Copa America kicks off in Santiago, Chile
Copa America kicked off with an inauguration ceremony filled with dancers, acrobats attached to balloons and fireworks at the Nacional stadium in Santiago on Thursday, June 11. The inauguration match between Chile and Ecuador was played after the ceremony, with Chile winning 2-0.
- Colombian fan known as “Cole” gestures as he waits for the beginning of Copa America soccer tournament at the National Stadium in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, June 11, 2015.(AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
- Artists perform during the Copa America inauguration ceremony at the Nacional stadium in Santiago, on June 11, 2015. Chile will face Ecuador in the inauguration match. (AFP Photo/Martin Bernetti)
- Performers dance in the Copa America opening ceremony at the National Stadium in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, June 11, 2015.(AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
- Artists perform during the Copa America inauguration ceremony at the Nacional stadium in Santiago, on June 11, 2015. Chile will face Ecuador in the inauguration match. (AFP Photo/Pablo Porciuncula)
- Dancers perform during the Copa America inauguration ceremony at the Nacional stadium in Santiago, on June 11, 2015. Chile will face Ecuador in the inauguration match. (AFP Photo/Rodrigo Arangua)
- Artists perform during the Copa America inauguration ceremony at the Nacional stadium in Santiago, on June 11, 2015. Chile will face Ecuador in the inauguration match. (AFP Photo/Martin Bernetti)
- Artists perform during the Copa America inauguration ceremony at the Nacional stadium in Santiago, on June 11, 2015. Chile will face Ecuador in the inauguration match. (AFP Photo/Pablo Porciuncula)
- An acrobat performs during the opening ceremony of the Copa America tournament at the National Stadium in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, June 11, 2015.(AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
- Fireworks and lights are seen during the Copa America inauguration ceremony at the Nacional stadium in Santiago, on June 11, 2015. Chile will face Ecuador in the inauguration match. (AFP Photo/Luis Acosta)
- General view during the Copa America inauguration ceremony at the Nacional stadium in Santiago, on June 11, 2015. Chile will face Ecuador in the inauguration match. (AFP Photo/Rodrigo Arangua)
- Supporters of Chile cheer their team before the Copa America inauguration match against Ecuador, on June 11, 2015, at the Nacional stadium in Santiago. (AFP Photo/Rodrigo Arangua)
- Ecuadorean supporters cheer for their team at the Nacional stadium in Santiago hours before the Copa America kick off, on June 11, 2015. Chile will face Ecuador in the inauguration match. (AFP Photo/Pablo Porciuncula)
- Supporters of Chile and Ecuador cheer for their teams at the Nacional stadium in Santiago hours before the Copa America inauguration match Chile vs Ecuador, on June 11, 2015. (AFP Photo/Martin Bernetti)
- A fan of Chile poses fos a picture outside the Nacional stadium in Santiago hours before the Copa America kick off, on June 11, 2015. Chile will face Ecuador in the inauguration match. (AFP Photo/Pablo Porciuncula)
- Chilean fans cheer during the opening ceremony of the Copa America soccer tournament at the National Stadium in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, June 11, 2015.(AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
- Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet, center, cheers before the start of a Copa America Group 1 soccer match between Chile and Ecuador at the National Stadium in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, June 11, 2015.(AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
- An Chilean fan cheers during the opening ceremony of the Copa America soccer tournament at the National Stadium in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, June 11, 2015.(AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
- The official ball is seen before the start of the Copa America inauguration football match between Chile and Ecuador at the Nacional stadium in Santiago, on June 11, 2015. (AFP Photo/Luis Acosta)
- Chile’s defender Gary Medel (C) vies for the ball with Ecuador’s forward Enner Valencia (R) during the Copa America inauguration football match at the Nacional stadium in Santiago, on June 11, 2015. (AFP Photo/Luis Acosta)
- Ecuador’s Juan Carlos Paredes kicks the ball during a Copa America Group 1 soccer match against Chile at the National Stadium in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, June 11, 2015.(AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
- Ecuador’s Juan Carlos Paredes, left, fight for the ball with Chile’s Jean Beausejour during a Copa America Group 1 soccer match at the National Stadium in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, June 11, 2015.(AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
- Ecuador’s Gabriel Achilier heads the ball during a Copa America Group 1 soccer match at the National Stadium in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, June 11, 2015.(AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
- Chile’s Alexis Sanchez, left, battle for the ball with Ecuador’s Frickson Erazo during a Copa America Group 1 soccer match at the National Stadium in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, June 11, 2015.(AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
- Chile’s midfielder Arturo Vidal celebrates after scoring a penaly kick against Ecuador during the Copa America inauguration football match at the Nacional stadium in Santiago, on June 11, 2015. (AFP Photo/Luis Acosta)
- Chile’s Arturo Vidal celebrates after scoring a penalty kick against Ecuador during a Copa America Group 1 soccer match at the National Stadium in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, June 11, 2015. Chile won the match 2-0. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
- Chile’s forward Eduardo Vargas celebrates after scoring against Ecuador during the Copa America inauguration football match at the Nacional stadium in Santiago, on June 11, 2015. (AFP Photo/Luis Acosta)