da premier bet: The 2024 Copa America draw is in the books, here's who draw who and where the potential group of death lies.
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The 2024 Copa America draw is officially in the books, with the USA hosting the prestigious tournament on their own turf this time around. Reigning champions Argentina return looking to go back-to-back while adding to their 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph, while Concacaf sides look to play spoiler with their introduction to the group stage this year.
La Albiceleste and Lionel Messi will open the tournament at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia against the winner of the Concacaf playoff between Canada and Trinidad & Tobago, with their group stage closing on June 29 against Peru in Miami – a homecoming of sorts for the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner.
The USMNT's draw was exactly what Gregg Berhalter wanted and needed, with an elite side in Uruguay to test his squad while being paired with a familiar Concacaf opponent in Panama and a CONMEBOL minnow in Bolivia. For Brazil, however, the test won't be easy, with both Colombia and Paraguay in their way along with the winner of the Concacaf playoff between Honduras and Costa Rica.
GOAL takes a look at each group stage pairing, when and where every group stage match will be played and more below…
GettyGROUP A: Argentina, Peru, Chile & Canada/Trinidad and Tobago
The reigning champions are going to be paired with two familiar foes in Peru and Chile, and then a Concacaf foe in the winner of the playoff between Canada and Trinidad and Tobago. Lionel Messi and co. seemingly have an advantageous group in comparison to the rest of the field, but they have history against the team from pot 3 in this group: Chile. Alexis Sanchez and co. won the tournament in both 2015 and 2016, defeating La Albiceleste not once, but twice in back-to-back penalty shootouts. Lionel Scaloni's side will be looking for tournament revenge this time around.
Peru, meanwhile, sit bottom of CONMEBOL WCQ and are in poor form, with Chile just two spots above them now. If they qualify, Canada could shockingly be the toughest opponent during the group stage for Argentina, with the likes of Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies in their way.
MATCHDATELOCATIONArgentina vs Trinidad/CanadaJune 20AtlantaPeru vs ChileJune 21ArlingtonChile vs ArgentinaJune 25East RutherfordPeru vs Trinidad/CanadaJune 25Kansas CityArgentina vs PeruJune 29MiamiChile vs Trinidad/CanadaJune 29OrlandoAdvertisementGettyGROUP B: Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela & Costa Rica/Honduras
Mexico will take on Chelsea's Moises Caicedo and Ecuador, along with Venezuela and the winner of this Spring's playoff between Costa Rica and Honduras. Immediately, this feels like the most open group where no team is truly that far ahead of other's in terms of roster and talent. Mexico have struggled against Concacaf opponents of late, while Costa Rica and Honduras are both familiar with their game. Ecuador, who sit fifth in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying, should be thought of as group favorites, but then there's Venezuela: A team who doesn't sport a superstar, but sits 4th in WCQ with recent draws against both Ecuador and Brazil and even recorded a win over Honduras in an international friendly last January.
The group is wide-open and not one team is considered a shoe-in for the knockout round.
MATCHDATELOCATIONMexico vs JamaicaJune 22HoustonVenezuela vs EcuadorJune 22Santa ClaraMexico vs VenezuelaJune 26InglewoodEcuador vs JamaicaJune 26Las VegasMexico vs EcuadorJune 30GlendaleJamaica vs VenezuelaJune 30AustinGettyGROUP C: United States, Uruguay, Panama & Bolivia
Gregg Berhalter and co. drew the worst-possible team from pot 2, but lucked out in pot 3 and 4. Uruguay, now led by ex-Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa, are a formidable foe and even handed Argentina their ONLY loss of the 2023 calendar year in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying. Panama, a familiar Concacaf opponent, and Bolivia – a side who are 1-0-5 in WCQ at the moment – are favorable draws.
It's a dream draw for the USMNT, who get an elite opponent in Darwin Nunez and co. while being paired up with two sides they can expect to beat.
MATCHDATELOCATIONUSA vs BoliviaJune 23ArlingtonUruguay vs PanamaJune 23MiamiUSA vs PanamaJune 27AtlantaUruguay vs BoliviaJune 27East RutherfordUSA vs UruguayJuly 1Kansas CityPanama vs BoliviaJuly 1OrlandoPedro Vilela/Getty ImagesGROUP D: Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay & Jamaica in the 'Group of Death'
Vinicius Jr. and Brazil are paired with Colombia, Paraguay and Jamaica in what just may be the group of death, and Jamaica is the reason why. The Reggae Boyz have slowly compiled a roster that is now made up of more than 50% of players from the English Premier league, poaching dual-nationals like Leon Bailey and Michael Antonio. As for Paraguay, young Brighton striker Julio Enciso and Newcastle winger Miguel Almiron could prove to be a formidable attacking force, while Colombia sports Liverpool winger Luis Diaz and ex-Real Madrid attacker James Rodriguez. Los Cafeteros even recently knocked-off Brazil in WCQ 2-1, becoming the first team to EVER do so on Brazilian turf.
The Selecao, who are nine-time winners of the competition, will look to earn a spot in the knockout round but will not have it easy with these three sides in their way. Neymar's Copa hopes are in jeopardy due to injury, while Vinicius sees himself sidelined into the new year. Can their young core of Rodrygo, Joao Pedro and Gabriel Martinelli get the job done up top?
MATCHDATELOCATIONBrazil vs Honduras/Costa RicaJune 24InglewoodColombia vs ParaguayJune 24HoustonBrazil vs ParaguayJune 28Las VegasColombia vs Honduras/Costa RicaJune 28GlendaleBrazil vs ColombiaJuly 2Santa ClaraParaguay vs Honduras/Costa RicaJuly 2Austin