Heavy Transport
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Confusion; Situational Awareness; Troubleshooting
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Airspace Structure; Human Factors
We were given what we [heard was] clearance direct to COPES Intersection. Pilot monitoring read back clearance 'direct COPES' and selected COPES Intersection on the right CDU. I confirmed and we proceeded to the intersection. Later departure gave us a heading of 320 degree and advised that we had been cleared direct to COATE Intersection. We then proceeded as directed.Suggestions: Having two intersections with similar sounding names is a problem.
Heavy Transport aircraft Captain reported a navigation error due to similar sounding waypoints COPES and COATE.