Follow live reaction to the Copa America group stage draw, with Lionel Messi’s Argentina potentially facing Canada
Michael Dominski
December 7, 2023 at 10:58 PM EST
(Photo: Getty Images)
45 New Updates
Copa America 2024 draw results — group stage and bracket fixed
- Group A: Argentina, Peru, Chile, Canada or Trinidad & Tobago
- Group B: Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela, Jamaica
- Group C: United States, Uruguay, Panama, Bolivia
- Group D: Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Costa Rica or Honduras
- Subscribe to The Athletic using our latest gift offer for the holidays here
Official match ball
(Photo: Getty Images)
Puma is the official match ball sponsor of the 2024 Copa America, so now we're seeing an unveiling of their ball for the tournament, complete with dancers.
The ball is called "Cumbre."
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Alternative viewpoint on Capitan
(Photo: Getty Images)
OK, I’ll admit it - I like Capitán.
Now it's a tournament!
The moment we have all been waiting for: the Copa America mascot "Capitán" has walked onto the stage.
Capitán is a red, white and blue eagle with terrible dance moves. The tournament has officially begun.
Capitan!
(Photo: Getty Images)
We've just been introduced to the tournament's official mascot, Capitan!
He's red, white and blue, some sort of walking falcon bird creature. He's got some dance moves...
More opening remarks
CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez is...still speaking.
He spoke at length about the work the federation did to put the 2021 Copa America on in Brazil during the pandemic.
The crowd looks riveted, on the edge of their seats.
He's done now! Hopefully we'll be moving onto the actual draw soon.
Draw lacking glamor so far
If you missed the way too lengthy opening remarks by the FIFA and confederation presidents, count yourself lucky. Where’s Pitbull when you need him?!
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CONMEBOL doesn't care about money, you say?
(Photo: Getty Images)
CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez is now speaking again. He started by celebrating CONMEBOL's history as the oldest football federation in the world.
He also claimed that the federation "doesn't care about money" but rather glory. Hmm...
Dignitary roll call
(Photo: Getty Images)
CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez is now speaking, thanking many of the dignitaries in attendance tonight.
He's invited FIFA president Gianni Infantino to the stage now, who is continuing the roll call of dignitaries.
Events like these are nothing if not political opportunities.
Dual languages
Our hosts are thankfully speaking in both English and Spanish. That is especially helpful for someone like myself, who, for reasons passing understanding, studied Latin in school...
The ceremony has begun!
(Photo: Getty Images)
We're listening to introductory remarks from our two hosts for the evening.
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Just moments away now!
(Paul Tenorio)
Just a few minutes now before the draw begins!
Scaloni and Infantino arrive
(Paul Tenorio)
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni and FIFA president Gianni Infantino arrived back-to-back within a minute of each other.
The crowd around Scaloni was nuts, with fans and media alike crowding around him as he made his way to the red carpet. Infantino’s car pulled up seconds later and he emerged and headed inside.
Berhalter: Copa America is like a 'mini World Cup'
(Photo: Getty Images)
USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter spoke to Fox Sports ahead of the draw: "It's a very prestigious tournament. This is the 46th edition of Copa America. Some very competitive South American teams on our home soil so for us it's like a mini World Cup.
"It's about us continuing to improve. We showed we can compete on the world stage and now, how do we win on the world stage, that's the next test. When you look at our group, it's a really solid group of guys. All of them are progressing with their clubs, and now we need to take the next step together.
"We really need to focus on that core group of players and keep moving them along. I'm not sure Copa America is the time to experiment with a lot of new players. But we had a young group at the last World Cup so this group is more than ready to take part in the Copa America and then the 2026 World Cup."
Former USSF president Carlos Cordeiro on hand too
Former USSF president Carlos Cordeiro, now a senior advisor to FIFA president Gianni Infantino is here tonight. Cordeiro lives here in Miami, where FIFA is moving its headquarters.
Cordeiro resigned as USSF president in 2020 amid a backlash to court filings related to the equal pay lawsuit with the U.S. women’s national team.
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Television coverage underway
Television coverage has begun on FS1 in the United States and on TSN3 in Canada. But stay right here on our live blog if you want to save yourself from listening to some of the talking heads, perhaps even to avoid one in particular...
A former Copa America winner is here
(Photo: Getty Images)
Diego Godin, who won the Copa America with Uruguay in 2011, is on hand for tonight's draw after retiring from football earlier this year.
Messi set to break Copa America appearances record
Lionel Messi is set to break the record for the most appearances in Copa America history in Argentina's first match — which is the opening game of the tournament in Atlanta on June 20.
The match will be his 35th Copa America appearance, which will surpass former Chile goalkeeper Sergio Livingstone's total. That record has stood since 1953!
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