The Mexico national soccer team is returning to the Georgia Dome.
“El Tri,” as the team is called, will play a to-be-named opponent May 28. The game, one of two exhibitions the team will play in the United States, will be a warm-up for the Copa America Centenario, a tournament featuring national teams from countries in South America, as well as several teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
Mexico’s first game in the Centenario will be June 5 in Phoenix, so it is likely to field a strong squad for its game in the Dome. Ticket information will be released at a later date.
Mexico has played several games in the Dome, almost always resulting in massive ticket sales.
- It defeated Venezuela 4-0 with more than 51,000 tickets sold or distributed in 2009;
- It defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 with more than 50,000 tickets sold or distributed in 2011;
- It defeated Trinidad and Tobago 1-0 with more than 54,000 tickets sold or distributed in the 2013 Gold Cup;
- It tied Nigeria 0-0 with an Atlanta record of 68,212 tickets sold or distributed in 2014;
- Mexico broke that record in 2015 with 70,511 tickets sold or distributed for a 2-1 win over Panama in the semifinals of the Gold Cup. That game was a doubleheader with the Americans losing to Jamaica 2-1 in the other semifinal.
The draw for the Centenario will be televised at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Sixteen nations, including the U.S., Brazil, Argentina, defending champion Chile, and Colombia, will participate in the tournament, with games starting June 3. The championship will be June 26 in East Rutherford, N.J.
Mexico’s game will likely be the last hosted by the Dome, which is scheduled to be demolished in the spring of 2017. Atlanta United, an MLS expansion team, will play its first season in 2017 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which is scheduled to open in June 2017.
About the Author
