Frank Christian
The USA is gearing up to participate in the Copa America this summer as they host the tournament for the first time since 2016 under the leadership of Gregg Berhalter. Their journey will unfold in Group C, where they will face Uruguay, a team that has clinched the title 15 times, along with Bolivia and Panama.
Expectations are high as the USA aims to replicate their success from eight years ago when, as hosts, they reached the semifinals before being defeated by Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the final four.
The upcoming Copa America 2024 will see a significant change with the participation of 16 nations, marking the first time in the competition’s long history dating back to 1916.
Reason Behind USA’s Inclusion in Copa America 2024
The presence of the USA, alongside neighbors Canada and Mexico, may puzzle some fans who are not regular followers of the tournament.
Traditionally, the Copa America consists of the 10 members of the CONMEBOL federation, but over time, the competition has evolved to include nations from CONCACAF and other regions like Japan and Qatar.
In previous editions, non-CONMEBOL nations received direct invitations from the federation, preventing them from participating in every tournament. However, the expansion of team numbers in the 2024 event has altered this norm, allowing six CONCACAF nations to qualify through the CONCACAF Nations League.
Jamaica and Panama joined the USA and Mexico in direct qualification, while Canada and Costa Rica secured their spots through the playoffs.
USA’s Copa America Performance History
The upcoming Copa America 2024 will mark the fifth time that the USA has either qualified or been invited to the tournament since their debut in 1993.
| Year | Stage Reached |
| 1993 | Group Stage |
| 1995 | Fourth Place |
| 2007 | Group Stage |
| 2016 | Fourth Place |
USA’s Copa America 2024 Match Schedule
| Date | Competition | Match | Location | Time (ET) | TV (USA) | Streaming (USA) |
