victorious, but the winner of this one will definitely be moving one step closer to its goal. El Tri faithful will flock to NRG Stadium for the June 13 matchup vs. Venezuela too.
Colombia vs. Costa Rica
June 11
Mexico vs. Venezuela
June 13
Phoenix
There’s nothing easy about Mexico’s Group C games, but Juan Carlos Osorio’s side should advance deep into this tournament. Uruguay will be looking to do the same; a 3-0 goleada over Chile in November, an out-of-this-world super captain in Diego Godín, and an end to Suárez’s international ban = go see all the Uruguay games. Uruguay has accumulated a record 15 Copa América titles, most recently winning the 2011 edition. There’s no reason not to go see these dudes battle till they have nothing left every single moment they’re on the pitch. Mexico vs. Uruguay on June 5. Ecuador vs. Peru on June 8.
Mexico vs. Uruguay
June 5
Ecuador vs. Peru
June 8
Philadelphia
Uruguay vs. Venezuela on June 9, U.S. vs. Paraguay on June 11, games that will subtly have huge sway in determining the knockout rounds this summer. Philly venue finishes with Chile (the title holders) vs. Panama on June 14. What more can we say? La Roja was victorious in the 2015 Copa América and will be nothing short of sensational if superhuman Alexis Sánchez has anything to say about it. Arturo Vidal, Eduardo Vargas, and Claudio Bravo are just a handful of the cracks that make Chilean fútbol so exciting to watch. We want to be where they are.
Uruguay vs. Venezuela
June 9
US vs. Paraguay
June 11
Chile vs. Panama
June 14
Foxborough
Similarly to Philly, Gillette Stadium will host two matchups between CONMEBOL qualifying teams – Chile vs. Bolivia June 10 and Brazil vs. Peru June 12. Should be a packed house for both matches, with a fantastic atmosphere to soak up and celebrate the 100th anniversary. See you there.
Chile vs. Bolivia
June 10
Brazil vs. Peru
June 12