The 108-year-old competition of Copa America is set to kick off in the United States, featuring 10 South American nations alongside six teams from the CONCACAF region. World champions Argentina are looking to defend their title with Lionel Messi leading the squad, potentially in his final appearance in the tournament. The tournament holds immense prestige and history, attracting fans from around the world.
Argentina has won the tournament 15 times, once during the Messi era in 2021. Coach Lionel Scaloni has kept most of the World Cup-winning squad intact, with veterans Angel Di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi likely taking part in their last major tournament. Whether Messi will continue to play in elite international football remains uncertain as he is yet to decide on participating in the record sixth World Cup.
The pressure is on Argentina to perform well in the Copa America with tough matchups against Brazil and Uruguay in the knockout stages. Brazil, struggling in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, will be without key players like Casemiro, Gabriel Jesus, and Thiago Silva. The focus will be on young talents like Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo to lead the team.
Uruguay, under coach Marcelo Bielsa, has shown promising performances with recent wins over Argentina and Brazil. The team will rely on Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez and veteran Luis Suarez’s potential impact from the bench. Colombia, led by Nestor Lorenzo, enters the tournament unbeaten for over two years with talented players like Luis Diaz and James Rodriguez.
The hosts, the USA, led by coach Gregg Berhalter, are hoping to create excitement after a disappointing run since the World Cup. Mexico, a frequent guest in Copa America, may struggle to perform at their usual level but will enjoy strong support from the immigrant community in the USA. The Copa America in the USA is expected to draw large crowds due to the significant immigrant communities from competing nations in the stadiums.
Overall, the Copa America promises to be an exhilarating tournament with top teams from South America and the CONCACAF region battling for the title. The presence of star players like Messi, Neymar, and Suarez adds to the excitement of the event. Fans can expect thrilling matches, intense competition, and memorable moments as the teams vie for success in one of the oldest and most prestigious football tournaments.
