2016 Copa América Centenario

2016 Copa América Centenario
Tournament name	Copa América Centenario
Year	2016
Other titles	Centenario
Country	United States
Dates	3–26 June 2016
Num teams	16
Venues	10
Cities	10
Champion	Chile
Second	Argentina
Matches	32
Goals	91
Attendance	1125243
Top scorer	Eduardo Vargas (6)
Player	Alexis Sánchez
Young player	Lionel Messi
Prev season	2015
Next season	2019

Contents

Background
Teams and Qualification
Venues and Match Officials
Tournament Format and Draw
Group Stage
Knockout Stage
Awards and Statistics

2016 Copa América Centenario was a special edition international football tournament held in the United States to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the continental championship. Organized jointly by CONMEBOL and CONCACAF, the competition featured national teams from across the Americas and marked the first time the tournament was staged outside South America. The event combined historical rivalries, marquee stadia, and prominent players from clubs such as FC Barcelona, Real Madrid CF, Manchester United, Juventus FC, and Paris Saint-Germain.

Background

The centennial edition was announced after discussions between CONMEBOL and CONCACAF officials and leaders including Eugenio Figueredo and Sunil Gulati, building on precedents set by the Copa América history and expansions such as the Copa América Centenario qualifying discussions. The United States bid drew support from entities including United States Soccer Federation, Major League Soccer, and stadium owners tied to franchises like LA Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, and Seattle Sounders FC. Political and commercial stakeholders including FIFA executives, broadcasters such as Fox Sports and ESPN, and sponsors with ties to Nike, Adidas, and Coca-Cola shaped the event logistics and marketing.

Teams and Qualification

Venues and Match Officials

Matches were played in ten U.S. cities including MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, and Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Additional venues included CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, and Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Match officials were appointed from confederations with referees such as Mark Geiger, Wilmar Roldán, Sandor Andó, and assistants drawn from both CONMEBOL and CONCACAF panels, with oversight by FIFA referee committees.

Tournament Format and Draw

The tournament used a 16-team format with four groups of four; the top two teams from each group advanced to the quarter-finals. The official draw held at venues associated with Madison Square Garden-area events seeded teams according to FIFA World Rankings influences and confederation rules, ensuring distribution of Argentina national football team and Brazil national football team across different groups. Tie-breaking procedures referenced regulations applied in prior editions such as goal difference and head-to-head results, mirroring standards from the FIFA World Cup and traditional Copa América tournaments.

Group Stage

Group A featured teams including United States men's national soccer team against opponents like Colombia national football team, where star players from FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid faced continental rivals. Group B contained Brazil national football team and Ecuador national football team matchups that highlighted players from Paris Saint-Germain and Serie A. Group C included Argentina national football team led by Lionel Messi and opponents like Chile national football team featuring players from Arsenal F.C. and Napoli. Group D paired teams such as Mexico national football team and Uruguay national football team with notable figures from Club América, Boca Juniors, and River Plate. Upsets, standout performances, and tactical battles echoed fixtures seen in tournaments like the UEFA European Championship and the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Knockout Stage

The quarter-finals brought together eliminated group runners-up and winners, producing ties between squads boasting internationals from Manchester City, Chelsea F.C., Bayern Munich, and Borussia Dortmund. Memorable matches featured extra time and penalty shoot-outs similar to decisive games at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2015 Copa América. Semi-finals set up a rematch atmosphere for longtime rivals Argentina national football team and Chile national football team, culminating in a final contested by those two sides at MetLife Stadium. The championship match saw tactical plans influenced by coaches with pedigrees linked to clubs like FC Barcelona and AC Milan.

Awards and Statistics

Individual awards recognized top performers: Eduardo Vargas finished as top scorer, while Alexis Sánchez received the tournament's best-player recognition and Lionel Messi earned acknowledgement as a standout young talent. The Team of the Tournament assembled players from national teams including Chile national football team, Argentina national football team, Colombia national football team, and United States men's national soccer team. Statistical leaders included assist providers from players associated with Real Madrid CF and defensive records held by teams such as Uruguay national football team. Attendance figures and commercial metrics reflected interests seen in major events like Super Bowl host-city planning and international friendlies staged on American soil.

Category:Copa América Category:2016 in association football