Twelve selections. Thirty-two games. An objective. The 48th edition of the Copa América gets underway this Thursday with the inaugural match between the Argentine National Team, defending champion, and Canada. The curtain on the tournament opens at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The first phase of the competition will take place from June 20 to July 2. There the eight qualifiers for the quarterfinals will be defined, which will be played between July 4 and 7. The semifinals of the tournament will be on July 9 and 10 while the final will be on July 14. Unlike the Euro Cup, in the Copa América there is a match for third and fourth place and it will be on July 13.
As is usual in each Copa América, there are three teams that always arrive as favorites for the title. Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay are almost always one step above the other national teams and this time is no exception.
Argentina arrives as defender of the title and at the same time as current world champion. It maintains the basis of the team that was crowned at the Maracaná in 2021 and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. As a plus, it will surely be the last Copa América for Lionel Messi and Ángel Di María and they will want to say goodbye in the best way.
Brazil does not have a great present compared to other years, but nevertheless it is always a fearsome team with very high-level players. Despite the absence of Neymar, their top figure, the Canarinha has Rodrygo and Vinicius up front, recent Champions League champions with Real Madrid. La Verdeamarela wants revenge for the final lost in 2021 at the Maracaná against Argentina.
For its part, Uruguay seems to arrive in better shape than in recent editions. Those led by Marcelo Bielsa defeated Brazil and Argentina in the Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and are excited about lifting the title again like in 2011.
The last champion of the tournament and current world champion, will be the host of the opening party of the Cup to be held in the United States. The match will be against Canada, on June 20 at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta with capacity for 71,000 spectators.
After that match, the national team will face Chile on June 25 at the MetLife in New Jersey and will close the qualifying phase against Peru at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on June 29. The MetLife can accommodate 82 thousand people while the Florida campus can accommodate 75,200
If Argentina manages to pass the qualifying phase, either as first or second in the group, its destination would be Texas where there will be two stadiums available for the Copa América, one in Houston (72,200 spectators) and one in Arlington (80,000). The quarterfinal match would be played on July 4 or 5, depending on the classification.
If they advance and finish in the top 4, Argentina would return to New Jersey for the semifinal on July 9.
The final of the competition will be in Miami. The stadium chosen by Conmebol is the Hard Rock Stadium with capacity for 75,540 spectators.
