Highlights
The USA will host the 2024 Copa America, showcasing their potential against top South American teams like Brazil and Uruguay.
Gregg Berhalter’s side will face off against Bolivia, Panama and Uruguay in the group stages of the tournament.
Lionel Messi and Argentina could stop the hosts clinching the title at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
The United States of America will host the Copa America in the summer of 2024, aiming to start its journey to becoming one of the world’s best footballing sides. The USA also hosts the 2026 World Cup – and the South American equivalent of Euro 2024 provides a perfect opportunity for the nation to see how they can compete against a glittering array of opponents including Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
The USA is not part of South America, instead sitting in the Northern Hemisphere, but they received an invitation to host the tournament after Ecuador withdrew themselves from consideration. It’s not the first time the country has played in the Copa America either, with previous adventures in 1993, 1995, 2007 and 2016. Teams are invited to help fill up the numbers in the tournament, whilst the USA will be aiming to reach the latter stages of the tournament after a promising 2022 World Cup in Qatar with an exciting squad.
This article now explores the USA’s potential route to the final at the Hard Rock Stadium. They’re set to play the continent’s best teams, but Gregg Berhalter’s side will be confident they can inspire the nation on home soil.
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Group Stages
Bolivia, Panama, Uruguay
It’s important to bear in mind that the USA are ranked 11th in the world according to FIFA’s rankings, so – on paper – they should qualify from this group. They start their campaign against Bolivia on 23rd July at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The USA sit 72 places higher than the South American country. Bolivia have very few well-known players, most of whom play in the nation’s top flight – which sits comfortably outside the top 30 leagues in world football – for one of Bolivar or the excellently named Always Ready. Bolivia shouldn’t be able to match the intensity of USA’s squad, which includes star figures such as AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic.
USA then face Panama on 27th June at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The spectacular venue will be one of the stadiums used at the 2026 World Cup, but the USA will be hoping their individuals outshine the infrastructure. The two countries have played each other 26 times – and the USA have won 18 of those matches. Yet it is still clear Panama can still spring a surprise.
Panama beat USA 1-0 during the qualification stages of the 2022 World Cup in October 2021, highlighting their ability. Meanwhile, in their most recent match, Panama beat the USA 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the 2023 Gold Cup semi-finals. If that doesn’t concern the USA going into the Copa America, nothing will.
Finally, the USA will finish their group stage campaign by hosting Uruguay at the Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on 1st July 2024. On paper, the USA will go into this match as slight favourites after climbing above the South American side in the FIFA rankings. But Uruguay’s wealth of talent – he likes of Darwin Nunez, Rodrigo Bentancur and Ronald Araujo – under the inscrutable gaze of manager Marcelo Bielsa, ensures this will likely be the USA’s toughest match yet. If they go into the contest needing a win to qualify, there is a strong chance they will come away disappointed. However, if both teams are already qualified, the match to see who finishes top could be entertaining.
Key Information
Fixture
Date
Stadium
Opponent’s World Ranking
USA vs Bolivia
23rd June 2024
AT&T Stadium (Arlington)
83rd
Panama vs USA
27th June 2024
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
45th
USA vs Uruguay
1st July 2024
Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City)
16th
Quarter-Finals
Brazil or Colombia
If the USA do progress into the knockout stages of the Copa America, they will face a team from Group D, which consists of Brazil, Colombia and Paraguay. If Berhalter’s side finish top of the group, they will be pitted in the quarter-final against Group D’s runners-up, which could well be Colombia. The South American side are often one of the most frustrating teams in the world, capable of stunning the greatest countries but also disappointing when expected to win. Boasting Liverpool’s Luis Diaz, one of the Premier League’s best wingers, as part of their squad, they can not be underestimated. Colombia are currently ranked six positions lower than the USA, making a potential match-up between the two sides on 6th July incredibly entertaining. The whole of the Americas would be watching.
Meanwhile, if the USA finished second in their group, likely behind Uruguay, they would probably face Brazil. It’s a daunting prospect for any country, let alone one hosting the tournament in front of the entire world. Brazil have won the Copa America nine times, most recently in 2019, and they are capable of producing some of the best football in the world. A potential clash between the USA and Brazil on 6th July would be exciting for everyone watching around the world.
Possible Routes
Scenario
Likely Opponent
World Ranking
Date
Stadium
Win Group into QF3
Colombia
17th
6th July
Allegiant Stadium (Paradise)
Runners up of group into QF4
Brazil
3rd
State Farm Stadium (Glendale)
Semi-Finals
Brazil or Uruguay
The USA have reached the Copa America semi-finals on two occasions. The first time, in 1995, saw them lose 1-0 to Brazil at the Maldonado in Uruguay. They went on to lose the third-placed playoff as well. The second time, in 2016, saw them thrashed 4-0 by Argentina in Houston.
A third trip to the Copa America semi-finals in 2024 would represent a huge success for the USA, yet they will likely come up against Brazil or Uruguay. The Copa America works in a unique way in the fact that Group C and D can’t meet teams from Group A or B until the final. Therefore, the USA could very well be pitted against a team in the semi-finals which they have already played earlier in the competition.
The fixture will depend on whether they qualify from the group stages in first or second, but there is a clear path to the final for the USA if they can overcome the giants of South American football. Brazil would represent a monumental challenge, particularly if Ballon d’Or favourite Vinicius Junior can replicate the form he has shown while winning La Liga and the Champions League with Real Madrid this year. A repeat of the USA vs Uruguay would be chaotic, considering the managers would already know how to play against one another.
Routes
Scenario
Likely Opponent
World Ranking
Date
Stadium
If they go through QF3
Brazil
3rd
July 10th
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte)
If they go through QF4
Uruguay
16th
3:23
Final
Potentially facing World Cup winners Argentina
The Copa America final is one of the biggest matches in world football. People from South America look forward to the fixture as soon as the last one ends – and the final in 2024 could be one of the best yet. If the USA do reach the final, they will likely face world champions Argentina.
Captained by Lionel Messi, who is already playing in America for his club Inter Miami, they are the best team in the world, as showcased by their world ranking. They won the Copa America in 2021, ending Messi’s wait for an international trophy. The 2022 World Cup then saw them beat France on penalties after a 3-3 draw in Qatar. It was widely seen as one of the most intense international matches of all time – and that will only send fear into the USA if they reach that far.
The two sides have met each other 10 times throughout their history. Argentina have won six of those matches, with the USA winning two alongside a pair of draws. Their last encounter came in 2016 when Messi’s team beat the USA 4-0 to reach the Copa America final.
It is also worth noting that if the USA lose their semi-final, they will still have one more match – the third-placed playoff. In 2024, it is likely to be against Mexico, Peru or Chile, all of whom are capable of upsetting the odds against the best teams in the world. The third-placed playoff is set to take place a day before the final – and, considering the USA have never won a Copa America medal, they will take it seriously even if they are disappointed about failing to reach the showpiece fixture.
Likely Opponent
Team
World Ranking
Date
Stadium
Argentina
1st
July 14th
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
World Rankings via FIFA. Correct as of 5th June 2024.
Source link : https://www.givemesport.com/copa-america-usa-road-to-the-final/
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Publish date : 2024-06-05 06:00:00
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