Copa América Centenario
South American football tournament.
The Copa América Centenario was hosted by the United States from June 3 to June 26, 2016, marking a significant milestone as the tournament celebrated its 100th anniversary. The competition expanded from its usual 12 teams to 16, featuring 10 CONMEBOL nations and six CONCACAF invitees. This was the first time the tournament was held outside South America, with matches played across 10 cities including Pasadena, East Rutherford, and Houston.
The opening game saw the United States lose 2-0 to Colombia at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, setting the tone for an exciting tournament. Group B emerged as particularly competitive, featuring Brazil, Ecuador, Haiti, and Peru. In the group stages, Chile impressed with their attacking prowess, while Brazil struggled and was eliminated in the group stage for the first time since 1987.
The quarter-finals saw some dramatic matches, including Chile's stunning 7-0 victory over Mexico. The United States advanced to the semi-finals by defeating Ecuador 2-1, but their journey ended with a 4-0 loss to Argentina. The other semi-final saw Chile defeat Colombia 2-0 in a match interrupted by severe weather.
The final took place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on June 26, where Chile faced Argentina in a repeat of the previous year's final. After a tense 0-0 draw in regular time, the match went to penalties. Chile emerged victorious with a 4-2 shootout win, securing their second consecutive Copa América title and denying Argentina their first major trophy since 1993.
Eduardo Vargas of Chile was the tournament's top scorer with six goals, while Alexis Sánchez was named Player of the Tournament. Claudio Bravo won the Golden Glove for best goalkeeper. The tournament was notable for its high-scoring matches, with a total of 91 goals scored across 32 games. The Copa América Centenario also set new attendance records, with an average of over 46,000 spectators per match, showcasing the growing popularity of soccer in the United States.