Copa America is coming to NRG Stadium
South American championship to be played in June
Copa America, the prestigious South American soccer championship, is coming to Houston’s NRG Stadium next summer.
Houston has been named as one of the 10 host cities for Copa America Centenario, which will be held in the United States for the first time to celebrate the tournament’s 100th anniversary.
The United States and Mexican national teams will also participate in the event, which will be held jointly by the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football and the South American Football Confederation.
Mexico and the U.S. are the giants of CONCACAF, but CONMEBOL includes some of the greatest soccer powers with some of the brightest stars in the world.
Brazil, which has won a record five World Cup titles, and two-time champion Argentina, the 2014 World Cup runner-up, should be the major draws across the country in the 16-team tournament.
Copa America Centenario will be held next June 3-26 in 10 American cities, but no schedule has been set to determine which cities will get group or knockout stage games. Houston was one of 24 cities to bid for an opportunity to host matches.
“Copa America Centenario will be the largest and most prestigious soccer tournament to be held in the United States since World Cup USA ’94,” said Jamey Rootes, the president of the Houston Texans and Lone Star Sports & Entertainment. “We are proud that Houston and NRG Stadium were selected to be part of this historic event.
“It is a tribute to our world-class city, fans and venue. We look forward to welcoming the soccer world to our community next June.”
Houston was the only Texas city chosen for Copa America Centenario, which picked eight NFL stadiums and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., and the Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Fla.
New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, Boston’s Gillette Stadium, Chicago’s Soldier Field, Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, Phoenix’s University of Phoenix Stadium, San Clara’s Levi’s Stadium and Seattle’s CenturyLink Field were also picked.
“Football is the most marvelous sport in the world,” CONMEBOL president Juan Angel Napout said. “For us, it’s truly a source of pride to be able to bring to the United States this unparalleled event — the Copa America Centenario, the oldest national team tournament in the world.”