Copa América draw: USMNT gets Uruguay, the toughest possible group opponent
The U.S. men's national team will play Uruguay, Panama and Bolivia at the 2024 Copa América, the modified South American soccer championship coming to the United States next summer.
The 14 nations who've already qualified — 10 from South America, four from CONCACAF — learned their opponents at a chaotic draw in Miami on Thursday night. A seemingly interminable ceremony served as a prelude to the placement of teams into four groups, which went smoothly until organizers goofed while drawing teams from Pot 4.
Once a few errors were amended, the USMNT was left with a manageable foursome, but also a potential quarterfinal against Brazil.
As a top seed alongside Brazil, Argentina and Mexico, the U.S. automatically avoided South America's giants. But it drew the toughest possible opponent from Pot 2, Uruguay, and won't be favored to win Group C.
All four groups, plus the entire tournament's schedule, are below.
2024 Copa América groups
GROUP A
1. Argentina
2. Peru
3. Chile
4. Canada/Trinidad and Tobago
GROUP B
1. Mexico
2. Ecuador
3. Venezuela
4. Jamaica
GROUP C
1. United States
2. Uruguay
3. Panama
4. Bolivia
GROUP D
1. Brazil
2. Colombia
3. Paraguay
4. Honduras/Costa Rica
Two teams advance from each foursome to an eight-team knockout round, where the four groups become two sides of the bracket. Groups A and B go to one side — with the Group A winner playing the Group B runner-up, and vice versa. Groups C and D go the other side.
That split means the USMNT would likely have to go through Brazil to reach the final, but can't meet Argentina or Mexico anytime before the final.
The last two berths at the tournament will be awarded in March to the winners of two CONCACAF playoffs, one between Canada and Trinidad and Tobago, the other between Honduras and Costa Rica.
USMNT's Copa América schedule
Kickoff times haven't yet been announced, but otherwise, the entire group-stage schedule is now known. The USMNT's three matches will be:
Sunday, June 23 vs. Bolivia at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
Thursday, June 27 vs. Panama at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
Monday, July 1 vs. Uruguay at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City
Mexico's Copa América schedule
Mexico will play:
Saturday, June 22 vs. Jamaica at NRG Stadium in Houston
Wednesday, June 26 vs. Venezuela at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California
Sunday, June 30 vs. Ecuador at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
Argentina's Copa América schedule
Argentina, as the reigning Copa América champion, will play the tournament's opening match in Atlanta. Its group stage goes:
Thursday, June 20 vs. Canada/Trinidad and Tobago at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
Tuesday, June 25 vs. Chile at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Saturday, June 29 vs. Peru at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami
Brazil's Copa América schedule
Brazil, a joint-favorite alongside Argentina, will be the last of the top seeds to open its group slate:
Monday, June 24 vs. Honduras/Costa Rica at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California
Friday, June 28 vs. Paraguay at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada
Tuesday, July 2 vs. Colombia at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California
Full 2024 Copa América schedule
Below is the full schedule for the tournament.
Thursday, June 20
Argentina vs. Canada/Trinidad and Tobago — Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
Friday, June 21
Peru vs. Chile — AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
Saturday, June 22
Mexico vs. Jamaica — NRG Stadium in Houston
Ecuador vs. Venezuela — Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California
Sunday, June 23
United States vs. Bolivia — AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
Uruguay vs. Panama — Hard Rock Stadium in Miami
Monday, June 24
Brazil vs. Honduras/Costa Rica — SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California
Colombia vs. Paraguay — NRG Stadium in Houston
Tuesday, June 25
Argentina vs. Peru — MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Peru vs. Canada/Trinidad and Tobago — Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas
Wednesday, June 26
Mexico vs. Venezuela — SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California
Ecuador vs. Jamaica — Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada
Thursday, June 27
United States vs. Panama — Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
Uruguay vs. Bolivia — MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Friday, June 28
Brazil vs. Paraguay — Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada
Colombia vs. Honduras/Costa Rica — State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
Saturday, June 29
Argentina vs. Chile — Hard Rock Stadium in Miami
Chile vs. Canada/Trinidad and Tobago — Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida
Sunday, June 30
Mexico vs. Ecuador — State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
Venezuela vs. Jamaica — Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas
Monday, July 1
United States vs. Uruguay — Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City
Panama vs. Bolivia — Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida
Tuesday, July 2
Brazil vs. Colombia — Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California
Paraguay vs. Honduras/Costa Rica — Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas
Thursday, July 4 — Quarterfinals
Group A winner vs. Group B runner-up — NRG Stadium in Houston
Friday, July 5 — Quarterfinals
Group B winner vs. Group A runner-up — AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
Saturday, July 6 — Quarterfinals
Group C winner vs. Group D runner-up — Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada
Group D winner vs. Group C runner-up — State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
Tuesday, July 9 — Semifinals
Semifinal A/B — MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Wednesday, July 10 — Semifinals
Semifinal C/D — Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina
Saturday, July 13 — Third-place
Third-place game — Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina
Sunday, July 14 — Final
Final — Hard Rock Stadium in Miami
