Lionel Messi and Argentina are set to defend their Copa America title, kicking off their campaign with group stage matches against Peru, Chile, and either Canada or Trinidad and Tobago.
The road to the tournament for Canada and Trinidad and Tobago includes a CONCACAF play-in match scheduled for March 23.
Argentina emerged victorious in the 2021 Copa America, defeating Brazil 1-0 in the final with a goal from Angel Di Maria. This marked Argentina’s 15th Copa America title.
The South American giants will open the next Copa America in the United States, facing their North American opponent on June 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Their second group match will be against Chile on June 25 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Lionel Messi and the current title holders of Copa America, Argentina, are aiming to defend their championship in the upcoming year.
Messi and Argentina are set to play against Peru, Chile, and a team from North America in the group stage of the tournament.
The Group A finale for Argentina will be against Peru on June 29 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, where the final of the tournament will also be held.
If Argentina manages to win Group A, they will face the runner-up from Group B in the quarterfinals on July 4 at NRG Stadium in Houston.
No matter if Argentina advances as the group winner or runner-up, the semifinal match will be held at MetLife Stadium in the New York City area.
Argentina’s path to the final will not involve facing off against rivals Brazil and Uruguay, or the host country, the United States.
Group B comprises Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Jamaica.
Argentina has not clinched consecutive Copa America titles since 1991 and 1993.
The last team to win back-to-back Copa America championships was Chile, who won the tournament in 2015 as hosts and the special 2016 edition in the United States.
Messi will be celebrating his 37th birthday a day before Argentina’s second group-stage match, marking the possibility that his last two major international tournaments could both occur in North America.
Argentina has not been able to secure consecutive Copa America titles since their victories in 1991 and 1993.
After clinching victory in the 2022 World Cup, Argentina will be aiming to defend their title next summer. The talented player from Inter Miami is set to continue representing Argentina through to the 2026 World Cup, set to be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Uruguay and Argentina currently share the record for the most Copa America titles, with each nation having secured the prestigious trophy 15 times. Historically, no team from outside South America has managed to claim victory in the Copa America championship. In the recent 2021 edition, only the 10 CONMEBOL nations took part, while Japan and Qatar participated in the 2019 tournament as guest teams. However, neither non-CONMEBOL team managed to secure a win or advance past the group stage. Since 1993, CONMEBOL has extended invitations to two guest teams from various regions of the world for each South American-based edition of the tournament.
