In addition to Colombia, the U.S. will also match up against CONCACAF rival Costa Rica (June 7, Soldier Field) and Paraguay (June 11, Lincoln Financial Field) in Group A, which many are already considering the Group of Death. Costa Rica was a quarterfinalist at the 2014 World Cup, as was Colombia.
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The U.S. men’s national soccer team will have its work cut out for it come June when it plays host to the Copa America Centenario.
Host United States will kick off the tournament against Colombia in the opening match at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on June 3. Games will be staged in 10 cities nationwide, with the final happening June 26 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The United States will play in Group A, Brazil in Group B, Mexico in Group C, and Argentina in Group D. As is normal for tournament draw procedures, the groups will be filled by one team from each of the remaining pots.
Group B includes: Brazil, Ecuador, Haiti, Peru.
And the two 2015 finalists were drawn alongside each other in the final group, alongside Bolivia and Panama.
Of course, the US men are fortunate to have the competition.
Jamaica qualified by being crowned the 2014 Caribbean Cup Champions. Paraguay advanced out of its group in last summer’s Copa America and beat Brazil in penalties in the quarterfinals before falling to Argentina, 6-1, in the semifinal round.
Lionel Messi and Argentina were given a chance for revenge on Sunday after being drawn against reigning Copa America champions Chile in the group stage for this summer’s special centenary edition of the tournament.
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The Copa America Centenario is taking place outside South America for the first time this year to mark 100 years of the world’s oldest worldwide football tournament.
