The Copa America has been running since 1916 and is the oldest running international tournament.
This is the 48th edition, which will be hosted in the USA and only the second time the compitition will be this size with four groups of four teams.
Six teams outside of South America have been invited to compete. The competition starts on June 20th, with the final on July 14th.
Below are my preview and predictions, including how I thnk the groups will finish and the knockout stages. Fifa rankings are in brackets.
GROUP A
ARGENTINA (1)
CHILE (42)
CANADA (49)
PERU (32)
Argentina are the holders and almost everyone’s favourite to win it back-to-back after a 20-year baron spell. They are the joint most successful nation with 15 wins and with the likes of Messi, looking for one last hooray. Di Maria. L.Martinez. Alvarez. Mac Allister. Fernandez. De Paul, Romero, Tagliafico & E.Martinez. I can’t see anyone stopping them.
Chile’s been to at least the QF’s in the last five tournaments and were back-to-back winners in 2015 & 2016, then fourth in 2019. But, are at the end of the golden era who reached the World Cup last 16 in 2010 & 2014. At this tournament, they will look to captain and GK Bravo. DF, Isla & Diaz. MF, Valdez & Nunez with Sanchez & Vargas up front.
Canada are making their Copa America debut, and if they keep key players fit, they could surprise. Although they lost all three games in the last World Cup, they still impressed, and that experience will help them in this tournament. However, they will need their captain & MF/DF Davies, Also, Eustaquio, DF, Bombito, GK, Crepeau. with David & Laring up top.
Peru will be determined to avoid finishing bottom, and although they last won it in 1975, in their last five appearances they came third, third, QF’s, runner up & fourth. So, will look to keep up that decent run. They will look to captain & FW, Guerrero, along with Lapadula. MF, Pena & Advincula. DF, Araujo & Lopez with Gallese in goal.
GROUP B
MEXICO (14)
ECUADOR (31)
JAMAICA (55)
VENEZUELA (54)
Mexico are the only non-South American team to reach a Copa America final, and they did it twice in 1993 & 2001. In ten appearances, they’ve reached the QFs five times. Their last appearance was in 2016, which was a 7-0 QF loss to Chile, the eventual winners. The key men are captain & MF, Alvarez. DF, Montes & Sanchez. Also, Gimenez & Quinones upfront.
Ecuador are only one of two South American teams never to win the Copa America. Their best is fourth in 1959 & 1993, which was the last time they made it past the QF’s. However, they have a good group draw and will look to captain & FW, Valencia. MF, Caicedo, Franco & Sarmiento. With DF, Hincapie & Preciado to help get out of the group.
Jamaica are making their third appearance after 2015 & 2016, where both times they lost all three group games and failed to score in all six. They are also fortunate with this group draw with aspirations of breaking their duck. Key men will be captain & GK Blake. DF, Bell & Lowe. MF, Decordova-Reid. With Bailey, Antonio & Gray up top.
Venezuela are one of the two South American teams never to win the Copa America. Their best was fourth in 2011, and the only time they made it past the QFs. Like everyone in this group, they are very fortunate with this draw and will look to captain & MF, Rincon, fellow MF, Machis & Soteldo. Rondon up front with DF Osorio & Ferraresi.
GROUP C
URUGUAY (15)
UNITED STATES (11)
BOLIVIA (85)
PANAMA (45)
Uruguay are the joint most successful nation with 15 wins, but their last win came in 2011 and have not been past the QFs in the four tournaments since. However, I believe this squad possesses their best opportunity since 2011, with captain & DF Gimenez, fellow DF Araujo. MF Valverde, Bentancur & de la Cruz. With FW Nunez & Suarez.
The hosts, USA, are playing in their fifth Copa America, their record is GS, 4th, GS, 4th, and I will be surprised if that sequence continues. They expect to get out of the group at least, but it will be good competition away from dominating Central America. Key men are captain Pulisic, fellow FW, Pepi, Balogun & Weah. DF Robinson, Ream & Richards. MF McKennie, Adams & Musah.
Bolivia’s one tournament win came in 1963. However, they were runners-up more recently in 1997, but since, have only been out of the group stages once, in 2015, and that was also the only time they won a game since 1997. They will look to captain & DF Haquin also, Segredo. MF, Ramallo and Terceros, with FW, Algaranaz & Miranda.
Panama are making only their second Copa America appearance, following 2016 when they failed to get out of the group. They were Gold Cup runners-up in 2023 and made it to the Nations League finals in the last two years. Their key men are the captain & MF, Godoy, with fellow MF Barcanes. DF, Davis & Murillo. With FW, Fajardo & Diaz.
GROUP D
BRAZIL (5)
COLOMBIA (12)
PARAGUAY (56)
COSTA RICA (52)
Brazil are nine times Copa America winners, with five in the last 11 tournaments. They were runners-up last time and have been to the previous two finals. Many say this is their worst squad for decades, so they have something to prove. Key men are captain & DF Danilo, fellow DF, Marquinhos & Militao. MF, Paqueta & Guimaraes, with FW, Vinicius Jr, Rodrigo and 17-year-old Endrick.
Colombia’s sole Copa America triumph was in 2001. Since, they had one fourth-place and two third-places, one in 2016, and the last tournament in 2021. They have a decent squad and fancy themselves to top the group and beyond. They will look to captain Rodriguez, fellow MF, Uribe & Quintero. DF, Sanchez & Mina. GK, Ospina and FW, Diaz, Borja & Sinisterra.
Paraguay are two-time Copa America champions, but their last victory was in 1979. Since, They were runners-up in 2011, fourth in 1989 & 2015. They do not have a recent good tournament record and are in somewhat of a transition. The key men are the captain & DF, Gomez, fellow DF, Balbuena. MF, Almiron & Villasanti. With FW, Gonzalez Romero & Enciso.
Costa Rica are playing in their sixth Copa America, their last was in 2016. They have made it out the group stages twice in 2001 & 2004. However, they are in a good space and have qualified for the last three World Cup finals. They will look to captain and DF, Calvo, fellow DF, Cascante. MF, Lassiter & Galo. With FW Campbell, Contreras & Ugalde.
