Tysons will turn into a soccer town for the next two months in conjunction with the upcoming Copa America and Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Euro Cup tournaments.
The Tysons Community Alliance (TCA) kicked off its “Copa Tysons” campaign on Wednesday (May 29) by welcoming the U.S. Men’s National Team — represented by goalkeepers Matt Turner and Ethan Horvath — to the D.C. area at Bowlero (2001 International Drive, Suite 1695G) in Tysons Galleria.
As part of their preparations for Copa America, which will begin on June 20 in Atlanta, Georgia, the team’s players and staff are staying in Tysons ahead of a June 8 friendly match against Colombia at Commanders Field in Landover, Maryland.
The U.S. men’s team is scheduled to face off with Bolivia in Arlington, Texas, on June 23, Panama in Atlanta on June 27, and Uruguay in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 1 for Copa America’s initial group round.
“We are thrilled to welcome Matt and Ethan today to celebrate the US men’s team coming back to the region and to launch Copa Tysons,” TCA CEO Katie Cristol said at the Copa Tysons launch. “Soccer is a shared passion in our vibrant community: A truly international sport that forges connections, supports our local economy, and fosters a sense of place and fun. We’re delighted to host members of the USMNT to show Tysons’ love for the game and our support for the team.”
The U.S. Women’s National Team will also visit the region this summer for a friendly match against Costa Rica at Audi Field in D.C. on July 16.
According to the TCA, Copa Tysons will celebrate soccer throughout June and July with “a series of promotional activities” to include watch parties and other events at local restaurants, bars and hospitality businesses.
The promotions will highlight the local professional soccer teams — D.C. United and the Washington Spirit — as well as the national teams.
The campaign’s signature event will be a mini-soccer festival on Sunday, July 14 on The Plaza at Tysons Corner Center (1961 Chain Bridge Road). Starting at 11 a.m., the free public festival will feature soccer-related inflatables, games, activities and a public screening of the UEFA 2024 Euro Finals at 3 p.m.
Information about other events and promotions will be posted on the TCA’s website throughout the campaign.
At this week’s launch event, Turner noted that it marked a return to Virginia for him after he played with the Richmond Kickers during the United Soccer League’s 2016 and 2017 seasons. Now a pro player in England for Nottingham Forest, he echoed Cristol’s sentiments about soccer as a sport that builds community, bringing people from different backgrounds and cultures together.
“It’s great to see so many people that are a part of it here in the United States so hopefully we’ll see you guys soon on [June 8] against Colombia and then throughout the rest of the summer,” Turner said.
