America’s biggest soccer tournament will soon be coming to the United States.
The 48th Copa America will see the top talents from two continents compete for almost a month in 14 venues across the United States. Ten CONMEBOL teams from South America and six CONCACAF teams from North, Central America and the Caribbean will face off in the tournament last won by Argentina and Lionel Messi in 2021, this time returning to try again.
The United States, with its many world-class stadiums, will host the Copa America for the second time after the Centenario tournament in 2016. Argentina also reached the final in suburban New Jersey, but lost to Alexis Sánchez and Chile in a penalty shootout.
Before the first ball is kicked, here’s how, where and what to see at American football this summer:
What does the Copa America schedule look like?
The opening match is on June 20 in Atlanta, with Argentina facing Canada. The group stage will see 16 teams play two matches almost every day until July 2. The quarterfinals will be held in Houston, Arlington, Texas, Las Vegas and Glendale, Arizona, on July 4-6. The semifinals will be in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and Charlotte, North Carolina, on July 10, and the final will be in sweltering Miami Gardens on July 14.
How can you watch the Copa America?
Fox Sports will distribute the English broadcast on four networks: FOX, Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, and Fubo. Most of the opening and knockout matches will be broadcast on FS1, while the final will be broadcast on FOX. All 32 matches will also be broadcast in Spanish on TUDN, Univision, and UniMás.
Who are the Copa America betting favorites?
According to BetMGM Sportsbook, Argentina is the favorite to defend its title at +175. Brazil is close behind at +225, and Uruguay is the third choice at +500. The bookmaker doesn’t rate the remaining teams highly. Mexico and the USA sit in fourth place at +1200, as well as surprise winners Colombia, who are unbeaten in 22 games since February 2022 before the final match. Game of the Month.
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Messi will be looking to add another big trophy to his overflowing title collection, but his Argentina national team is loaded with talent from Europe’s biggest clubs, including Inter’s Lautaro Martinez and Manchester City’s Julián Alvarez. But La Albiceleste will face a stiff challenge from an opponent boasting world-class stars.
Vinicius Junior and Rodrigo have just won the Champions League with Real Madrid and will now lead a strong Brazilian team. Messi’s Inter Miami teammate, 37-year-old Luis Suarez, is back in Uruguay, playing alongside Real’s Federico Valverde and Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez.
Not a single star shining in America: Brazil star Neymar hasn’t played since October because of a knee injury.
Conmebol Hegemony
In theory, this is not the year that a CONCACAF team will win the Copa America for the first time. But that will not stop Mexico, the United States, Canada, Jamaica, Costa Rica and Panama from trying to make history.
Mexico has a strong squad, but none that can match the talent pool of South America’s top teams. The same goes for the Americans, who with a forward group that includes AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic, Norwich’s Josh Sargent and Monaco’s Folarin Balogun, will be hoping to build on their home-field momentum and make a splash in the tournament.
North American teams weren’t invited to the Copa America until the 1990s, and Mexico came the closest to winning it of any team outside of South America, finishing second.
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