On Friday, the U.S. Men's National Team will open the 2016 edition of the Copa América, called the Copa América Centenario, with a match against Colombia in Santa Clara, Calif (6:30pm PT, FS1). That match kicks off an entire month of soccer – from June 3 to June 26 – that will determine the best team from the Americas.
What is the Copa América?
In July 1916, in celebration of the centennial of its independence, Argentina hosted a four-team soccer tournament with neighbors Chile, Uruguay and Brazil. The success of that tournament, then called the Campeonato Sudamericano de Football, inspired the founding of South America's soccer confederation, CONMEBOL, and a new tournament, Copa América, which was held in Uruguay the following year.
Since that inaugural tournament in the summer of 1916, the Copa América has been held 43 more times with eight different winners: Uruguay (with 15 titles), Argentina (14 titles), Brazil (8 titles), Paraguay (2 titles), Peru (2 titles), Chile (1 title), Colombia (1 title) and Bolivia (1 title).
Outside of nations from CONMEBOL, seven other national teams have participated in the Copa through the years, including the United States. In its three appearances (1993, 1995, 2007), the U.S. has only advanced out of the group stage once, in 1995, when the team defeated Argentina 3-0 in the group stage and beat Mexico on penalty kicks en route to an historic fourth-place finish.
What is the Copa América Centenario?
For the 100th anniversary of this storied tournament, CONMEBOL teamed up with CONCACAF for a special edition of the Copa América that will be held in the United States. This year's special edition marks the first time in its 100-year history that the Copa América will be held outside of the South American continent.
Additionally, this year's tournament features an expanded field of 16 teams, with 10 coming from CONMEBOL and six coming from CONCACAF. Those 16 teams have been divided into four groups of four that will play their matches in venues spread out across the U.S.
What is the tournament format?
16 teams, divided into four groups of four, will first play a round-robin tournament format. The top two finishers in each group will then advance to the quarterfinal knockout rounds.
During the two knockout rounds, any match tied at the end of regulation will advance immediately to penalty kicks without any extra-time periods, per tournament rules. Should the final also finish in a tie, that match will have two extra-time periods followed, if necessary, by a penalty kick shootout.
How do the Timbers fit into all this?
Two Timbers players, midfielder Darlington Nagbe and defender Jermaine Taylor, will represent their nations at the Copa América this summer. Nagbe, who now has seven caps and a goal for the U.S. Men's National Team, will play in a difficult Group A with Colombia, Costa Rica and Paraguay. Taylor, meanwhile, will play for his native Jamaica in Group C against Mexico, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Where can you watch?
While the U.S. Men will play in Santa Clara, Chicago and Philadelphia in the group stage, several Copa América matches will be held closer to Portland, with two matches – Haiti vs. Peru and Argentina vs. Bolivia – being held at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.
All of this year's Copa América matches will be broadcast on the FOX network (FOX, FS1, FS1) and Univision (Univision, UniMás and Univision Deportes). Friday's Copa opener between the U.S. and Colombia will be broadcast live on FS1 and Univision at 6:30 p.m. PT. (See full broadcast list of U.S. matches below.)
U.S. Broadcast Schedule
June 3 – U.S. vs. Colombia – FS1, 6:30 p.m.
June 7 – U.S. vs. Costa Rica – FS1, 5:00 p.m.
June 11 – U.S. vs. Paraguay – FS1, 4:00 p.m.
Further Reference
- MLSsoccer.com's Armchair Analyst: U.S. better than you realize
- Kyle McCarthy: What makes this Copa America different?
- MLSsoccer.com: When the U.S. shocked the world--and Argentina--at the 1995 Copa America
- ESPNFC.com: Is U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann under pressure?
- SI.com's Planet Fútbol: Copa Power Rankings
