COPA AMÉRICA: THE START OF SUMMERS OF SOCCER IN THE US

By Mariajose Fernandez

This summer will be the start of endless summers of passion and goal chants in the U.S. until 2026 with one of the largest soccer competitions on our continent: the Copa América.

It all starts June 20 at the Mer­cedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta between Argentina and Canada. All matches will be held across 14 cities and 27 stadiums around the U.S., including Miami, each offering its unique atmosphere and energy. Then, the final will be held on July 14 here in Miami at the Hard Rock Stadium.

Copa América is organized by The South American Football Confederation, known as CON­MEBOL, and is one of the oldest international football competi­tions in the world, dating back to 1916.

This soccer event will be the initi­ation of the big three of greatest soccer competitions held world­wide: Copa América, World Cup and the World Cup of Clubs.

The Copa América also advanc­es the growth of football in U.S. by motivating young players to start playing soccer and will lead younger athletes to prepare and advance in ideals of sportsman­ship and fair play for the future.

“I think United States being the host of the Copa America will give great support to the culture of soccer here in the United States since we know that it is not the main sport here, but by hosting the Copa América and seeing all the passion and every­thing that soccer includes in other countries, people will realize every­thing that soccer can bring, not only passion­ately, but economically to a country as rich as the United States,” said Juan Pablo Correa, a student majoring in sports management.

With vibrant stadiums, star play­ers and historic moments in ev­ery match, this tournament will remind us why soccer is much more than a sport: it is an endless source of excitement, pride and joy for millions of people around the world —especially for soccer fans like Juan Wulff, an applied sports and exercise science senior. He hopes their national team will go all the way. His Venezuelan national team nicknamed “La Vinotinto,” go against Ecuador on June 22 at the Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco.

“Since in Venezuela the main sport is not soccer, it is baseball, all of us Venezuelans who sup­port Vinotinto or played soccer since we were children, we have dreamed of seeing Vinotinto, which does not have much expe­rience or history in the world of football, win a big title like the Copa América. That could give us a boost to finally achieve what everyone expects...the qualifica­tion for a World Cup since we have never qualified for one,” said Wulff.

He thinks, besides his team, Uruguay has a good shot, too.

Following the match between Argentina and Canada, the second is the next day between Peru and Chile at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. But on June 23 is the first Miami match between Uruguay and Panama followed by Argen­tina and Peru at the Hard Rock Stadium the next day —both on a weekend.

Copa América tickets are already on sale on Ticketmaster, ranging from $110 to over $1,000 per ticket for the first two games. You can also watch the matches in English on Fox Sports and in Spanish across TUDN and Univision.