Lionel Messi and Argentina aiming for 3rd straight major title in Copa América

Lionel Messi and Argentina will try to match Spain's feat of three consecutive major titles when the Copa América kicks off Thursday night. Coming off championships in the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 World Cup, Messi will be four days shy of his 37th birthday when the Albiceleste take the field against Canada at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

, South American soccer's governing body, but declined. The tournament was then moved to the U.S., which also hosted the special centennial Copa América in 2016 as Chile won on penalty kicks over Argentina at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Eleven NFL stadiums are being used, including eight of the 11 U.S. venues for the 2026 World Cup, plus three smaller MLS homes.

says more than 1 million tickets have been sold for the 32 matches. The 2016 tournament drew just under 1.5 million, and the 2019 tournament in Brazil about 850,000. The 2021 Copa was played mostly without fans because of the coronavirus pandemic. This will be the biggest test for the U.S. team before the World Cup — the Americans get an automatic berth as co-host along with Mexico and Canada — and most Europe-based players are expected to skip next year's CONCACAF Gold Cup.

partnered with the U.S. Soccer Federation, which was in charge of most of the logistics. This time, is co-organizing the tournament with CONCACAF, the governing body of North and Central America and the Caribbean. Unlike during the World Cup, the organizers have only short-term access to venues. At Hard Rock, a concert is scheduled for July 6, between the last group stage game and the final, and a new grass surface will be installed. At MetLife Stadium, where a semifinal will be played July 9, staff will look at it as a preview for the World Cup final on July 19, 2026.

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