Chris Macpherson 
Copa America 2024 Group A Preview. Design: Round Ball Australia
After finally winning the World Cup in 2022, can Lionel Messi lead his Argentinian side to another international title and a successful defence of their Copa America crown from 2022, or could USA as the host nation stage a monumental upset and become the first North American side to not only make the final but take the title out?
The Copa America has come to the United States, for what will be a fascinating tournament as the Americas continue to intertwine themselves in international competition.
The tournament will comprise of 16 teams from across the Americas, with the 10 nations from CONMEBOL (South America) joined by 6 qualifiers from CONCACAF (North/Central America & Caribbean).
The teams will play in four groups of four teams, in a single round robin format, at the conclusion of which the top two teams in each pool will progress to the single leg quarter final stage.
Round Ball Australia takes a look at Group A.
Argentina
FIFA World Ranking: 1st
Best Copa America Performance: Champions (15 times – most recent 2022)
Argentina boasts a squad headlined by one of the world’s biggest stars in Lionel Messi, who understandably enter the tournamets as hot favourites.
They are the defending Copa America champions, reigning World Cup winners and currently hold the World No. 1 rank.
Argentina’s performance will come down to how motivated they are now that the tag of “perennial bridesmaids” has well and truly been shaken off in recent years with tournament success, but it is a settled squad with plenty of experience led by the likes of Messi alongside Angel di Maria, as well as emerging international stars Alejandro Garnacho & Valentin Carboni.
This all adds up to an expectation that Argentina should win the tournament, especially being on the easier side of the draw should their group play out as expected, but do not underestimate the lack of challenging football they have played in recent friendlies and the pressure of defending the title combined. Argentina are not infallible and may well fall in the elimination stages.
Author Prediction: 1st in Group – Tournament Runner Up
Peru
FIFA World Ranking: 31st
Best Copa America Performance: Champions (2 times – 1939 & 1975)
With a change of coach in the lead up to the tournament, there are some questions on The Red & White’s structures and tactics they will enter into proceedings with, under Jorge Fossati.
One thing that looks clear is he will push forward with his trademark three centre backs to lay a defensive platform.
Peru have had a poor start to their World Cup qualifying and currently sit bottom of the group, and their hopes of turning that around have not been helped by the departure from the national team picture of one of their star players in midfielder Renato Tapia.
Their world ranking suggests they should join Argentina in making their way out of the group stages, however a lot will fall to their midfield combination with the likes of the attack minded Edison Flores and the fleet footed Piero Quispe to orchestrate a way out of the group.
World ranking aside, it would not be a surprise to see the Peruvian’s pipped by a lesser fancied rival in their battle to advance to the quarter finals.
Author Prediction: Group Stage Elimination
Chile
FIFA World Ranking: 40th
Best Copa America Performance: Champions (2 times – 2015 & 2016)
Chile’s second game will be a replay of their famous 2016 Copa Final win, both in opponent (Argentina) & venue (New Jersey), but the bad news for Chilean fans is that eight years is a lifetime in football.
Since that victory they failed to qualify for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, are off to a bad start in 2026 World Cup qualification, nor have they made it back to the final of Copa America, finishing the 2019 edition in fourth and getting knocked out in the quarter finals in 2021.
Whilst their squad features some superstars and emerging talent in the likes of Alexis Sanchez & Dario Osorio, these two alone cannot carry them to glory.
Chile faces a talent drought after the golden generation that delivered them their pinnacle moments in Copa history in 2015 & 2016.
Chile are hoping the “Gareca effect” will help steer them out of the group stages, with dreams that Argentine coach Ricardo Gareca can do similarly to he did with Peru, and turn a team of odd parts with a few stars into something more valuable than the entirety of its ingredients.
Unfortunately for Chile, they are on the wane and will have a big job in just making their way out of the group, let alone excelling in the knockout stages.
Author Prediction: Group Stage Elimination
Canada
FIFA World Ranking: 48th
Best Copa America Performance: First Appearance
The competition debutants will make their first foray into the competition on as close to home soil as they can, in the neighbouring USA, which will enable for the majority of their group games to have the feel of a home crowd behind them.
Canada enter the Copa with optimism after the recent appointment of American coach Jesse Marsch, who previously managed Leeds United in the English Premier League.
With players who are playing in top leagues such as defender Alphonso Davies (Bundesliga – Bayern Munich) & exciting striker Jonathan David (Ligue 1 – Lille), the side is on an upwards trajectory.
Marsch’s style will be taxing on the squad but has shown promise in recent friendlies including a scoreless draw against France and a loss to the Netherlands.
Canada are a dark horse if they can start well and limit the damage a likely first up loss to defending champions Argentina causes, they can then build to looking at upsetting Peru & Chile and eye progressing out of the group.
Author Prediction – 2nd in Group on Goal Difference, Quarter Final elimination