The hosting United States were drawn into the group of death for the 2016 Copa America Centenario on Sunday, opening against Colombia in the 100th anniversary of football’s oldest international championship.

The US side topped Group A as one of four seeded teams for the tournament as the hosts, and landed a pair of 2014 World Cup quarter-finalists in Colombia and Costa Rica, along with Paraguay in their four-team cluster in which two teams will advance.

Their match against Colombia on June 3 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, launches a 16-team version of the South American championship that has expanded by four teams and is being staged outside the South American CONMEBOL nations for the first time.

Brazil open Group B against Ecuador at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on June 4, one day before Mexico get the tough Group C started against 15-times winner Uruguay at University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona.

Argentina, a 14-times winner of the championship, begin Group D play against defending champions Chile on June 6 at Levi’s Stadium.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi has already committed to playing and organisers hope that Brazil’s Neymar, Luis Suarez of Uruguay and Chile’s Alexis Sanchez will also be involved in the tournament.

The draw
Group A: United States, Colombia, Costa Rica, Paraguay.
Group B: Brazil, Ecuador, Haiti, Peru.
Group C: Mexico, Uruguay, Jamaica, Venezuela.
Group D: Argentina, Chile, Panama, Bolivia.

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