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Copa América draw: USMNT gets Uruguay, the toughest possible group opponent

MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 07: Paraguay is displayed after being selected during the official draw of CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 at James L. Knight Center on December 07, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
The 2024 Copa America group stage draw plays out onstage at the James L. Knight Center in Miami. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

The U.S. men's national team will play Uruguay, Panama and Bolivia at the 2024 Copa América, the modified South American soccer championship coming to the United States next summer.

The 14 nations who've already qualified — 10 from South America, four from CONCACAF — learned their opponents at a chaotic draw in Miami on Thursday night. A seemingly interminable ceremony served as a prelude to the placement of teams into four groups, which went smoothly until organizers goofed while drawing teams from Pot 4.

Once a few errors were amended, the USMNT was left with a manageable foursome, but also a potential quarterfinal against Brazil.

As a top seed alongside Brazil, Argentina and Mexico, the U.S. automatically avoided South America's giants. But it drew the toughest possible opponent from Pot 2, Uruguay, and won't be favored to win Group C.

All four groups, plus the entire tournament's schedule, are below.

2024 Copa América groups

GROUP A

1. Argentina
2. Peru
3. Chile
4. Canada/Trinidad and Tobago

GROUP B

1. Mexico
2. Ecuador
3. Venezuela
4. Jamaica

GROUP C

1. United States
2. Uruguay
3. Panama
4. Bolivia

GROUP D

1. Brazil
2. Colombia
3. Paraguay
4. Honduras/Costa Rica

Two teams advance from each foursome to an eight-team knockout round, where the four groups become two sides of the bracket. Groups A and B go to one side — with the Group A winner playing the Group B runner-up, and vice versa. Groups C and D go the other side.

That split means the USMNT would likely have to go through Brazil to reach the final, but can't meet Argentina or Mexico anytime before the final.

The last two berths at the tournament will be awarded in March to the winners of two CONCACAF playoffs, one between Canada and Trinidad and Tobago, the other between Honduras and Costa Rica.

USMNT's Copa América schedule

Kickoff times haven't yet been announced, but otherwise, the entire group-stage schedule is now known. The USMNT's three matches will be:

  • Sunday, June 23 vs. Bolivia at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas

  • Thursday, June 27 vs. Panama at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta

  • Monday, July 1 vs. Uruguay at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City

Mexico's Copa América schedule

Mexico will play:

  • Saturday, June 22 vs. Jamaica at NRG Stadium in Houston

  • Wednesday, June 26 vs. Venezuela at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California

  • Sunday, June 30 vs. Ecuador at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona

Argentina's Copa América schedule

Argentina, as the reigning Copa América champion, will play the tournament's opening match in Atlanta. Its group stage goes:

  • Thursday, June 20 vs. Canada/Trinidad and Tobago at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta

  • Tuesday, June 25 vs. Chile at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey

  • Saturday, June 29 vs. Peru at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami

Brazil's Copa América schedule

Brazil, a joint-favorite alongside Argentina, will be the last of the top seeds to open its group slate:

  • Monday, June 24 vs. Honduras/Costa Rica at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California

  • Friday, June 28 vs. Paraguay at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada

  • Tuesday, July 2 vs. Colombia at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California

Full 2024 Copa América schedule

Below is the full schedule for the tournament.

Thursday, June 20

Argentina vs. Canada/Trinidad and Tobago — Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta

Friday, June 21

Peru vs. Chile — AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas

Saturday, June 22

Mexico vs. Jamaica — NRG Stadium in Houston
Ecuador vs. Venezuela — Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California

Sunday, June 23

United States vs. Bolivia — AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
Uruguay vs. Panama — Hard Rock Stadium in Miami

Monday, June 24

Brazil vs. Honduras/Costa Rica — SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California
Colombia vs. Paraguay — NRG Stadium in Houston

Tuesday, June 25

Argentina vs. Peru — MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Peru vs. Canada/Trinidad and Tobago — Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas

Wednesday, June 26

Mexico vs. Venezuela — SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California
Ecuador vs. Jamaica — Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada

Thursday, June 27

United States vs. Panama — Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
Uruguay vs. Bolivia — MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey

Friday, June 28

Brazil vs. Paraguay — Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada
Colombia vs. Honduras/Costa Rica — State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona

Saturday, June 29

Argentina vs. Chile — Hard Rock Stadium in Miami
Chile vs. Canada/Trinidad and Tobago — Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida

Sunday, June 30

Mexico vs. Ecuador — State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
Venezuela vs. Jamaica — Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas

Monday, July 1

United States vs. Uruguay — Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City
Panama vs. Bolivia — Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida

Tuesday, July 2

Brazil vs. Colombia — Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California
Paraguay vs. Honduras/Costa Rica — Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas

Thursday, July 4 — Quarterfinals

Group A winner vs. Group B runner-up — NRG Stadium in Houston

Friday, July 5 — Quarterfinals

Group B winner vs. Group A runner-up — AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas

Saturday, July 6 — Quarterfinals

Group C winner vs. Group D runner-up — Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada
Group D winner vs. Group C runner-up — State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona

Tuesday, July 9 — Semifinals

Semifinal A/B — MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey

Wednesday, July 10 — Semifinals

Semifinal C/D — Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina

Saturday, July 13 — Third-place

Third-place game — Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina

Sunday, July 14 — Final

Final — Hard Rock Stadium in Miami