CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Thousands of visitors are expected to visit Charlotte this week for two games of a major men’s international soccer tournament.

What You Need To Know

  • Copa America, a major men’s international soccer tournament, will take place at Bank of America stadium Wednesday and Saturday

  • The semifinal and third-place game are expected to draw 150,000 to Uptown Charlotte this week

  • A Colombian restaurant in Charlotte anticipates having a large crowd on Wednesday

Copa America is South America’s continental championship with teams from the U.S., Mexico and Canada also playing. The U.S. was already eliminated from the tournament. 

A semifinal between Colombia and Uruguay and a third-place match will take place at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. 

Los Paisas Restaurant, a Colombian food restaurant, is nine miles away from the stadium, but it will still feel an impact from this event. 

Los Paisas Restaurant has hosted watch parties for games of the Colombian National Soccer Team during Copa America.

Owner William Hernandez said they are preparing for a watch party Wednesday with more customers than ever before. 

"There are going to be a lot of visitors, directly from Colombia and at the national and local level,” Hernandez said. 

Charlotte F.C. estimates around 150,000 people will be in Uptown Charlotte because of Wednesday's semifinal and the third-place game on Saturday. 

Hernandez expects sales to double for the watch party Wednesday. 

"The sales are good, but we’re not only thinking of the economic aspect or financial aspect of it, we can also show a positive image of Colombians to an international audience,” Hernandez said. 

Andres Garcia, a server at Los Paisas Restaurant, is planning to attend Wednesday’s match in person. 

“Especially the game being in the city where I live, that I don’t have to travel to another city, it is something that I couldn’t pass up,” Garcia said. 

He said it would be even better if his national team made it to the final. 

"I would be very happy, and it would be great to celebrate after the game with my friends,” Garcia said. 

Wednesday’s semifinal game kicks off at 8 p.m. 

CONMEBOL, the governing body of soccer in South America, chose Charlotte as one of the host cities in the U.S. for Copa America 2024. 

Last year, three soccer matches at Bank of America Stadium drew over 60,000 people each. 

The stadium has a capacity of 75,000 seats.