A major soccer tournament will take place in Charlotte this week.
Why it matters: Charlotte is no stranger to hosting international soccer , but this is the first time the CONMEBOL Copa America tournament will stop here.
Context: Copa America is South America's championship, meaning countries like Argentina and Peru play each other. The 2024 tournament is a special edition that has been co-organized by CONMEBOL [the governing body of South American soccer] and Concacaf [the confederation the United States is in].
- Ten CONMEBOL teams and six Concacaf guest teams started the tournament. Now it's down to the final four teams.
What to expect: Two games and a frenetic atmosphere in Uptown with fans traveling to Charlotte from all over the world.
Catch up quick: Charlotte hosted the semifinal match between Colombia and Uruguay at Bank of America Stadium Wednesday. 70,644 fans watched Colombia win 1-0.
- Colombia will face Argentina in the Copa America final in Miami on Sunday at 8pm. It will air on FOX .
- Uruguay will stay in Charlotte and face Canada in the third-place match at 8pm.
What's next: Uruguay will play Canada in the third-place match at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday at 8pm.
If you go: Tickets start $115 for the third-place match . Traffic will be heavy in Uptown and parking will be pricey. Here are a few public transit options:
- The CityLYNX Gold Line Streetcar and the Lynx Blue Line are both walking distance from the stadium.
- The Gold Line, which is currently free, runs east and west from Elizabeth just over the Hawthorne Lane bridge to west Charlotte near Johnson C. Smith University. Charlotte Gateway Station and the Mint Street stops are roughly half a mile from the stadium.
- The Blue Line runs north and south from UNC Charlotte to I-485. Weekly unlimited rides cost $30.80. A one-way ticket costs $2.20 for adults and $1.10 for kids.
The intrigue: Bank of America Stadium, which was converted to turf ahead of Charlotte FC's inaugural season to accommodate more events, will become a grass surface during the tournament.
- Natural grass was also used last summer for the Concacaf Gold Cup and in 2022, when Charlotte FC hosted English team Chelsea. Real Madrid and Chelsea will play on a natural surface next month when they play at Bank of America Stadium during the Soccer Champions Tour.
- An artificial surface is easier to maintain, but it is a point of contention among players.
Go deeper: What it takes to make Copa America happen at Bank of America Stadium
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