Copa America 2024: Will the USA Make Their Mark on Home Soil?
The next Copa America tournament is being held across several states in the United States; perhaps this is a precursor to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will also be hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Of course, the competition held in the United States is an excellent opportunity for the USMNT to show itself. It can even enhance the interest and expectations towards the main tournament in two years.
Soccer has never been the most favored sport in the US, with American football and basketball being the main choices. Baseball and ice hockey also enjoy a greater fanbase than the game known as football elsewhere. Nonetheless, the USMNT and the MLS have started to attract more attention as the game has improved, with players like Lionel Messi arriving at Inter Miami and generating a buzz only he can.
How far can the USMNT go in the 2024 Copa America?
The USMNT were placed in Group C of this edition of the Copa America, and on paper, you have to feel that they were provided with a favorable draw. They were placed alongside Uruguay, Panama, and Bolivia.
It’s possible to argue that Uruguay are the only real challenge of the group for the USMNT, especially as the playing standard for Americans has only started to improve. Many of the team’s players play outside of the MLS and in some of Europe’s biggest leagues, helping them to improve the quality of their squad and putting in performances that are capable of winning the matches that they play.
USMNT’s strong start
They started their 2024 Copa America tournament in the best way possible, as they defeated Bolivia in their first game. They were 2-0 victors with Captain America Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun both netting in the first half.
Games against Panama and Uruguay will follow, but if they manage to secure the three points against the Central American nation, they will qualify for the tournament’s next stage. Admittedly, they aren’t expected to win the entire competition, though.
According to the latest online football betting markets that are available, you can find the USMNT priced at 15.00, which makes them fifth in the list of likely contenders to win. To put the price in context, the favorites are Argentina who have been listed at 2.75, while Brazil (3.50), Uruguay (5.50), and Colombia (9.00) follow.
Is it about winning or going as far as possible?
For many fans of the USMNT, it might not all be about winning the 2024 Copa America, although that would be nice for them to see. In fact, most will perhaps just want to see their nation be competitive and show a solid outing throughout the tournament.
This will involve qualifying from their group, and this is something that should be expected. As mentioned, they have a favorable group and have already started positively. From there, expectations can perhaps be tempered, as most will feel that they have had an impact on home soil to some extent.
What will happen if USMNT advances?
Of course, it will depend on where they finish in Group C, as a team from Group D will await them in the Quarter-Finals.
Although unexpected given the quality and strength of Uruguay, if the USMNT were to be winners of Group C, then they would face the runner-up of Group D. This will likely be either Colombia or Brazil, although Costa Rica and Paraguay can still cause many issues. They won’t necessarily be helped if they finish runners-up in Group C, either, as they’ll play the winner of Group D.
Making an impact on home soil
Given the strength of their potential opponents, it’s understandable why so many would want to see the USMNT be competitive. A win would be a huge positive and a bonus, but it’s not something many who watch football or know about the sport would perhaps expect to happen.
For now, it’s perhaps best for the nation to try and make an impact on home soil, especially with the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup around the corner and all eyes being on the likes of the USMNT, just like many were on Qatar in the previous World Cup tournament.