Copa America 2024: Six favourite countries to win and players to watch

The 48th edition of the prestigious Copa America is set to kick off on Thursday, 20 June and end on Sunday, 14 July 2024. This year’s edition will see 16 participating teams including six CONCACAF countries and two new debutants.

This year’s competition will witness performances from players who recorded giant strides in their respective clubs last season. Some players will be heading to the Copa America in their best run of form, while coaches will look to make a bold statement of intent by going the distance in this tournament. Copa America tickets are in high demand with an exciting few weeks expected in the United States.

With the competition primed for kickoff in a few weeks, Football Talk analyses six of the favourites to clinch the trophy and some players to keep an eye on over the course of the competition.

Argentina

Argentina are the clear favourites heading to this game, as they’ve been in an illustrious run of form since winning the World Cup in December 2022.

They are currently the most in-form South American team having clinched the last three tournaments they’ve participated in(Copa America, World Cup, Finalissima).

They’re the tournament’s joint-most successful team having clinched the Copa America on 15 occasions. As the defending champions, they’ll be eyeing the record 16 title triumph further to cement themselves in the folklore of South American football.

Brazil

Brazil have been the most successful side in the last seven Copa America tournaments. They’ve won the tournament three times since 2004, more than any other team in that run.

They’ll look to dethrone their bitter arch-rivals, Argentina to win their 10th title when the competition kicks off in June.

Dorival Júnior’s side also possesses a plethora of in-form players including potential Ballon d’Or winner, Vinicius Jr, who will be looking to unleash some Samba moves from his skillset.

The Selecao are one of the tournament favourites who have everything in their Arsenal to clinch the title and there’s no better time to make a big statement of intent than their opening game against Costa Rica on 25 June.

Uruguay

The appointment of Marcelo Bielsa in 2023 has brought a sense of rejuvenation to the Uruguayan national team. Their results are not the only positive thing in their impressive run of form, but their style of play has been a joy to watch.

Uruguay are no minnows in this competition having won the tournament 15 times, the joint-most by any team alongside Argentina.

They’re currently in a good run of form having defeated some of the tournament favourites in recent months including Chile, Argentina and Brazil.

However, their recent they’ve not won the competition for over a decade having last done so in 2011. Bielsa will hope to inspire his team to a historic 16th title when the tournament kick-starts.

Chile

Chile looked to begin a run of domination in the Copa America after defeating Argentina twice to win the competition two consecutive times in 2015 and 2016.

They’ll face Argentina again in the group stage of the competition and victory over the world champions could set the precedent for a third tournament win in five years.

Head coach, Ricardo Gareca will be counting on some of the experienced players from la Roja’s ‘golden generation’ that have been included in the provisional squad for the tournament including Claudio Bravo, Arturo Vidal, Eduardo Vargas, Alexis Sanchez.

Mexico

Mexico are one of the six CONCACAF countries that will be participating in this year’s Copa America tournament.

El Tri have recorded monumental continental success in recent years, winning nine CONCACAF titles, the most by any team in North America. They’ll be looking to replicate their success when the tournament kicks off later this month.

Jaime Lozano is looking to recuperate his side from an abysmal World Cup campaign where they crashed out from the group stages and going the distance in this tournament will be a big statement of intent.

Mexico are tipped to qualify from Group B which has Ecuador, Venezuela, and Jamaica and their biggest test will be against an Ecuadorian side that has been impressive in the runout to this tournament.

USMNT

The host country are one of the most dominant teams in North America and are also in an impressive run of form.

Gregg Berhalter has guided his team to the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2023 and recently the CONCACAF Nations League. Their achievements in recent years cannot be praised without giving worthy mention to their style of play. The USMNT gathered some real nerves of steel in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, showing beautiful attacking displays and dominating the likes of the Netherlands and England. Although the scoreline was not positive, the Soccer frenzy nation have built on from their impressive World Cup campaign and are capable of upsetting the odds in this tournament.

They possess a not-so-popular but talented squad that has the capacity to compete toe-to-toe with some of the biggest names in South American football.

They’ll be hoping to make a big statement in this competition and are tipped to reach the last eight of the tournament.

Players to watch

Vinicius Jr

Brazilian and football fans across the world have been thrilled by the skill, and poise of Neymar Jr over the years.

Unfortunately, Brazil will be without their captain and talisman, Neymar, but fret not: the Vini era is here!

Vinicius has been setting the pitch alight with traditional samba moves, prompting cheers and applause – and sometimes jeers and boos. But one thing is certain – his trickery will leave you awestruck, leaving you with the choice of hurrahs and huzzahs or catcalls and taunts!

The 23-year-old had a stellar season in Real Madrid colours, scoring 24 goals and providing 11 assists in the recently concluded season. Accumulatively, the 23-year-old has provided 35 goal contributions in 39 matches for Los Blancos this season.

He has been nothing short of world-class and they are already whispers of a possible Ballon d’Or win, which of course would be deserving.

However, Vini’s record for the national team has been abysmal, scoring a meagre three goals in 28 matches since making his debut in 2019.

The 2024 Copa America could finally see the youngster make a huge mark for the Selecao, as he gears up for succession to Neymar’s throne.

Lionel Messi

One of the fairytales of the Copa America is it has some of the best players in the world participating in it.

This edition of the tournament will, not just see one of the best players in the world participate, but arguably the best player in the world- Lionel Messi.

Messi joins an illustrious list of Ballon d’Or winners to participate in the tournament including Ronaldo de Lima, Ronaldinho, Kaka, Alfredo Di Stefano etc.

There’s no stopping the FIFA Men’s Player of the Year in the current MLS season as he has scored 12 goals in 12 matches and 21 goal contributions in the same number of matches this season.

Being joined with a plethora of stars like Lautaro Martinez, and Alejandro Garnacho upfront will places the world champions as firm favourites. A Lautaro-Messi combination could see a replicate of the Suarez-Messi pairing that is currently lighting up the MLS.

Messi will hope to lead La Albiceleste to a historic 16th Copa America title and the second consecutive title since winning it consecutively in 1991 and 1993.

Darwin Nunez

Liverpool’s forward, Darwin Nunez seems to be wearing the correct pair of his scoring boots while with the La Celeste, becoming one of the most important players for the team. The 24-year-old has scored eight goals in his last five matches and provided ten goal contributions in his last seven matches and will hope to replicate that form for his team during the tournament.

Other notable players that are tipped to make remarkable strides in this competition include: Christian Pulisic, Luis Diaz, Moises Caicedo, Endrick, Rodrygo, Santi Gimenez, Bruno Guimaraes etc.