Chris Macpherson 
Copa America 2024 Group B Preview. Design: Round Ball Australia
Will the midfield maestro from Mexico, Edson Alvarez lead Mexico to Copa America Group B glory and deep into the playoffs, or could we see one of the great boilovers as Ecuador or Venezuela head on a giant killing run.
What will be the end story for Jamaica’s ‘Reggae Boyz’, and will they finally taste victory at a Copa tournament?
Mexico
FIFA World Ranking: 15th
Best Copa America Performance: Runners Up (2 Times – 1993 & 2001)
Regular invitees to the tournament since the 1990s, Mexico enter the 2024 edition with a new coach only twelve months into his role in Jaime Lozano, and are working through a rebuilding phase.
Lozano was formerly the manager of their under 23 team between 2018 & 2021 and as such knows many of the developing and emerging talents and has looked to blood them into the squad in his tenure.
Whilst progressing from the group should be a fait accompli for the Central American powerhouse, much of their fortunes beyond there will depend on the abilities of two of their key stars in West Ham midfielder Edson Alvarez, and 23-year-old emerging striker Santiago Gimenez, who bagged 23 goals in last season’s Eredivisie for Feyenoord.
Lozano will have his work cut out as he looks towards the 2026 World Cup and continues to transition towards the next generation, as such this may not be Mexico’s best chance to break their 23-year drought of finals appearances, but they should feature in the final eight and with a good draw can progress.
Author Prediction: 1st in Group B – Semi Final Elimination (4th Place)
Ecuador
FIFA World Ranking: 30th
Best Copa America Performance: 4th (2 Times – 1959 & 1993)
Ecuador, alongside group mates in this tournament Venezuela, hold the unenviable record of being the only two CONMEBOL sides in Copa history not to have taken out the tournament.
Most would suggest despite emerging talent, the Tri Colours are unlikely to defy that statistic in 2024.
Ecuador’s squad is headlined by young stars, most notably midfielder Moises Caicedo, who at just 22 already has been capped over 40 times for his nation.
An electric midfielder who not only wins the ball in contests but will also drive forward and link with his strikers, even pushing beyond and hunting for shots at goal, he will be a constant danger for opponents.
Alongside Caicedo, Kendry Paez will be another dynamic weapon in the midfield. Paez, who is bound for Chelsea next season, made his international debut before his 17th birthday, and with a mastery of beguiling shots and attacking angular passing has been compared by some to a young Phil Foden.
The man who will need to bring all of this youthful promise together will be Spaniard Feliz Sanchez, who has moved from coaching Qatar at the past World Cup but is already under pressure in this role despite a strong start to World Cup qualifying.
His biggest challenge, despite a promising midfield and depth at defence, the Ecuadorian cupboard is quite bare up front.
Author Prediction: 2nd in Group B – Quarter Final Elimination
Venezuela
FIFA World Ranking: 54th
Best Copa America Result: 4th Place (2011)
Despite participating in 20 editions of the Copa America, Venezuela have progressed to the final four just once, and it would be quite the surprise if the 2024 edition of Copa saw the South American minnows surge any deeper.
Venezuela have had a mixed bag of results across the last twelve months but there have certainly been glimmers of optimism, not least a 1-1 draw with Brazil last October, as well as the fact they have conceded just three goals in six rounds of World Cup qualifying thus far.
‘The Wine Red’ as they are colloquially known, are very firmly focused on the opportunity of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup after a strong start, meaning that whilst they have talent, they are unlikely to push deep into the tournament, so much so that it would be a great success just to progress from the group.
Much will rest on the ability of their squad to create opportunity for hulking centre forward Salomon Rondon, who they missed due to COVID lockdowns during their previous World Cup qualifying campaign. With 41 goals in national colours, he will be the centre piece of everything Venezuela looks to achieve in this tournament.
Author Prediction: Group Stage Elimination
Jamaica
FIFA World Ranking: 53rd
Best Copa America Performance: Group Stage Elimination (2015 & 2016)
Jamaica boasts the unwanted record of having never registered a goal or a point across their two previous Copa America appearances, and this will undoubtedly be the target they look to achieve in 2024.
An already challenging tournament for ‘The Reggae Boyz’ was made more difficult when Leon Bailey withdrew from the tournament despite being named, due to a dispute with the Jamaica Football Federation.
Much will now fall to former Leicester City, come Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Pro League) winger Demarai Gray to step up as a leader for his country.
While progression from the group is not expected from Jamaica, they can very much play the role of spoiler in this group as a draw or upset win against one of the other sides here could very much set the proverbial cat amongst the pigeons.
Considering some of the individual talent they have like Gray and forward options such West Ham striker Michail Antonio and returning Spartak Moscow striker Shamar Nicholson, ‘The Reggae Boyz’ could very much be a determining factor in who progresses from Group B if they can put together a 90-minute showing in one or more matches.
Author Prediction: Group Stage Elimination