FOX Sports unveiled its coverage plans for this summer's historic 2016 Copa América Centenario on Wednesday, a sweeping range of live broadcasts and studio programming which includes four matches on the network's main broadcast channel.
FOX will televise all 32 matches of the tournament, which takes place at 10 nationwide venues from June 3 to June 26. FS1 is scheduled to carry 21 matches, with four airing on the FOX broadcast network, two quarterfinal matches and the third-place match on FX, and four group-stage games appearing on FS2. Every game is available on the FOX Sports GO and FOX Soccer 2Go mobile apps, and on desktop computers via FOXSportsGO.com.
"Copa América Centenario promises to be a spectacular showcase for soccer in the United States," said David Neal, FOX Sports' FIFA World Cup Executive Producer, in a statement. "We expect viewers to be riveted by the most important men's soccer event on US soil in 22 years. It will be a seminal moment for the sport and for soccer fans in the United States."
FOX's coverage also includes extensive studio coverage prior to and following most matches, plus nine editions of COPA TONIGHT, an hour-long “last word” program on the day's events. Most of the pre-match shows will be 60 minutes in length, with the rest scheduled for 30 minutes. The broadcaster will feature 101 total hours of Copa América match and studio coverage.
The Copa América Centenario, which is being contested in the United States for the first time, celebrates the tournament's first 100 years and features 16 national teams from the Americas, with Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and the United States the top-seeded teams in each group.
The US national team open the tournament Friday, June 3 on FS1 (9:30 pm ET) vs. Colombia in a Group A match at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The US continue play against Costa Rica on FS1 in prime time on Tuesday, June 7 (8 pm ET), live from Soldier Field in Chicago, and conclude group play vs. Paraguay (7 pm ET) at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, also on FS1.
The FOX network broadcasts will feature many of the tournament's biggest draws, highlighted by a doubleheader on Friday, June 10: defending Copa América champions Chile against Bolivia (7 pm ET), followed by Lionel Messi's Argentina battling Panama in Group D (9:30 pm ET).
Five-time world champions Brazil open their campaign in Group B at the legendary Rose Bowl on Saturday, June 4 (FS1, 10 pm ET) against Ecuador, while Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez leads Mexico in Group C against Uruguay on Sunday, June 5 (FS1, 8 pm ET).
FS1 will carry both semifinals on consecutive evenings: Tuesday, June 21 (9 pm ET) and Wednesday, June 22 (8 pm ET). The final is also set to air on FS1 in prime time, Sunday, June 26 (8 pm ET) from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
