Today, we’re 50 days out from the Copa América Centenario, which will kick off on June 3 when the U.S. national team will take on Colombia in Santa Clara, California.
That will surely be an epic clash between two nations with plenty of history on the soccer field, from the famous (and ultimately tragic) 1994 World Cup group-stage match to the recent Olympic qualifying playoff.
We here at MLSsoccer.com are obviously excited for the Copa. After all, it’s another major tournament for the USMNT to make their mark against global stars like Lionel Messi, James Rodriguez, Alexis Sanchez, and Luis Suarez.
In preparation, the editors here at MLSsoccer.com put together 50 predictions for this summer’s extravaganza.
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1. A CONCACAF team will be the darling of the tournament. (Better learn some reggae, people.)
2. An all-MLS backline will shutdown James Rodriguez and Colombia in the tournament opener.
3. Legendary tailgates. Forget burgers and brats. We’re talking tacos, arepas, empanadas, ceviche, bistec, and chicharrones.
4. Brazil vs. Haiti in Orlando will be a 90-minute carnival. These teams already have a special connection, Brazilians vacation there in droves and there are more than 300,000 Haitians in Florida ready to party.
5. Mexican star Chicharito will win the Golden Boot as the tournament’s leading goalscorer. People will still ask why he couldn't stick at Manchester United. And then he will score again.
6. Philadelphia Union’s Andre Blake will continue his stunning form with Jamaica and be named the goalkeeper of the tournament.
7. Jurgen Klinsmann will publicly state that the USA can go “toe-to-toe” and “eye-to-eye” with Group A oppponents Colombia, Costa Rica and Paraguay.
8. American TV anchors will discover Lionel Messi’s nickname, “La Pulga” (The Flea) and fall in love with it, using it in every subsequent reference to the player.
9. Twenty years after a memorable run in the Copa America, US national team fans will fall in love with the competition all over again and start a petition to demand the USA are invited to every subsequent Copa America, wherever it’s played.
10. Uruguayan star Luis Suarez will NOT bite an opponent. Maybe a referee.
11. Seattle's young forward Jordan Morris will make the US squad and score a big equalizer in group play.
12. A goalkeeper will score in stoppage time as his team pushes for the late equalizer. Because those are awesome, right?
13. Kaká will be on the Brazilian squad and he’ll be really good.
14. ...But the Selecao will be eliminated in quarterfinals, and manager Dunga will be fired before the post-match press conference is over.
15. Mexican forward Hirving Lozano will be the breakout star. He’s got great momentum with both Pachuca and the Mexican national team. He can do things like this.
16. Chile's Alexis Sanchez will use the tournament as an opportunity to do another thirst-trap Instagram post, like this one from last year:
17. No matter what happens in Group D, you’ll hear about it forever from Argentina fans.
18. Messi-to-MLS rumors!
19. FOX Sports analyst Alexi Lalas will predict that the USMNT will not get out of the so-called "Group of Death," just like he did before the World Cup.
20. The USMNT will get out of the Group of Death. Or, more accurately, the Group of Mild Discomfort.
21. RSL's Joao Plata will make Ecuador's roster and will steal the world’s hearts with a great goal and celebration.
22. Sepp Blatter will try to attend the final at MetLife Stadium outside of New York, and he’ll go the "full Bobby Valentine".
23. Brazil’s Douglas Costa will do something like this to an unwitting defender.
24. The last hurrah of Panamanian legend Blas Perez will include drawing a penalty. No doubt.
25. Borussia Dortmund youngster Christian Pulisic will score his first goal for the USMNT.
26. New York Red Bulls youngster Derrick Etienne will score his first goal for Haiti.
27. Vancouver Whitecaps defender Kendall Waston will be a beast. As always.
28. During USMNT matches, the hashtag #WheresLandon will be trending nationwide.
29. Argentina’s Paulo Dybala will announce himself to North America—in style.
30. Bayern Munich's Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal will show off a ridiculous hairstyle.
31. Mexico’s "Tecatito" Corona will be one of the tournament's breakout stars after doing things like this:
32. USA's leading goalscorer will be Bobby Wood, who will then move to Bayer Leverkusen for the 2016-17 season.
33. Lula will make her return to the spotlight.
34. The USMNT will score off a Matt Besler long throw and, according to Herculez Gomez, an angel will lose its wings.
35. Another trove of leaks from the Panama Papers will reveal that Panama will win the World Cup in 2026.
36. Lionel Messi will do Messi-type things. Duh!
37. There will be at least one pitch invader during the tournament who will try to hug a player.
38. The US and Mexico will meet in the knockout round and, honestly, we have no idea what will happen.
39. Jurgen Klinsmann will spring a surprise when the final rosters drop. Trust us.
40. But there will be no surprise in goal: new Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard.
41. Hulk smash.
42. Paraguay will beat a team ranked in the FIFA top 40 for the first time in more than four years. "But Paraguay's good!" you're thinking, and... no, not really. They're just good at making whoever they play bad, and they never finish the job in regulation.
43. Venezuela will struggle. And ESPN analyst Alejandro Moreno, a former Venezuelan international, will not be happy about it.
44. Peru's 37-year-old forward Claudio Pizarro will prove -- as he has this season with Werder Bremen -- that for the special few, age is truly just a number.
45. Houston Dynamo and Jamaica striker Giles Barnes will get into the open field and do something amazing.
46. Di Maria. Rabona. Mark it down.
47. Endless debates by English-language editors about whether or not to include the accent on "América."
48. Despite Mexico's strong performances, the Mexican media will complain.
49. Bolivia will go out in three matches and talk wistfully about when they used to have this guy.
50. Deuce Face. One last time.
Bonus! The American Outlaws will do some epic American outlawin'.
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