ATLANTA — The U.S. Men's National Team announced its first slate of opponents for the 2024 Copa América. One of those matchups will be in Atlanta.
Team USA is in Group C and will open group play against Bolivia in Texas on June 23. Then they'll face off with Panama in Atlanta on June 27 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium before taking on Uruguay in Kansas City, Missouri on July 1.
Panama is playing in the "oldest continental tournament in the world" for the second time in its history after making its debut in 2016. The match-up against Team USA will also mark the first USMNT match in Atlanta since 2015. This will also be the team's fifth appearance in the tournament, as USA was invited as a guest team. No invitee outside South America has ever won the tournament.
“It’s a tough group,” U.S. Head Coach Gregg Berhalter said in a news release. “Copa América is a very difficult tournament. For us, we’re excited to finally know our competitors. Now, it’s about planning our game plans and getting ready to compete.”
Copa América will be a competition between 16 teams - 10 CONMEBOL teams from South America and six guests teams from CONCACAF - North and Central America and the Caribbean. Both confederations organize the tournament. Hosting games across the United States, this is only the second time the tournament will be staged outside of its home continent.
The federation has chosen to open the tournament with current Copa América champions Argentina in Atlanta. The final match of the tournament will be in Miami.
Georgia is earning its soccer chops as the Benz is also slated to host a 2026 FIFA World Cup game.
The U.S. Soccer Federation also announced this week that it will move its headquarters to metro Atlanta and is building a new training facility in Fayette County as part of a $228 million investment. A U.S. Soccer release said the facility would be located in the Trilith area of Fayette County.