America will host — and compete in — one in every of soccer’s greatest tournaments subsequent summer season: the Copa America.
The Copa is the longest-running soccer event on earth, predating the World Cup by 14 years. It is held at common intervals (as steadily as yearly and as sometimes as each 4) to find out the most effective nationwide soccer workforce in South America. As a result of South America options simply ten member nations, members from North America are sometimes invited to compete within the Copa — however no North American workforce has ever managed to win it.
The U.S. Males’s Nationwide Staff will hope to alter that this summer season. But when it goals to take residence the trophy, it should defeat a few of South America’s greatest alongside the best way.
The USMNT was drawn into Group C, with Bolivia, Panama and Uruguay.
Bolivia is the least-known of the three opponents; the USMNT has performed it simply eight instances. Whereas the report is balanced at 2-2-4, the USMNT has gained all of its most up-to-date matches in opposition to the Bolivians, racking up a 7-0 objective distinction in its previous two conferences.
Panama, nevertheless, could be very a lot a identified amount. The Panamanians have been an actual thorn within the USMNT’s facet for years: they knocked the Individuals out of the Gold Cup this summer season and prevented them from qualifying for the World Cup in 2018.
However essentially the most intriguing opponent of all is Uruguay.
Informal soccer viewers might not know a lot concerning the small South American nation, however it’s one of the crucial profitable soccer nations on earth. The nation of three.4 million folks has gained 15 Copa Americas and two World Cups. It is identified for its aggressive, open-hearted, never-say-die model, and it is led by legendary Argentinian coach Marcelo Bielsa.
It is essentially the most tough workforce the USMNT may’ve obtained in its draw, and coach Gregg Berhalter is aware of it.
“That was clearly the toughest workforce in Pool 2,” Berhalter said of Uruguay. “You already know, that is why we do that. If there is not any strain, you aren’t getting diamonds.”
The highest two groups in Group C will advance to the knockout rounds of the event. Uruguay and the USMNT are favored to clinch these spots, however Panama and Bolivia are each able to delivering upsets.
The opposite two heavy hitters on this event, Argentina and Brazil, are in teams A and D respectively.
Their bracket positions imply they will not be capable of meet one another till the ultimate sport.
The Copa America kicks off in June 2024 with video games all throughout the States. The USMNT will open its event in opposition to Bolivia on June 23 in Arlington, TX. The ultimate will happen on July 14 in Miami, FL.