NEW YORK, 13th June, 2024 (WAM) -- Warm-up matches have attracted the attention of football lovers across the globe to the Copa America, the biggest football tournament in the Americas, which begins on 20th June.
The hosts U.S. snatched a surprise 1-1 draw from mighty Brazil in Orlando on Wednesday, in a final tune-up for both sides ahead of the tournament.
The U.S. had been under pressure to deliver a performance after last weekend's 5-1 loss to Colombia and the result marked just the second time in 20 matches they avoided defeat by the five-times World Cup winners.
Month -long tournament in 14 venues
The 48th edition of the Copa America will open with Argentina-Canada match on 20th June and run until 14th July in 14 venues across the United States, according to an Associated Press report.
It will showcase the top talents from two continents for nearly a month of competition. Ten CONMEBOL (South American Football Confederation) teams and six CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) teams will match up in an event most recently won in 2021 by Argentina and Lionel Messi, who is back for another run.
The U.S. and its vast selection of world-class stadiums will host the Copa America for the second time after hosting the Centenario edition of the event in 2016. Argentina also reached that final in suburban New Jersey, but lost to Alexis Sánchez and Chile on penalties.
16 teams
The 16 teams will play in the group stage until 2nd July, with two matches almost every day. The quarterfinals are from 4th to 6th July in Houston; Arlington, Texas; Las Vegas; and Glendale, Arizona. The semifinals are on 10th July in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and Charlotte, North Carolina, while the final is 14th July in sweltering Miami Gardens.
Argentina is the favourite to repeat at +175, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Brazil is right behind at +225, while Uruguay is the third choice at +500. The oddsmakers do not rate the rest of the field highly, with Mexico and U.S. in fourth at an identical +1200 along with sleeper pick Colombia, which had played 22 consecutive unbeaten matches since February 2022 heading into its final warm-up exhibition this month.
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Messi will attempt to add another major trophy to his overflowing mantel, and his Argentine squad is loaded with talent from major European clubs, including Inter's Lautaro Martinez and Manchester City's Julián Álvarez. But La Albiceleste should be sternly challenged by opponents with their own world-class stars.
Fresh off a Champions League triumph with Real Madrid, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo will lead a loaded Brazilian squad. Messi's Inter Miami teammate, 37-year-old Luis Suárez, is back with Uruguay to play alongside Real's Federico Valverde and Liverpool's Darwin Núñez.
One star won't be shining stateside: Brazilian great Neymar, who has not played since October due to a knee injury.
CONMEBOL hegemony
On paper, this doesn't appear to be the year when a CONCACAF team will break through to win the Copa America for the first time. That will not stop Mexico, the U.S., Canada, Jamaica, Costa Rica and Panama from attempting to make history.
Mexico has a solid group, but nothing in the top level of talent possessed by the South American powerhouses. Ditto for the Americans, who hope for a hometown boost and a breakout tournament from a forward group including Milan's Christian Pulisic, Norwich's Josh Sargent and Monaco's Folarin Balogun.
North American teams were not invited to participate in Copa America until the 1990s, and Mexico’s second-place finishes are the closest any non-South American team has come to winning.