If everything goes as it should, the U.S. men’s national soccer team and Mexico could play in back-to-back games in Atlanta this summer.
The host sites for the Gold Cup international tournament were announced Thursday, and the Georgia Dome will host the semifinals July 22. Philadelphia will host the finals.
The United States, the Gold Cup’s defending champ, hasn’t played in metro Atlanta since 1977, when it defeated China 1-0 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
The tournament, the championship event for teams in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, features 12 countries. If the U.S. team wins, it will receive an automatic bid to the 2017 Confederations Cup. If another team wins, it will play the U.S. team in a playoff to go to the Confederations Cup.
“The 2015 Gold Cup is just another example of the way the city and region are capable of hosting the biggest soccer tournaments in the world,” Dan Corso, executive director of the Atlanta Sports Council, said in part of a statement released by the Georgia Dome.
Atlanta hosted two quarterfinals games in the 2013 Gold Cup, part of a recent history of hosting soccer events that helped lead to Arthur Blank’s decision to purchase an MLS expansion franchise. The team will begin play in 2017 in the new downtown stadium.
Mexico has played in the Georgia Dome numerous times the past few years, including setting a new attendance record of 68,212 for soccer in the city when “El Tri” played Nigeria in an exhibition game last year. Should the United States and Mexico advance to the Dome that attendance mark likely will be broken.
“Our selection as a host city for such a prestigious international tournament is another indication that Atlanta is not only a passionate soccer city, but also an attractive destination for world-class sporting competition,” MLS Atlanta President Darren Eales said in part of a statement released by the Georgia Dome. “We’re looking forward to seeing top-class play on the pitch and a high energy, lively atmosphere in the stands.”
The semifinal games will have starting times of 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tickets for the semifinals will go on sale at 10 a.m. March 19 at www.goldcup.org.
The United States will headline Group A, which includes Haiti, Panama and the winner of a match between Honduras and French Guiana.
Costa Rica will headline Group B, which includes Jamaica, El Salvador and Canada.
Mexico will headline Group C, which includes Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago and Cuba.
The winner of Group A will play either the third-place team from Group B or C in the quarterfinals. The second-place team from Group A will place the winner of Group B in the other quarterfinal.
The winner of Group C will play either the third-place team from Group B or C in the third quarterfinal. The final quarterfinal will feature the second-place team from Group C vs. the second-place team from Group B.
The winners of the quarterfinals will advance to the Georgia Dome. The championship match will be played July 26.
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