Copa America 2016 Draw: Favorites, Team USA And Gillette Stadium Views

On paper, Colombia is the toughest of Team USA's three group-stage opponents.

The Copa America Centenario honors 100 years of the Copa America tournament and will feature some of the world's best teams and players.

Prior to the draw, only the United States, Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina had their schedules in place for the group portion of the tournament.

Organizers of the Copa America Centenario are banking on a star-studded tournament featuring the world's best players led by Messi and his Barcelona teammates Neymar of Brazil and Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez.

If the US wins its group, which many consider the toughest in the tournament, they would play in Houston if they win their quarterfinal game as well in the June 21st Semi-final game.

To U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann, the daunting group that emerged from Sunday night's draw at the Manhattan Center reminds him of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where the U.S. opened with a 2-1 win over Ghana, tied Portugal 2-2 and lost to Germany 1-0, good enough to finish second.

USA federal prosecutors alleged a company formed to buy the Centennial Copa America's marketing rights agreed to pay $110 million in bribes to South American soccer officials.

The former German Under-17 global has since been getting his first extended taste of competitive club football on loan at Rangers this season, and the U.S. manager will continue monitoring his progress over the next few months before determining whether he deserves to go to the 2016 Copa America. It's easily the toughest group of the tournament, although not the first time the Americans have been part of a "Group of Death". "This will give the game a huge boost in the United States", the German said. Costa Rica, like Colombia, also had a strong 2014 World Cup, losing to the Netherlands on penalty kicks in the quarterfinals.

As hosts, the United States were drawn in Group A. They have been drawn with two World Cup quarter-finalists in Colombia and Costa Rica.

Now that the groups and schedule have been determined, the United States will start doing its homework for all three first-round matches, especially the opener. The two sides are also well acquainted at the Copa America, with Colombia defeating the USA 4-1 in the Third Place Match in 1995 and 1-0 in the final group match in 2007.

Osorio said his side will approach every game like a final - though he conceded Uruguay represents formidable opposition - and stressed that winning the group must be El Tri's aim.

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