(Los Angeles) The 2024 Copa America, extended to all of America and played in the United States from June 20 to July 16, draws its group stage on Thursday in Miami, now at the home of Lionel Messi, superstar of the competition.
The draw takes place Thursday at 7:30 p.m. local time at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, the city with a Latino accent where the final of the event will take place and a new stronghold of football in North America since the arrival of the legend Lionel Messi in July in the Inter Miami squad.
Messi, named sportsman of the year by Time magazine on Tuesday for his impact on “soccer” in the United States, once again shined the light on this blind spot on the football planet, where the universal sport has always remained minor, despite King Pelé in New York in 1975, the 1994 World Cup, or even David Beckham in Los Angeles in 2007.
The Argentinian, world champion at the end of 2022 and honored with an eighth Ballon d’Or in October, is offered a new challenge, he who will celebrate his 37th birthday during the continental competition, of which he is the title holder after his only victory in 2021.
As in 2016, for the Centenary Copa already held in the United States, the format is expanded to 16 teams, with Conmebol’s usual ten South American competitors being joined by six Concacaf members (North America, Central and Caribbean).
In addition to the host, Mexico, Jamaica and Panama qualified, before Canada, facing Trinidad and Tobago, and Costa Rica, facing Honduras, competed for the two remaining spots in roadblocks on March 23 in Texas.
“In the Copa America we will face stronger opponents. It’s a great opportunity before the 2026 World Cup. It’s going to be a superb high-level competition which can be seen as a pre-World Cup,” said Mexico coach Jaime Lozano.
The tournament actually looks like a small rehearsal for the next World Cup, that of gigantism, contested by 48 countries in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
In addition to the final in Miami, the Copa will visit Atlanta for the opening match as well as 12 other stadiums in 10 states in total which will have the honor of some big names in football.
In addition to Messi, who has not closed the door to participating in the 2026 World Cup, his compatriot Angel Di Maria hopes to end his international career in the United States, a year and a half after defeating France in the Cup final. of the world in Qatar.
Another Latin American giant, Brazil, has more questions than certainties, particularly around its star Neymar, who underwent surgery in November after rupturing the cruciate ligaments in his knee.
The show will also extend beyond the square to summon illustrious coaches, while awaiting the much-announced arrival of the Italian Carlo Ancelotti at the head of the Seleçao after the end of his fifth season (in two stints) with Real Madrid.
Another great master of the game, with a less extensive track record, but with an almost mystical aura, the Argentinian Marcelo Bielsa will lead Uruguay, the scarecrow of the draw placed in pot 2, for a possible shock from the group stage against Brazil or Argentina, hat 1 formations along with Mexico and the United States.
Since the arrival of its new coach in May, Uruguay has dominated Brazil then Argentina in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, and has already offered the public a taste of the Copa.