FOX Sports on verge of acquiring Copa America Centenario rights

FOX Sports is on the verge of acquiring the English-language TV rights to the 2016 Copa America, according to a World Soccer Talk source.

The tournament, to be held in the United States from June 3-26 next year, will be the 100-year celebration of South America’s most prestigious international competition.

It will be the first time Copa America has ever been hosted outside of South America.

A spokesman for FOX Sports declined comment when contacted by World Soccer Talk regarding the news.

With the United States and Mexico automatically qualifying for the competition, the amount of interest in the tournament will be at a high coupled with the fact that all 10 CONMEBOL countries will be participating (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Paraguay, Venezuela and Bolivia). Plus, Costa Rica and Jamaica will participate in Copa America 2016 in addition to two other countries to be determined (the winners of 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup if not already qualified, or play-off winners amongst top four 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup finishers not already qualified; and the play-off winners amongst top four 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup finishers not already qualified).

SEE ALSO — Univision Deportes acquires Spanish-language TV rights to Copa America 2016.

If and when the deal is completely finalized for FOX Sports to acquire the rights, this will be another huge coup for FOX and an impressive addition to its growing arsenal of soccer TV rights. With its rights to the 2015 Women’s World Cup and 2016 Copa America, this will be a perfect lead-in to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and undoubtedly puts FOX Sports on the map as the leading broadcaster for soccer coverage in the United States.

While there’ll be worldwide attention focused on Copa America 2016, FOX will be competing with ESPN who will be televising Euro 2016 from June 10-July 10. The international tournament will be held in France.

The 2015 edition of Copa America will be shown this summer, live from Chile, on beIN SPORTS and fuboTV.

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