The champion of Argentina was placed this Thursday in group A of the 2024 Copa América with Perú, Chile and one between Canada and Trinidad and Tobago, while Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay and one between Costa Rica and Honduras make up group D, a priori the most difficult, according to the draw held in Miami.
The most equal group on paper is group B, with Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela and Jamaica, while the United States, the host country, is seeded in group C, with Uruguay, Panama and Bolivia.
The 2024 Copa América begins on June 20 in Atlanta and ends on July 14 in Miami, with 16 teams at stake and world champion Argentina, led by Leo Messi, defending the title won in 2021.
It was precisely the Argentine coach, Lionel Scaloni, who brought the Copa América to the stage of the James L. Knight Center in Miami.
He did this before important personalities from the world of football such as the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, of CONMEBOL, Alejandro Domínguez, and of Concacaf, Víctor Montagliani.
The Brazilian Ronaldinho, the Paraguayan Roque Santa Cruz, the Mexican Jorge Campos and the Argentine Javier Zanetti used innocent hands.
Uruguay, placed in the second pot, is potentially the team that could create a ‘group’ of death, but ultimately the draw determines the globally balanced league.
The most difficult group is group D, where Brazil is seeded and will face Colombia, third in 2021, Paraguay and the winner of the match between Costa Rica and Honduras, two teams that are always difficult to face.
“It was complicated,” Roque Santa Cruz admitted with a smile.
Group A provided high-voltage crosses, with Argentina the favorites for first place and a clash between teams divided by deep rivalries such as Peru, fourth in 2021, and Chile.
The United States, the host and a team in great growth with its sights set on the 2026 World Cup, where it will also play ‘at home’, began to fight determinedly for first place in Uruguay and in Panama and Bolivia was called to surprise.
There is no doubt that group B is the most equal, where Mexico with the stripes of the Gold Cup champion challenges hungry teams like Ecuador, who have never won the Copa América, or Venezuela, in a sweet that moment and throughout the struggle to qualify for the World Cup. Jamaica, with leaders like Michail Antonio, also have options going forward.
The top two teams in each group will advance to the quarterfinals, which will be played in single matches, as well as the semifinals and the finals in Miami.
The 48th edition of this competition will bring together 16 national teams for the second time in its history, as happened in 2016, when the United States also hosted the continental cup commemorating the centenary of the oldest national world team competition.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
