Who Will Be The Next Champion Of Copa América?
The tournament’s 48th edition runs from June 20 to July 14, 2024.
The Copa América title, coveted by many nations and fiercely contested over the years, is again up for grabs this summer. This American equivalent of the UEFA European Championship was founded over 100 years ago, in 1916. This is nearly half a century before the European Championship and 14 years before the first FIFA World Cup.
Only four nations participated in the inaugural edition, but the tournament has grown to its current format. In the upcoming championship in the United States, there will be 10 representatives from South America and six nations from CONCACAF, the federation representing North, Central, and the Caribbean.
Argentina, the reigning champions, will strive to defend their title this year.
In addition to being the champions of the Americas, the Argentines are also the current world champions and are certainly favorites to clinch the top spot in the tournament. However, they must overcome formidable opponents like Brazil, Uruguay, and undoubtedly the skilled hosts, the USA, to achieve this.
The 48th edition of Copa América kicks off on June 20 at 8:00 PM local time, with the last titleholder, Argentina, facing Canada in Atlanta.
These two nations are entering the battle for the trophy from vastly different and contrasting positions. While the reigning world champions boast some of the best players globally and have an established core team under the six-year guidance of Lionel Scaloni, Canada’s manager Jesse Marsch was appointed just five weeks before the tournament. No wonder the former Leeds United manager called the first match a “massive challenge.”
The 24 group stage games, featuring 16 nations divided into Groups A, B, C, and D, will continue until July 2.
After a brief pause, the knockout stages will commence with the quarterfinals on July 4, one of the most significant national holidays in the USA. Unlike its European counterpart, Copa América includes a third-place playoff, which will take place a day before the final on July 14 in Miami.
Group stage
With 16 teams set to participate (10 from CONMEBOL and six from CONCACAF), the initial phase will feature four groups of four teams each.
The top two finishers in each group will advance to the knockout stage, which will feature eight teams parsed out in a single-elimination bracket.
Group A: Argentina, Peru, Chile, Canada
June 20, 2024 — 8 p.m. ET — Argentina vs. Canada — Atlanta, GA (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
June 21 — 8 p.m. — Peru vs. Chile — Arlington, TX (AT&T Stadium)
June 25 — 6 p.m. — Peru vs. Canada — Kansas City, KS (Children’s Mercy Park)
June 25 — 9 p.m. — Chile vs. Argentina — East Rutherford, NJ (MetLife Stadium)
June 29 — 8 p.m. — Argentina vs. Peru — Miami, FL (Hard Rock Stadium)
June 29 — 8 p.m. — Canada vs. Chile — Orlando, FL (Exploria Stadium)
Group B: Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela, Jamaica
June 22, 2024 — 6 p.m. ЕТ — Ecuador vs. Venezuela — Santa Clara, CA (Levi’s Stadium)
June 22 — 7 p.m. — Mexico vs. Jamaica — Houston, TX (NRG Stadium)
June 26 — 6 p.m. — Ecuador vs. Jamaica — Las Vegas, NV (Allegiant Stadium)
June 26 — 7 p.m. — Venezuela vs. Mexico — Inglewood, CA (SoFi Stadium)
June 30 — 8 p.m. — Jamaica vs. Venezuela — Austin, TX (Q2 Stadium)
June 30 — 8 p.m. — Mexico vs. Ecuador — Glendale, AZ (State Farm Stadium)
Group C: USA, Uruguay, Panama, Bolivia
June 23, 2024 — 6 p.m. ЕТ — USA vs. Bolivia — Arlington, TX (AT&T Stadium)
June 23 — 7 p.m. — Uruguay vs. Panama — Miami, FL (Hard Rock Stadium)
June 27 — 6 p.m. — Panama vs. USA — Atlanta, GA (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
June 27 — 7 p.m. — Uruguay vs. Bolivia — East Rutherford, NJ (MetLife Stadium)
July 1 — 9 p.m. — Bolivia vs. Panama — Orlando, FL (Exploria Stadium)
July 1 — 9 p.m. — USA vs. Uruguay — Kansas City, MO (Arrowhead Stadium)
Group D: Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Costa Rica
June 24, 2024 — 6 p.m. ЕТ — Colombia vs. Paraguay — Houston, TX (NRG Stadium)
June 24 — 7 p.m. — Brazil vs. Costa Rica — Inglewood, CA (SoFi Stadium)
June 28 — 6 p.m. — Colombia vs. Costa Rica — Glendale, AZ (State Farm Stadium)
June 28 — 7 p.m. — Paraguay vs. Brazil — Las Vegas, NV (Allegiant Stadium)
July 2 — 9 p.m. — Costa Rica vs. Paraguay — Austin, TX (Q2 Stadium)
July 2 — 9 p.m. — Brazil vs. Colombia — Santa Clara, CA (Levi’s Stadium)
STADIUMS
As there is no qualification process for South American nations—all 10 have taken part in each edition of the Copa America since 1975, except Argentina’s absence in 2001 due to a congested schedule—hosting duties are offered on a rotational basis. Ecuador was next in line but declined the invitation, paving the way for the USA to add another major footballing tournament to the country’s packed calendar.
America will host the hotly controversial 32-team FIFA Club World Cup in 2025, one year before staging the Men’s World Cup with Canada and Mexico. Eight of the 14 venues for this summer’s Copa America will also be used as stadiums for the 2026 World Cup.
While New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium was surprisingly given the nod to host the World Cup final, the biggest game in football, the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami will stage the showpiece fixture in this summer’s South American jamboree. Argentina’s talisman, Lionel Messi, plays his club football for Florida’s Inter Miami, which is not based at the venue for the final, instead lining up at the far smaller Chase Stadium.
Below is a list of the stadiums, locations and capacities for the tournament:
- Arlington, TX at AT&T Stadium (80,000 capacity)
- Atlanta, GA at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (71,000)
- Austin, TX at Q2 Stadium (20,738)
- Charlotte, NC at Bank of America Stadium (74,867)
- East Rutherford, NJ at MetLife Stadium (82,566)
- Houston, TX at NRG Stadium (72,220)
- Inglewood, CA at SoFi Stadium (70,240)
- Santa Clara, CA at Levi’s Stadium (68,500)
- Glendale, AZ at State Farm Stadium (63,400)
- Las Vegas, NV at Allegiant Stadium (61,000)
- Kansas City, MO at Arrowhead Stadium (76,416)
- Kansas City, KS at Children’s Mercy Park (18,467)
- Miami Gardens, FL at Hard Rock Stadium (64,767)
- Orlando, FL at Inter&Co Stadium (25,500)
PRIZE MONEY
CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American football, has focused on financial incentives for this year’s tournament. The total prize fund available this summer has doubled compared to the amounts available during the championship held in Brazil three years ago.
Participating in the United States tournament guarantees each federation $2 million—the equivalent of the entire prize pool for the women’s national teams at the 2022 Copa América Femenina. Those who advance beyond the group stage—half of the 16 participants—will earn an additional $2 million. Besides the honor of becoming the new Copa América champion, the tournament winners will take home $16 million.
OFFICIAL BALL
Special official balls for major international tournaments are like the finest referees—they provide extra focus and contribute significantly to the atmosphere. For instance, the 2010 World Cup in South Africa will forever be associated with the Jabulani ball, which drew widespread criticism for its unpredictable trajectory. CONMEBOL’s modest addition to Copa América 2024 is the Puma Cumbre.
Named after the Spanish word for “summit,” this essential equipment is not overly flashy.
The white ball is adorned with jagged red and blue lines—one for each of the 16 participants—with a clear color scheme that reflects the flag of the United States.
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