LANDOVER, Md., February 26, 2024 –– Today, the Asociación del Fútbol Argentino (AFA) and Soccer United Marketing (SUM) announced that Argentina, the defending 2022 FIFA World Cup champion and top ranked men's national team in the world, will play Guatemala at Commanders Field on Friday, June 14 ahead of CONMEBOL Copa America 2024.
The friendly match between Argentina and Guatemala will be the second game played at the Washington Commanders' stadium this summer in the lead up to the prestigious South American tournament, Copa América, which will be played across 14 U.S. venues. The United States men's national team will play on Saturday, June 8 versus Colombia.
"As soccer continues to thrive in the U.S., it's an honor to host the Argentinae and Guatemala men's national teams here in the nation's capital," said Dylan Wanagiel, Vice President, Sports Properties & Special Events for HBSE. "We look forward to showcasing the best of the best throughout our event programming, which is evident by a match of this caliber. HBSE and the Commanders couldn't be happier to help deliver marquee soccer events for the world's best athletes. We remain committed to cementing this stadium and the DMV area as a destination for a vast array of marquee events."
Argentina is led by its captain, Inter Miami CF (MLS) midfielder Lionel Messi, the current Ballon d'Or winner and The Best FIFA Men's Player, who is widely considered by fans and media as one of the best players in the history of the game. The team's long list of global stars also features Aston Villa (EPL) goalkeeper Emiliano "Dibu" Martinez, Manchester City (EPL) forward Julian Alvarez, and Benfica (POR) central defender Nicolás Otamendi.
"We're proud to welcome the Argentina and Guatemala men's national teams to the DMV for the second international soccer event at our stadium this summer," said Trista Langdon, Senior Vice President, Operations and Guest Experience for the Washington Commanders. "The stadium, along with our region's rich and diverse community, provides the perfect foundation for hosting world class soccer in our own backyard, and we look forward to continuing the tradition of bringing major matches here."
The new ownership group of the Washington Commanders is investing $40 million in improving the stadium and the fan experience, resulting in a new sound system, extensive infrastructure repairs, new suites, 12 new food vendors, and expedited entry and exit processes. As the stadium continues to be a destination for primetime international soccer matches, additional investments are expected to be announced soon.
"A tour prior to a cup is always important, especially because you adjust the final details for the debut of the tournament," said Argentina Head Coach Lionel Scaloni. "This game will leave the team ready to compete."
The American Express presale begins Friday, March 1 at 10 am ET. Tickets to the general public will go on sale Monday, March 4 at 10 a.m. ET through SeatGeek.com.
Media Accreditation: Media accreditation for the matches are not yet available. An alert will be sent to media when the process opens.
ABOUT SOCCER UNITED MARKETING: Soccer United Marketing (SUM), the commercial arm of Major League Soccer, is the preeminent commercial soccer enterprise in North America, overseeing the commercialization, marketing, promotion, and operational execution of the region's most successful soccer entities. SUM holds the exclusive rights to Major League Soccer, the Mexican National Teams for the U.S. market (MexTour and MexTour W), Leagues Cup, Campeones Cup, Copa Angelina and Concacaf Properties (including Concacaf Gold Cup™, Concacaf Nations League Finals, Concacaf Champions Cup and Concacaf W). In addition, SUM held the promotional and commercial rights to the highly successful 2016 Copa America Centenario.
ABOUT HARRIS BLITZER SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT: Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) is a leading sports and entertainment company, with a focus on inspiring possibilities in people and enhancing the communities where we live, work, play and win. Founded by Josh Harris and David Blitzer, HBSE's global portfolio has grown to include premier sports franchises, brands, venues and investment platforms, centered around marquee assets including the Philadelphia 76ers, the New Jersey Devils and the Prudential Center.
ABOUT THE WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: The Washington Commanders, owned by a group of investors led by Managing Partner Josh Harris, were founded in Boston in 1932 and are one of the original members of the NFL's Eastern Division. The Washington Commanders relocated to Washington, D.C. in 1937 and have since become one of the most recognizable professional sports franchises in history, featuring multiple Hall of Fame coaches, 19 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and one recipient of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, Darrell Green. A proud and storied franchise, the team has won five World Championship titles, including the 1937 and 1942 National Football League Championship games, as well as Super Bowls XVII, XXII and XXVI. Since 1997, the team has played its home games at Commanders Field, a multi-purpose stadium located in Landover, MD. Washington Commanders Football Operations are headquartered in Ashburn, Virginia, at the OrthoVirginia Training Center at Commanders Park.
