MIAMI — The 2024 CONMEBOL Copa America kicks off on Thursday, with Concacaf nation Canada facing reigning FIFA World Cup champions Argentina in the tournament opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
Argentina is also the defending Copa America champion after winning its 15th title in the 2021 edition. Lionel Scaloni’s squad features two historic players who could be playing in their last tournament in Angel di Maria, who scored the winning goal in the 2021 final against Brazil, and Lionel Messi, the player with the most appearances and goals in the tournament and a game-changer for Inter Miami CF in the recent Concacaf Champions Cup.
One of the young players to watch in the tournament features for Argentina in 19-year-old winger Alejandro Garnacho, along with established stars like Lautaro Martinez and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Argentina also features a familiar face for Concacaf Champions Cup fans in midfielder Guido Rodriguez, who featured for Club America in the 2018 edition.
Canada is one of six Concacaf nations participating in this year’s tournament. The Reds qualified for Copa America after defeating Trinidad and Tobago 2-nil in the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League Play-In in March.
Cyle Larin and Jacob Shaffelburg scored the goals that day, and both are on the team’s 26-man squad submitted by newly appointed head coach Jesse Marsch. Larin is Canada's all-time leading scorer with 29 senior goals. Jonathan David, 24, is second on the list with 26 goals and is another player looking to add to his tally.
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🇦🇷 🇨🇦 Argentina vs Canada
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One of the top players to watch this summer is Canada’s Alphonso Davies, a two-time Concacaf Men’s Player of the Year winner and a Best XI selection in the Gold Cup and Nations League.
Tajon Buchanan, a former Concacaf Gold Cup Best XI selection and Young Player Award recipient in 2021, is also among Canada’s important attacking names and one of the core players who helped the nation to the 2023 Concacaf Nations League Final.
Jacen Russell-Rowe could be one of the rising stars in the tournament after making his senior team debut in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup. The 21-year-old forward recently helped the Columbus Crew to the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup final and will look to transition his club play into national success.
Argentina vs Canada
They will face each other for the first time in the Copa America. This will be their second match; the first was in 2010 in an international friendly, which ended 5-0 in favor of the South Americans with goals by Maxi Rodríguez (16’, 32’), Ángel di María (37’), Carlos Tevez (63’), and Sergio Agüero (71’).
All-Time series: 1 match
0 wins for Canada
0 draws
1 win for Argentina
0 goals for Canada
5 goals for Argentina