Copa America 2024 features 16 South American football teams in a battle of wits, strength and fortitude, with the United States as hosts. The tournament will begin on the 20th of June 2024 at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Argentina, 2016 winners of the Copa America final, kicks off the 2024 season facing Canada or Trinidad and Tobago. 

Copa America is South America’s premier international men’s football tournament. CONMEBOL (Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol), the governing body for football in South America, arranges tournaments every four years, similar to the FIFA Football World Cup.

Besides being a prestigious football tournament, Copa America also unveils the drama and rivalry between teams, which adds to the game’s excitement.

Copa America Unveils Exciting Matches

In 2024, Argentina will renew its rivalry with Brazil, Uruguay and Colombia at Copa America. Copa America is a high-stakes game like online poker is to gambling enthusiasts. 

The 2023–24 Concacaf Nations League comprises 16 teams, 10 from Conmebol and six from Concacaf. Teams from the North America, Central America and the Caribbean confederations will qualify through the tournament. Absent from previous tournaments, Mexico is making a comeback in 2024 to Copa America.

Group Draws in Copa America

The Copa America Group Tables visually represent team standings within their respective groups. You can find the points earned, matches played, wins, draws, losses, goal differences, goals scored and conceded by teams. 

You can also plan your viewing schedule by reviewing the tables and following a round-robin format where every team faces off against one another.

Group A

Group A finds Argentina, Peru, and Chile going up against the winners of Canada vs Trinidad and Tobago match.

Group B

Group B has Jamaica, Ecuador, Venezuela and Mexico against one another.

Group C

It holds the United States, Uruguay, Panama and Bolivia. 

Group D

The last group consists of Brazil, Colombia and Paraguay versus the game winners between Costa Rica and Honduras.

Copa America’s Top 7 Teams

Copa America comprises the best South American football teams, featuring the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar and others. Each team and member showcasing their skills and talent makes Copa America a tournament for football enthusiasts.

The following Top 7 teams stand out as Copa America champions:

1. Argentina

Argentina claimed the title of Copa America champions 15 times, highlighting their solid footballing tradition. The teams’ skilful gameplay, tactical strength and pool of talented players have often propelled them to the tournament’s final stages. Lionel Messi, one of Argentina’s crucial players and a multiple winner of the football’s Golden Boot, may announce his retirement after Copa America 2024. It’ll be a sad loss to the football world if he does.

2. Brazil

Brazil has won Copa America nine times since the tournament started. The team relied on Neymar to take them to the finals in previous matches. However, after his injury, the team will need much more to take Brazil to the Copa America final in 2024.

Brazil has dominated Copa America since the 1990s with 1997, 1999, 2004 and 2007 wins. 

3. Uruguay

Having won Copa America 15 times, Uruguay is a strong contender for next year’s Cup. Like Argentina, Uruguay boasts legends like Edinson Cavani and Luis Suárez, instrumental in Uruguay’s success in Copa America. 

4. United States of America

The US is still new to football, having competed four times in Copa America. However, we’ll know their true mark as football champions when they face Uruguay in the group final. With young players this time around, one to watch out for is Christian Pulisic. There’s a chance America can advance further in the upcoming tournament. Plus, in 2016, they made it into the semi-finals and are one of the teams to watch in Copa America 2024.

5. Mexico

Mexico is making a come-back into the tournament next year. Although they haven’t won significant matches in Copa America, they remain a team to beat. Mexico will face Venezuela, Jamaica and Ecuador in their group stages and must bring their A-game if they want to advance in next year’s tournament.

6. Colombia

Since playing their first football match in 1975, Colombia made their first win at Copa America in 2001. The Colombian team places their opponents in defence mode; that’s how they succeed in most of their games. However, since 2001, they haven’t won any Copa America titles, so perhaps 2024 will be their year. They have a younger team now, with Luis Diaz, Jhon Duran and Yaser Asprilla aiding the team towards a win. 

7. Ecuador

Ecuador has competed in Copa America’s quarter-finals two out of three times. If they can avoid playing Argentina by finishing on top of their group stage, Ecuador could potentially advance further than their previous quarter-final stage.

Rivalries and Drama at Copa America

In many South American countries, football is more than just a game; it is a religion. For example, the intense rivalry between teams like Argentina and Brazil contributes to the game’s drama and excitement, which goes beyond the game.

The rivalry amongst teams goes back to the start of Copa Americas. In 1946, Brazil’s striker broke one of Argentina’s top players after beating Argentina in a match, resulting in a feud Argentina took into the Copa America. 

The rivalry extends to fans, too and not just to teams. In the past, fans have taken their rivalry in the streets and stadiums.

Another heating situation occurred in 1949 when Brazil smashed Paraguay in the final with a score line 7-0. Imagine that disaster and how furious the fans must have been. Just to get to the finals and get demolished.

If you think that’s drama, how about Paraguay reaching the finals without winning a single match in the tournament? They proceeded to reach the quarter and semi-finals on penalties!

Exploring the Thrills of Copa America

Copa America, with its thrilling matches, intense football drama, and the passion surrounding the tournament, captures the essence of South American football. It showcases the excitement, rivalries, and exhilarating moments that make Copa America a captivating spectacle for football enthusiasts worldwide.