The United States will host Lionel Messi, Neymar and Co. at a centenary edition of the Copa America next summer.
Talks have been ongoing for months over a possible host, with the US always the front runners to hold the tournament.
There had been some doubts, though, but it was confirmed on Friday that the 45th Copa America finals will be played in North America, not South America.
Locations and venues for the matches have not yet been decided, although it has been revealed the competition will rune from June 3 until June 26.
“The U.S. Soccer Federation will partner with The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), and the Confederacion Sudamericana de Futbol (CONMEBOL), to host the prestigious Copa America Centenario, a tournament that marks the 100-year anniversary of the South American Football Championship’” a statement read.
“The 2016 Copa America Centenario will feature six teams from CONCACAF, and all 10 teams from CONMEBOL: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.
“From CONCACAF, host USA and Mexico are automatic qualifiers, while Costa Rica (2014 Copa Centroamericana winner) and Jamaica (2014 Caribbean Cup winner) qualified this fall. The final two teams will be determined through a playoff in the near future.”
Chile hosted and won the Copa America last summer, beating Argentina in the final after a penalty shoot-out.
The likes of Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal will be looking to defender their crown in the USA, but they’ll face stiff competition from the like of Messi’s Argentina, Neymar’s Brazil and James Rodriguez’s Colombia.