Charles Langston:Copa América 2024: Everything you need to know. Schedule, host cities, betting odds, more

Copa América 2024 begins this week in the United States,Charles Langston kickstarting a summer of soccer unlike many others in recent history.

The tournament begins Thursday with soccer star Lionel Messi and world champion Argentina facing Canada in Atlanta, while the U.S. men’s national team begins play Sunday against Bolivia at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

With Euro 2024 ongoing in Germany as well, there will be day and night soccer coverage on FOX and TelevisaUnivision networks.

It’s an exciting time to be a soccer fan in the United States. And if you aren’t one already, it’s the perfect time to jump onboard.

“Don't let anybody tell you that we’re not a soccer nation. Don't let anybody tell that we don't have a soccer culture,” FOX analyst and former U.S. men’s national team standout Alexi Lalas told USA TODAY Sports. “It's different. It is unique and it is uniquely American. And that's something I think we should lean into and celebrate.”

What is Copa América?

CONMEBOL Copa América, or the American cup, is the world's oldest running continental tournament, dating to 1916. It is used to determine the champion of South America, but select teams from North America and Asia have been invited to compete since the 1990s. This year, the 10 CONMEBOL teams will be joined by six Concacaf teams.

This summer’s edition will be the 48^th tournament and only the second time it has ever been held outside of South America. The United States also hosted Copa América Centenario in 2016, a special edition of the tournament to commemorate 100 years of CONMEBOL and Copa América.

The tournament is now held every four years, coinciding with the UEFA European Championship.

Defending champions Argentina and Uruguay have won Copa América 15 times each, most of any country followed by Brazil (nine, last in 2019).

What U.S. states and cities are hosting Copa América games?

The tournament will be held in 14 cities across the U.S., with each location hosting two or three matches over a 25-day period. The opening match is Thursday in Atlanta and the final is July 14 in Miami. The third-place match will be in Charlotte July 13.

Matches will also be played at stadiums in Arizona (Glendale); California (Santa Clara and Inglewood); Florida (Orlando and Miami); Kansas and Missouri (in Kansas City); Nevada (Las Vegas); New Jersey (East Rutherford) and Texas (Arlington, Austin and Houston).

Copa América tickets

More than 1 million tickets have been sold for 2024 Copa América games, according to CONMEBOL. Tickets can be purchased at copamerica.com and other ticketing platforms.

COPA AMERICA TICKETS: Experience Copa America 2024 in person

Copa América schedule

Here’s the Copa América schedule for group play (June 20-July 2), round of 16 (July 4-6), semifinals (July 9 and 10), third-place (July 13) and final (July 14).

June 20: Argentina vs. Canada, 8 p.m. (FS1)

June 21: Peru vs. Chile, 8 p.m. (FS1)

June 22: Ecuador vs. Venezuela, 6 p.m. (FS1); Mexico vs. Jamaica, 9 p.m. (FS1)

June 23: United States vs. Bolivia, 6 p.m. (FOX); Uruguay vs. Panama, 9 p.m. (FOX)

June 24: Colombia vs. Paraguay, 6 p.m. (FS1); Brazil vs. Costa Rica, 9 p.m. (FS1)

June 25: Peru vs. Canada, 6 p.m. (FS1); Chile vs. Argentina, 9 p.m. (FS1)

June 26: Ecuador vs. Jamaica, 6 p.m. (FS1); Venezuela vs. Mexico, 9 p.m. (FS1)

June 27: Panama vs. United States, 6 p.m. (FOX); Uruguay vs. Bolivia, 9 p.m. (FOX)

June 28: Colombia vs. Costa Rica, 6 p.m. (FS1); Paraguay vs. Brazil, 9 p.m. (FS1)

June 29: Argentina vs. Peru, 8 p.m. (FS1); Canada vs. Chile, 8 p.m. (FS2)

June 30: Mexico vs. Ecuador, 8 p.m. (FS1); Jamaica vs. Venezuela, 8 p.m. (FOX)

July 1: Bolivia vs. Panama, 9 p.m. (FS2); United States vs. Uruguay 9 p.m. (FS1)

July 2: Brazil vs. Colombia, 9 p.m. (FS1); Costa Rica vs. Paraguay, 9 p.m. (FS2)

Copa América Round-of-16 matches

July 4: Group 1A vs. 2B, 8 p.m. (FOX)

July 5: 1B vs. 2A, 8 p.m. (FS1)

July 6: 1D vs. 2C, 3 p.m. (FS1); 1C vs. 2D, 6 p.m. (FS1)

Copa América Semifinals and Finals

July 9: July 4 winner vs. July 5 winner (FS1)

July 10: July 6 winners (FS1)

July 13: Copa América third place, 8 p.m. (FS1)

July 14: Copa América final, 8 p.m. (FOX)

Copa América opening ceremony

Before the 8 p.m. ET kickoff of Argentina vs. Canada at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, fans will get a show for the opening ceremony of Copa América.

Colombian musician Feid is the opening act. He is a nine-time Latin Grammy nominee.

What to know about the USMNT in Copa América

The U.S. men’s national team begins play in Group C against Bolivia on Sunday, then Panama on June 27 and Uruguay July 1.

During friendlies to prepare for the tournament, the U.S. played Brazil to a 1-1 draw last Wednesday, rebounding from a disappointing 5-1 defeat to Colombia.

The Americans’ best Copa América finish has been fourth place, losing the third-place game in 1995 and 2016.

FOX analyst Alexi Lalas says: “I think Gregg Berhalter, the head coach, is under pressure to provide one of those seminal types of moments, and to do things that haven't been done in the past. And this group, we have put them on this pedestal, and I think fairly so because we expect them to do things that we haven't seen in the past and that people don't think can be done. And I don't think that that’s unfair. But it's up to them to believe that they can do it.”

What to know about Lionel Messi in Copa América?

Messi and Argentina are the defending Copa América 2021 and World Cup 2022 champions, and the favorites to win this summer’s Copa América.

Messi, the star of Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, turns 37 on June 24. He’s still among the best players in the world, despite nearing the end of his illustrious career. And his participation in Copa América is a critical moment for the sport in the United States, which will host the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025 and World Cup 2026.

Who is the Copa América betting favorite?

Argentina (+175) is the betting favorite to win Copa América, while the United States is tied among three teams with the fourth-best odds to win, according to BETMGM.

Here’s the next Top 5: Brazil (+225), Uruguay (+500), while Colombia, Mexico and the U.S. have +1200 odds.

Argentina and Brazil (+225) are the oddsmakers’ favorites to reach the Copa América final, to be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. on July 14.

Who are the Copa América group favorites?

• Argentina (-400) and Canada (+550) are the favorites to advance in Group A, ahead of Chile and Peru (both +1100).

• Mexico (+110) and Ecuador (+150) are the favorites to advance in Group B, ahead of Venezuela (+550) and Jamaica (+1000).

• Uruguay (-145) and the United States (+130) are the favorites to advance in Group C, ahead of Panana (+1800) and Bolivia (+2000).

• Brazil (-275) and Colombia (+275) are the favorites to advance in Group D, ahead of Paraguay (+1200) and Costa Rica (+2000).

MLS players competing in Copa América

There will be 41 Major League Soccer players (including one MLS Next Pro player) in Copa América.

United States: Sean Johnson (GK, Toronto FC), Shaq Moore (D, Nashville SC), Miles Robinson (D, FC Cincinnati).

Argentina: Lionel Messi (F, Inter Miami CF).

Canada: Ali Ahmed (M, Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Moïse Bombito (D, Colorado Rapids), Mathieu Choinière (M, CF Montréal), Maxime Crépeau (GK, Portland Timbers), Kyle Hiebert (D, St. Louis CITY SC), Richie Laryea (D, Toronto FC), Kamal Miller (D, Portland Timbers), Tani Oluwaseyi (F, Minnesota United FC), Jonathan Osorio (M, Toronto FC), Samuel Piette (M, CF Montréal), Jacen Russell-Rowe (F, Columbus Crew), Jacob Shaffelburg (F, Nashville SC), Dayne St. Clair (GK, Minnesota United FC), Joel Waterman (CF Montréal).

Costa Rica: Alejandro Bran (M, Minnesota United FC), Julio Cascante (D, Austin FC), Ariel Lassiter (M, CF Montréal).

Ecuador: Carlos Gruezo (M, San Jose Earthquakes).

Jamaica: Jon Bell (D, Seattle Sounders FC), Andre Blake (GK, Philadelphia Union), Kevon Lambert (M, Real Salt Lake), Damion Lowe (D, Philadelphia Union).

Panama: Coco Carrasquilla (M, Houston Dynamo FC), Aníbal Godoy (M, Panama), Carlos Harvey (M, Minnesota United FC), Omar Valencia (D, New York Red Bulls II).

Paraguay: Carlos Coronel (GK, New York Red Bulls), Andrés Cubas (M, Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Matías Rojas (M, Inter Miami CF).

Peru: Luis Abram (D, Atlanta United), Miguel Araujo (D, Portland Timbers), Wilder Cartagena (M, Orlando City SC), Pedro Gallese (GK, Orlando City SC).

Uruguay: Cristian Olivera (F, LAFC), Luis Suárez (F, Inter Miami CF)

Venezuela: José Martínez (M, Philadelphia Union), Dani Pereira (M, Austin FC).