Lionel Messi, Argentina to play Copa America match at Hard Rock Stadium June 29
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The 2024 Copa America venues and match schedule were announced on Monday, and there was big news for South Florida fans: The Argentina national team, led by Inter Miami star Lionel Messi, will play its third group stage game at Hard Rock Stadium on June 29.
It was already known that Hard Rock Stadium would host the tournament final on July 14, which means Miami fans might have two chances to see Messi if Argentina reaches the championship game. Another group stage match between two yet-to-be-determined teams will also be held at Hard Rock Stadium on June 23.
The Copa America, which is traditionally held in South America, will be held in the United States from June 20 to July 14. All 10 South American national teams will participate (Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela) as well as six teams from the CONCACAF region, which includes North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
The United States, Jamaica, Mexico and Panama have already qualified. Two other teams will be confirmed after play-in games between Canada vs. Trinidad and Tobago, and Costa Rica vs. Honduras on March 23, 2024.
Top seeds in the four groups are Argentina, USA, Brazil and Mexico.
Team USA will play its first group game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on June 23; its second game June 27 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta; and its third game July 1 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
Argentina will play in the opener June 20 in in Atlanta, its next group match at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on June 25; and the third at Hard Rock Stadium on June 29. Brazil will play in Inglewood, California June 24, Las Vegas June 28 and Santa Clara, California July 2. Mexico will play in Houston, L.A. and Phoenix.
The group stage of the World Cup-style event will be held from June 20 to July 2, quarterfinals from July 4 to 6, semifinals on July 9 and 10, third-place match on July 13, and then the final. The draw will be held Thursday at the James L. Knight Center in downtown Miami.
Other game venues are: Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas), Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina), Children’s Mercy Park (Kansas City, Kansas), Exploria Stadium (Orlando), Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California), MetLife Stadium, NRG Stadium (Houston), Q2 Stadium (Austin), SoFi Stadium, (Inglewood, California), State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona).
“We will experience an unforgettable Copa America, enjoying the best football in the world in 14 magnificent stadiums,” said Alejandro Dominguez, President of CONMEBOL and FIFA Vice President. “The passion of football will run through this great country from east to west and from north to south, bringing excitement and fun to hundreds of thousands of fans at the venues and millions of spectators around the world,”
Victor Montagliani, Concacaf President and FIFA Vice President, added: “I congratulate all of the host cities and their sports commissions. These venues are world-class and have passionate fans who are renowned for getting behind major events.”
