Lionel Messi has the opportunity to retain Argentina’s Copa America title in his own backyard — kind of — with the final taking place in Miami, near where he plays his club football.
The venue will look a little different to Argentina’s talisman and captain though, with the showpiece match being played at Hard Rock Stadium, home of the NFL team Miami Dolphins.
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Argentina are the favorites to win the competition, closely followed by Brazil, despite Neymar being injured and their coach having yet to be in charge for a game.
After Brazil, it will be Uruguay, USMNT, Colombia and Mexico hoping to spring a surprise or two during the tournament, which kicks off on June 20.
With 99 days to go until the Copa starts, our experts run the rule over the six favorites to win the competition and how their preparations are going…
Argentina
What’s going well?
Argentina are the reigning World Cup champions and holders of the Copa America. The Albiceleste are FIFA’s top-ranked national team, and their captain, Lionel Messi, is an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. On paper, things are going very well for Argentina.
What’s not going well?
Despite their recent success, Argentina are teetering on the brink of some major changes. Manager Lionel Scaloni has not given any guarantees that he’ll continue as Argentina manager beyond the tournament. That instability will either motivate or sink the defending champions.
Who is the young player who could make it?
Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho is among a handful of young Argentine players who are considered the future of the senior national team. The 19-year-old, along with Brighton’s Valentin Barco, was a surprise inclusion for Argentina’s March friendlies against Costa Rica and El Salvador. With Argentina’s Under-23 squad set to compete in the Paris Olympics, Scaloni won’t have too many spots available for that pool of players. Garnacho has three senior national team caps and could break out internationally this summer.
Who is the star who might not?
By June, United defender Lisandro Martinez should have recovered from the knee injury he suffered against West Ham on February 4. Whether or not Martinez will be match-fit is more difficult to predict. At 26, Martinez has made just 16 appearances for Argentina — and injuries are a big reason why. Yet, Scaloni included Martinez in Argentina’s squad for two March friendlies, a sign of how much the defender is valued within the group.
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How is the nation feeling about their chances?
The national team are no longer being battered by the press or the fans. They are treated as respected footballers — and like rock stars on social media. Scaloni’s decisions, both tactically and squad-based, are nearly unquestionable. After decades of disappointment, Argentina are on top of the world again and its supporters believe there are more trophies to come.
Another storyline to watch out for…
Confidence is high in Argentina but there’s no denying that the end of an era is near. Angel Di Maria has said that he’ll retire from international football after the Copa America. Several players could follow suit, including Messi, who will turn 37 during the competition. He too could also end his national team career in 2024. Winds of change…
Felipe Cardenas
Brazil
What’s going well?
Not a great deal, really. Casemiro’s return to fitness? The impressive form of Gabriel at Arsenal? Vinicius Junior’s existence? I’m supposed to write 50 words here but I have already run out of material.
What’s not going well?
Most of Brazil’s key players are either injured or woefully out of sorts. The full-backs are uninspiring. The manager, Dorival Junior, has precisely zero international games under his belt. Results and performances have been appalling since the World Cup. A year of experimentation has posed more questions than it has answered. And somewhere, in some wood-panelled room deep inside the headquarters of the Brazilian football federation, some poor, misguided sop is still gazing lovingly at a dog-eared photo of Carlo Ancelotti.
Who is the young player who could make it?
A lot of attention will be on Endrick, Brazil’s latest hope. Still just 17, he is already approaching superstar status in his homeland, thanks to some exciting performances for Palmeiras and, of course, the fact that he will join Real Madrid after the tournament. That deal was arranged well over a year ago and the hype machine has been revving ever since. He will most likely start the Copa America as an impact sub, but you wouldn’t bet against him playing his way into contention for a starting place.
Who is the star who might not?
Things aren’t looking good for Neymar. Brazil’s all-time top scorer suffered a serious knee injury in October and is not in the squad for the upcoming friendlies against England and Spain. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that he recovers in time for the Copa America, but Dorival will presumably be planning for life without him.
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How are the nation feeling about their chances?
Brazilians tend to veer between extremes of optimism and pessimism when it comes to the Selecao — and we’re very much in the latter camp in 2024. After all the faff with Fernando Diniz — appointed to set things up for Ancelotti (!) and then unceremoniously binned in January — the consensus is that it would take something akin to a miracle for everything to come together in the U.S.
Another storyline to watch out for…
Real Madrid have recently provided the spine of the Brazil team — Eder Militao, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, and previously Casemiro — but another Spanish club could now breathe fresh life into the squad. Right-back Yan Couto and electric winger Savio have been called up after impressing for Girona, and might even be late bolters for the starting XI.
Jack Lang
Uruguay
What’s going well?
They were deeply underwhelming at the 2022 World Cup but Marcelo Bielsa has livened things up with his trademark brand of outsider artistry. Uruguay have won six of their eight games under ‘El Loco’, including back-to-back victories over Brazil and Argentina before Christmas. The football — daring, energetic — is good and the vibes are even better.
What’s not going well?
The failure to qualify for the under-23 Olympic tournament — La Celeste came up short in the qualifying round at the start of the year — doesn’t look like a big deal on paper, but it was actually a real blow. The Olympics hold a special place in Uruguayan hearts and Bielsa, who took charge of the side himself, must hope that the sense of disappointment does not bleed into the senior set-up. Beyond that, there are concerns over defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte, who has tumbled down the pecking order at Paris Saint-Germain.
Who is the young player who could make it?
Uruguay won the Under-20 World Cup last year and a few players from that side should be on the plane to the U.S. in June. Sebastian Boselli looks like the next great Uruguayan centre-back — albeit an unlikely starter given he shares a position with Ronald Araujo and Jose Maria Gimenez — while the sparky Luciano Rodriguez could be a useful impact sub in attack. Then there is Fabricio Diaz, a classy central midfielder who supposedly rejected Barcelona before joining Qatari side Al Gharafa last year.
Who is the star who might not?
Edinson Cavani has already been decommissioned and the post-Luis-Suarez era is also approaching. The veteran striker hasn’t started a Uruguay game since the World Cup and there appears to be no obvious place for him in Bielsa’s system. If he sneaks into the squad, it will be as a wildcard rather than a key player.
How are the nation feeling about their chances?
Pretty positive, overall. Uruguay may not have the kind of star power they once did, but they have a balanced squad and a manager capable of the sublime. The feeling is that Bielsa is the right man to harness the obvious potential of the youngsters coming through, even if this Copa America might come fractionally too early for a few of them.
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Another storyline to watch out for…
It will be fascinating to see the Darwin Nunez Roadshow screech onto the big-tournament stage. The 24-year-old had a modest start to his international career, netting three times in his first 18 caps, but his form has really picked up under Bielsa: he has now scored five in the last four, including goals against Brazil and Argentina.
Beautiful chaos awaits at the Copa America.
Jack Lang
USMNT
What’s going well?
The U.S. felt as if they made significant progress at the 2022 World Cup for the way they approached games against England and Holland, particularly. They are seeking a third consecutive CONCACAF Nations League title this month and continue to be the top team in the region, but the Copa America is really the measuring stick for this U.S. team. No other results will impact the discussion around this team more.
What’s not going well?
A 3-1 loss to Germany in October of 2023 is maybe the best example of the transition process that’s ongoing with this U.S. team as they try to grow out of the last cycle and grow into 2026. The U.S. is still searching for its top striker and needs to develop a stronger attacking identity. The U.S. scored three goals against Uzbekistan, four against Oman and four against Ghana, but the issues in the last cycle came against better-organized opponents and the U.S. needs to show progress in the upcoming months against the likes of Colombia, Brazil and Uruguay.
Who is the young player who could make it?
Kevin Paredes. The 20-year-old left wingback at Bundesliga side Wolfsburg could benefit from his versatility to find a real role with this U.S. team. Paredes has played as a left winger with the U.S. in two friendlies, but coach Gregg Berhalter said when he first saw Paredes early in his career he thought of him as “the left back of the future, a guy that can really step into that role.” With a 23-man roster for the Copa America, Paredes’ ability to step into the line-up in either role gives him a good chance not just to make the squad but play a consistent role off the bench.
Who is the star who might not?
Brenden Aaronson. With a smaller roster size and Aaronson’s less-than-ideal club situation on loan at Union Berlin, Aaronson could be the odd man out of Berhalter’s forward and midfield options. Should Berhalter opt to just bring two strikers and an extra winger, Aaronson likely sneaks in, but it’s a tough debate to say Aaronson brings more value right now to the U.S. squad than Ricardo Pepi, Folarin Balogun and Josh Sargent.
How is the nation feeling about their chances?
The U.S. fans are insanely optimistic and insecure, all at once. Fans feel it will be a failure if USMNT falls short of the semifinals or finals. At the same time, it feels like they are reacting to an early exit before it happens. From a zoomed-out perspective, the U.S. has never been more hopeful about a national team in its history. There is real belief this team can be different.
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Another storyline to watch out for…
Berhalter’s job status. He is already facing questions as to whether his job hinges on the Copa America performance. What is considered the level of success for Berhalter to retain his job? What is considered a success for a team that got to the first knockout stage of the 2022 World Cup before being bounced by the Netherlands? The U.S. got to the semifinals in the Copa America Centenario — is that the bar, even if they end up facing Brazil in the first knockout stages? These questions will swirl around the team until the end of the Copa.
Paul Tenorio
Mexico
What’s going well?
Mexico are the reigning CONCACAF Gold Cup champions. After crashing out at the World Cup group stage in Qatar, winning the Gold Cup is a small step towards regaining their place as a regional heavyweight.
What’s not going well?
The fallout from Mexico’s painful performance in Qatar still lingers. Critics argue the team needs fresh legs, but Mexico isn’t producing enough high-caliber players to replace the national team’s old guard. Mexico failed to qualify for both the men’s Under-20 World Cup (played last summer) and the upcoming Paris Olympics. That overarching problem is evident by the fact that there are only a handful of Mexicans playing in Europe.
Who is the young player who could make it?
The former Arsenal youth product Marcelo Flores has moved to Mexico to join Tigres after a very brief loan stint at Real Oviedo in Spain. Flores still isn’t a Liga MX star, but the 20-year-old winger is an important player for the senior national team’s future. He was left out of the World Cup squad in 2022, so the Copa America could be an opportunity for Flores to make his mark at international level.
Who is the star who might not?
Other than Santiago Gimenez, who plays for Eredivisie side Feyenoord, Mexico really lacks true star power. That means that manager Jaime Lozano doesn’t have the luxury of being too picky with his squad. But he may have the same issue that his predecessor Gerardo Martino had regarding striker Raul Jimenez, now with Fulham. Martino took the former Wolverhampton No 9 to the World Cup, despite his continued inconsistencies. Jimenez, 32, remains a fitness liability.
How are the nation feeling about their chances?
For now, the highly critical Mexican press and the die-hard supporters are behind Lozano. The 45-year-old is a former Mexico national team player who led Mexico’s under-23s to the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. The Copa America will be Lozano’s biggest test as a manager and, in Mexico, his inexperience as an international coach has clouded the team’s expectations.
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Another storyline to watch out for…
Can Lozano make the necessary in-game adjustments to boost Mexico’s chances this summer? Pundits in Mexico are giving Lozano the benefit of the doubt, but his inexperience is how they’ve poked holes in his brief tenure. The narrative will continue to shift in Lozano’s favor, if he can prove that he’s as tactically adept as he appears.
Felipe Cardenas
Colombia
What’s going well?
Colombia are the only undefeated team in CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup qualifying tournament. That’s good news, but missing out on the 2022 World Cup with a team that was more than capable of qualifying still stings. Still, Colombia has always been able to produce one or two elite players that move the needle. Former global stars Radamel Falcao and James Rodriguez have been succeeded by Luis Diaz. The 27-year-old Liverpool attacker is Colombia’s new bonafide star and he’s always worth watching.
What’s not going well?
Failing to qualify for the World Cup has opened up old wounds in Colombia. The men’s youth sides continue to underwhelm, which doesn’t bode well for the future of Colombian football. A reliance on one or two players has always been Colombia’s Achilles heel. That burden has already been lumped onto Diaz.
Who is the young player who could make it?
Watford’s Yaser Asprilla is a star in the making. The 20-year-old playmaker had no problem settling into European football. Have you seen his goals for Watford? Asprilla is a confident young player with an excellent left foot. He made his senior national team debut in 2022, and even with two brief cameos (he has three caps overall), Asprilla looked like he could become Colombia’s next great No 10. The Copa America feels like the right moment for Asprilla to show the world how good he can be.
Who is the star who might not?
At 38, it’s increasingly more difficult for Falcao to have a legitimate role with the Colombian national team. But Falcao is highly respected inside the Colombia dressing room and among the new coaching staff. Manager Nestor Lorenzo has plenty of strikers to choose from, which leaves little room for Falcao, currently a role player for Rayo Vallecano in Spain.
How are the nation feeling about their chances?
Colombia has not been able to shake their reputation for being a national team that is talented but can’t deliver in major tournaments. The Cafeteros took third at the last Copa America, even taking Argentina to penalties in the semifinals. That third-place finish has now raised expectations for this group of players in 2024. The individual skill is there for Colombia to have a memorable tournament, but collectively, the jury is still out.
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Another storyline to watch out for…
Can James Rodriguez, 32, turn back the clock and deliver one or more star performances? After winning the Golden Boot at the 2014 World Cup, Rodriguez has gone from national hero to polarizing underachiever in Colombia. Rodriguez, now with Sao Paulo, will captain Colombia this summer, but while the playmaker’s left foot can still win a game, his fitness issues have made him far too unreliable.
Felipe Cardenas
(Photos: Getty Images)