Copa America Power Rankings: Yes, Messi, but don’t sleep on Colombia
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While Euro 2024 continues to capture the imagination of soccer fans across Europe, it’s easy to forget that another important international tournament is about to kick off.
The 2024 Copa América is being staged in the United States from June 20 to July 14, as World Cup holders Argentina and Lionel Messi attempt to repeat as South American champions.
The 48th edition of the Copa is special because in addition to the 10 South American teams involved, six Concacaf nations will also be competing, including Canada, who’ll be looking to make a big splash with the eyes of the soccer world watching.
Sportsnet ranks all 16 countries going into the group stage of the Copa América to give you an idea of what to expect.
1. ARGENTINA
FIFA world ranking: No. 1
2021 Copa América: Champions
Group A schedule: vs. Canada (June 20), vs. Chile (June 25), vs. Peru (June 29)
La Albiceleste (The White and Sky Blue) have lost just one of the 14 games they’ve played since beating France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final in Qatar and enter this tournament as the No. 1 ranked team in the world and as the defending Copa América champions. Veterans Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria still have plenty to give, while Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez, Alejandro Garnacho and Lautaro Martinez provide the team with plenty of youth, quality and depth.
2. COLOMBIA
FIFA world ranking: No. 12
2021 Copa América: Semifinals (Third place)
Group D schedule: vs. Paraguay (June 24), vs. Costa Rica (June 28), vs. Brazil (July 2)
Colombia enters the Copa as the hottest team in the tournament – La Tricolor (The Tricolour) are undefeated in their last 23 games with 18 wins (including victories over Brazil, Spain and Germany) and haven’t lost since Feb. 1, 2022. Manager Nestor Lorenzo has built a fluid team that is solid in possession while also lethal on the counterattack, and that can exert its physical dominance while also playing some elegant football.
3. BRAZIL
FIFA world ranking: No. 5
2021 Copa América: Finalist
Group D schedule: vs. Costa Rica (June 24), vs. Paraguay (June 28), vs. Colombia (July 2)
These are interesting times for the Seleção, who are still finding their feet under new manager Dorival Júnior. Brazil sits sixth in South American qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the moment, having suffered consecutive losses to Uruguay, Colombia and Argentina. Still, even without Neymar (out injured), Brazil can rip teams apart with its attack, led by the Real Madrid trio of Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo and 17-year-old striker Endrick.
4. URUGUAY
FIFA world ranking: No. 15
2021 Copa América: Quarterfinals
Group C schedule: vs. Panama (June 23), vs. Bolivia (June 27), vs. United States (July 1)
La Celeste (The Sky Blue) have been on a tear since Argentinian Marcelo Bielsa took over as manager last May. Uruguay has lost just twice in 11 games and recorded big wins over Brazil, Argentina and Chile (and a draw vs. Colombia) to climb into second place in the South American World Cup qualifiers. Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez has five goals in his last four appearances for the national team and looks set to take the Copa by storm.
5. ECUADOR
FIFA world ranking: No. 31
2021 Copa América: Quarterfinals
Group B schedule: vs. Venezuela (June 22), vs. Jamaica (June 26), vs. Mexico (June 30)
Ecuador is in form at the moment, having suffered just two losses (to Argentina and Italy) in its last 10 matches, and beating Uruguay, Bolivia and Chile and drawing with Colombia and Venezuela in World Cup qualifying. Chelsea star Moisés Caicedo patrols a sturdy midfield, and the back line is solid. But the team still relies on former West Ham striker Enner Valencia, now 34, to lead the line up front.
6. UNITED STATES
FIFA world ranking: No. 11
Group C schedule: vs. Bolivia (June 23), vs. Panama (June 27), vs. Uruguay (July 1)
Under normal circumstances, the U.S. would enter the Copa full of confidence as the host nation and having won the Concacaf Nations League back in March. But a demoralizing 5-1 loss to Colombia in Maryland earlier this month has raised some concerns about the team’s defensive play and whether it can run with the South American big boys.
7. CHILE
FIFA world ranking: No. 42
2021 Copa América: Quarter-finals
Group A schedule: vs. Peru (June 21), vs. Argentina (June 25), vs. Canada (June 29)
Chile is a bit long in the tooth — goalkeeper Claudio Bravo (41), defender Mauricio Isla (36), and forwards Alexis Sanchez (35) and Eduardo Vargas (34) are still hanging around. But FC Midtjylland winger Dario Osorio, 20, could prove to be one of the top young guns at this tournament, and recent results shows there’s still plenty of life in La Roja (The Red One).
8. MEXICO
FIFA world ranking: No. 14
Group B schedule: vs. Jamaica (June 22), vs. Venezuela (June 26), vs. Ecuador (June 30)
El Tri is a team in transition after failing to get out of the group stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Mexico has continued to stumble around since Qatar, including suffering a 2-0 loss to the U.S. in the Concacaf Nations League final in March. Veterans Guillermo Ochoa, Raul Jimenez and Hirving “Chucky” Lozano didn’t make the roster and coach Jaime Lozano’s squad lacks proven goal scorers.
9. VENEZUELA
FIFA world ranking: No. 54
2021 Copa América: Group stage
Group B schedule: vs. Ecuador (June 22), vs. Mexico (June 26), vs. Jamaica (June 30)
Venezuela has never qualified for a World Cup, and it’s long been the doormat of South American soccer. But La Vinotinto (The Wine-Red) have been on the rise in recent times thanks to a “golden generation” of players, including Yangel Herrera who helped Girona finish third in Spain’s La Liga this season. Venezuela is also off to a strong start to World Cup qualifying, sitting in fourth place after six rounds.
10. CANADA
FIFA world ranking: No. 49
Group A schedule: vs. Argentina (June 20), vs. Peru (June 25), vs. Chile (June 29)
Some of the lustre has come off Canada since qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, as evidenced by its poor showings at last summer’s Concacaf Nations League and Gold Cup. Then Les Rouges needed to qualify for the Copa via the playoffs after being upset by Jamaica in a two-game series. New coach Jesse Marsch has plenty of exciting young talent at his disposal, but he hasn’t had enough time to work with them, although the team’s 0-0 draw against France earlier this month should give Canada a major boost of confidence going into its first Copa.
11. PARAGUAY
FIFA world ranking: No. 56
2021 Copa América: Quarterfinals
Group D schedule: vs. Colombia (June 24), vs. Brazil (June 28), vs. Costa Rica (July 2)
Paraguay is not without talent, as midfielder Miguel Almirón (Newcastle United) and forward Julio Enciso (Brighton) have Premier League experience. Paraguay has also advanced to the quarter-finals in each of the last two Copa tournaments. But they’ve stumbled their way through World Cup qualifying so far (seventh place) and have just two wins in their last nine games.
12. JAMAICA
FIFA world ranking: No. 55
Group B schedule: vs. Mexico (June 22), vs. Ecuador (June 26), vs. Venezuela (June 30)
The Reggae Boyz boast a bit of Premier League quality in West Ham United’s Michail Antonio and Bobby Decordova-Reid of Fulham. They’re also coming off a solid third place showing at this year’s Concacaf Nations League finals. Icelandic coach Heimir Hallgrímsson has reformed Jamaica into a well-organized defensive unit that can frustrate opponents.
13. PANAMA
FIFA world ranking: No. 45
Group C schedule: vs. Uruguay (June 23), vs. United States (June 27), vs. Bolivia (July 1)
Los Canaleros (The Canal Men) have been a team on the rise over the last few years, qualifying for their first World Cup in 2018 and finishing runners-up at last year’s Concacaf Gold Cup. Panama has become a well-organized side under former Leeds United coach Thomas Christiansen, but the team’s lack of genuine goal-scoring threats makes them a less dangerous proposition.
14. PERU
FIFA world ranking: No. 32
2021 Copa América: Semifinals (Fourth place)
Group A schedule: vs. Chile (June 21), vs. Canada (June 25), vs. Argentina (June 29)
La Blanquirroja won just one of 10 games in 2023 (scoring just three goals) and currently sit 10th out of 10 teams in the South American World Cup qualifiers. They’re the only winless team in the CONMEBOL qualifying with a meagre two points to their credit. Recent wins over Concacaf minnows Nicaragua and Dominican Republic will do very little to boost their confidence going into the Copa.
15. COSTA RICA
FIFA world ranking: No. 52
Group D schedule: vs. Brazil (June 24), vs. Colombia (June 28), vs. Paraguay (July 2)
Like Canada, Los Ticos qualified for the Copa by winning a Concacaf playoff match. Costa Rica will be without legendary goalkeeper Kaylor Navas (formerly of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain) after he announced his international retirement. They’re not entering the tournament in the greatest of form, and a 3-1 loss to Argentina (without Lionel Messi) gives a pretty good indication of how the team will stack up against South America’s elite.
16. BOLIVIA
FIFA world ranking: No. 85
2021 Copa América: Group stage
Group C schedule: vs. United States (June 23), vs. Uruguay (June 27), vs. Panama (July 1)
Bolivia is the lowest-ranked nation at the tournament and has lost 10 of its last 13 games (with just two wins) since the beginning of 2023. La Verde (The Green) are consistently the worst team in South America and have proven to be unable to go toe-to-toe with the continent’s big boys. They failed to advance out of the group stage in each of the last three tournaments and have just one Copa América victory to their credit since the 1999 competition.
John Molinaro is one of the leading soccer journalists in Canada, having covered the game for over 20 years for several media outlets, including Sportsnet, CBC Sports and Sun Media. He is currently the editor-in-chief of TFC Republic, a website dedicated to in-depth coverage of Toronto FC and Canadian soccer.