While the European Championship is still underway, the Copa America 2024 will also kick off. All information about the South American Nations Championship at a glance
What is the Copa America?
Since 1916, when it was still known as the “Campeonato Sudamericano de Futbol”, the Copa America has been held in a continental tournament to determine the South American national soccer champion.
With the current 48th edition, the Copa America is aligning its rhythm with the European Championship and will be held every four years – in even years – in future. North and Central American teams have also been invited since 1993, and even the Japanese and Qatari national teams have taken part in the interim (1999 – 2019).
Where and when does the Copa America take place?
This year, the continental soccer tournament will take place in the USA. According to the rotation principle, Ecuador should actually have hosted the Copa 2024. According to the South American association CONMEBOL 2022, the country in the north-west of South America declined to host the tournament. In the end, the USA was presented as the future venue.
On the one hand, this was part of closer cooperation between CONMEBOL and the North and Central American and Caribbean Football Confederation, or CONCACAF for short. On the other hand, it enabled the host of the 2026 World Cup to play additional competitive matches in preparation for the upcoming major event.
The 48th edition of the Copa America kicks off on Friday, June 21 (2 a.m. CEST), with the opening match between reigning South American champions Argentina and Canada and ends on the same day as the European Championship, July 14 (CEST). A total of 14 stadiums will host matches over the three and a half weeks
What is the format of the Copa America?
For the second time since the special edition to mark the 100th anniversary of the Copa in 2016, the tournament will once again be played with 16 teams in a group stage and knockout round format. These are made up of all ten CONMEBOL national associations and six CONCACAF participants. The CONMEBOL representatives therefore did not have to go through qualification, while the CONCACAF participants did.
The group stage consists of four groups of four teams, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the final round. Including the final, a total of 32 matches will be played in this year’s edition.
What is the grouping?
The draw has resulted in the following groups:
Group A: Argentina, Peru, Chile, Canada
Group B: Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela, Jamaica
Group C: USA, Uruguay, Panama, Bolivia
Group D: Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Costa Rica
Which nations have the best chance of winning the title?
This year, the two national teams from Argentina and Brazil are once again traditionally the top favorites to win the Copa America. The two soccer powers are going into the tournament with the best individual squads. The Albiceleste around superstar Lionel Messi, who only has to play one game at the Copa to become the new sole record player, will start the tournament as the reigning South American and world champions.
In addition to the South American top dogs, Colombia, the USA and Uruguay can also count themselves among the extended title contenders. The Canadians should also be kept an eye on in their first Copa America participation. The North Americans, featuring Bayern star Alphonso Davies and ex-Leipzig coach Jesse Marsch, have been playing courageous soccer since the American took over in mid-May and were recently able to spoil the French team’s dress rehearsal for the European Championship (0-0). Click here for an overview of all title winners since 1916
Who broadcasts the Copa America?
The broadcasting rights for the Copa America in Germany have been secured live and exclusively by Sportdigital Fußball. But thanks to a cooperation, the first channel of the streaming provider and thus a large part of the matches of this year’s edition can also be received via the DAZN platform.
Which Bundesliga players could be missing from their clubs?
While the group stage of the Copa America is still underway on July 1, the first clubs in Germany are already starting this year’s preparations for the upcoming Bundesliga season. The last Bundesliga clubs will start training the day after the final (July 15). This means that some clubs are also threatened by absences in the summer – unlike in the winter with the Africa and Asian Cups, however, at least only during preparation. The following Bundesliga players have been nominated:
Argentina: Exequiel Palacios (Bayer 04 Leverkusen)
Ecuador: Piero Hincapie (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Willian Pacho (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Canada: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich)
USA: Giovanni Reyna (Borussia Dortmund), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
