Copa America 2024 – All you need to know about the tournament
The Copa America 2024 is set to be one of the most exciting tournaments in recent memory. As the oldest international continental football competition, Copa America holds a special place in the hearts of football fans worldwide.
The 48th edition of this prestigious tournament will bring together the best teams from South America, and for the first time, North America, to compete for the coveted trophy. In this guide, we’ll go through everything you need to know about Copa America 2024.
The Schedule of Copa America 2024
Copa America 2024 had the first kick-off on June 20th and will conclude with the final on July 14th. The tournament features a total of 16 teams divided into four groups of four. The group stage matches will run from June 20th to June 30th, followed by the quarterfinals on July 3rd and 4th.
The semifinals are scheduled for July 7th, and the grand finale will take place on July 14th. The matches will be hosted across various cities in the United States, offering fans a chance to witness top-tier football action in world-class stadiums.
About The Tournament
Copa America 2024 is a significant change in the tournament’s format. Traditionally only South American teams have featured in the tournament, whereas the 2024 edition will include guest teams from North America.
The tournament will retain its knockout format following the group stage, ensuring high-stakes matches throughout the tournament.
Previous Winners
Copa America has a rich history of champions, with Uruguay and Argentina leading the title count. Here is a list of the winners from the past few editions:
- 2021: Argentina 1-0 (vs Brazil)
- 2019: Brazil 3-1 (vs Peru)
- 2016: Chile 4-2p (vs Argentina)
- 2015: Chile 4-1p (vs Argentina)
- 2011: Uruguay 3-0 (vs Paraguay)
- 2007: Brazil 3-0 (vs Argentina)
- 2004: Brazil 4-2p (vs Argentina)
Most titles
As Copa America has been a somewhat closed-off tournament available only to some of the South American football teams – it’s quite common to see the same teams far into the tournament and the finals. This will change this year with the addition of the Central and North American teams. As for now, the standing is as follows:
- Argentina – 15 titles (29 finals)
- Uruguay – 15 titles (21 finals)
- Brazil – 9 titles (20 finals)
- Paraguay – 2 titles (8 finals)
- Chile – 2 titles (6 finals)
Canada’s Chances to Win
The Canadian squad, led by speedy stars like Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David, has shown significant improvement and potential leading into this year’s tournament. Their participation in the tournament will provide a platform to test their mettle against some of the best teams in the world.
As both players are used to playing with the best, it’s going to depend a bit on the rest of the Canadian team to support their top players and give them the chances they need to succeed.
While winning the tournament may be a challenging feat, Canada’s chances of making a deep run cannot be overlooked, especially given their current form and talent pool.
Favorites to Win Copa America 2024
As always, traditional powerhouses like Brazil and Argentina are favorites to win Copa America 2024. Brazil, with its depth of talent and attacking prowess, and Argentina, the defending champions with Lionel Messi likely playing in his last Copa America, are expected to dominate.
However, teams like Uruguay, with their rich football history, and Colombia, with their strong squad, also stand as strong contenders. The inclusion of North American teams adds an extra layer of unpredictability, making this edition particularly intriguing.
Best Betting Odds
The betting odds for Copa America 2024 will heavily favor the traditional South American giants. As of now, Brazil and Argentina are leading the odds charts, followed by Uruguay and Colombia – in some cases Canada and the US.
Dark horses like Canada and Mexico might offer attractive odds for bettors looking for high-risk, high-reward options, and it’s essential to stay updated with the latest odds as the tournament approaches and progresses, as injuries and team form can significantly influence the betting outcome.
Conclusion
Copa America 2024 promises to be a thrilling spectacle of football, bringing together diverse teams from across the Americas. With a mix of seasoned champions and rising stars, the tournament is set to deliver unforgettable moments and high-quality football.
For the first time ever, we see the Copa America mixing in both Central and Northern American teams to the tournament – something that will help the tournament both grow and reach out to a whole new set of fans – which up until now have had pretty much only South-american followers.
