Orlando Citrus Bowl to Host Three Matches for Next Summer’s 2016 Copa América Centenario

It was announced last month that Orlando would be one of 10 American cities to host matches for the 2016 Copa América Centenario, which is set to take place from June 3-26. Today, it was announced that the Citrus Bowl will play host to three group stage matches for the 16-nation tournament, which will take place on June 4, 6, and 8. Orlando did not get a knockout stage match.

The tournament will include 10 teams from CONMEBOL and six from CONCACAF, but the headliner for the City Beautiful will be a visit from Brazil on June 8. Having The Seleção play in Orlando is a natural fit, as more Brazilians visit the city than from any other country, per the Orlando Sentinel.

The decision for Brazil to play one game in Orlando makes sense. More Brazilians visit Orlando than from any other international country, with approximately 883,000 Brazilians coming to the City Beautiful in 2014, according to the National Travel and Tourism Office. Approximately 308,000 Colombians visited Orlando in 2014.

Brazil's opponent for that June 8 match-up was not announced, nor were the four other nations that will play in Orlando on June 4 and 6, respectively. Those announcements should come sometime in February, per, the event's Twitter feed.

The seeded teams for each group of the tournament will be the United States for Group A, Brazil for Group B, Mexico for Group C and Argentina for Group D. The USMNT will not feature in Orlando, unfortunately, but will instead play in Santa Clara (June 3), Chicago (June 7) and Philadelphia (June 11) in its three Copa América group matches.

"June will be an historic month for world class soccer in Central Florida with the kickoff of Copa America and specifically, the Brazilian National Team here in the City Beautiful," said City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer in a joint press release with Orlando City, Orange County and the Central Florida Sports Commission. "We invite all soccer and sports fans, whose outpouring of support helped us secure these events, to join us at the Orlando Citrus Bowl for this once-in-a-lifetime experience."

The self-proclaimed Soccer Capital of the South, Orlando has had success hosting international matches recently, with nearly 54,000 fans packing the Bowl for a friendly between Mexico and Costa Rica in June, and again when 32,869 attended a USWNT friendly against Brazil in October. Orlando City averaged 32,847 fans across its home matches in its inaugural MLS season in 2015, including a sold-out crowd of 62,500 for its home opener in March.

For the tournament, natural grass will be put down over the Citrus Bowl artificial surface, much like it was for the Mexico-Costa Rica friendly.

Tickets for Copa America matches at the Citrus Bowl will go on pre-sale to Orlando City, Orlando Pride, and Orlando City B season ticket holders, along with members of other sports-related organizations, in January. Fans can visit www.CA2016.com for more information. Additional ticketing information will be released in the coming weeks.