Summary
As the excitement builds for the prestigious Copa America, all eyes are on the opening match featuring Argentina and Canada at the impressive Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta this Thursday. Argentina enters the tournament as the pre-tournament favorites, and fans are eagerly anticipating their performance on U.S. soil.
On the other side, Jesse Marsch's Canadian squad faces a formidable challenge. The match is set to test Canada's readiness and resilience as they aim to compete at a high level in this prestigious tournament.
Canada's build-up to the Copa America has been a mixed bag, with a defeat against the Netherlands and a draw against France. However, this tournament offers them a valuable opportunity to gauge their progress and prepare for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Argentina's Prospects
With Brazil experiencing a dip in form post-World Cup, Argentina's position as the favorite has been further solidified. The Argentine squad, although missing key players like Paulo Dybala, Juan Foyth, and Lucas Ocampos, is still brimming with talent. Veterans like Lionel Messi, Ángel Di María, and Nicolás Otamendi are expected to play significant roles, bringing their experience and skill to the forefront.
Key midfielders Rodrigo De Paul and Leandro Paredes are likely starters, ensuring a solid backbone for the team. The possible starting XI for Argentina could feature E. Martínez; Montiel, Romero, L. Martínez, Acuña; De Paul, Paredes, Lo Celso; Álvarez, Messi, and Di María.
Argentina's primary objective is to dominate on U.S. soil, and their fans are confident that they can achieve that goal, particularly given their strong lineup and recent form.
Canada's Challenge
For Canada, the transition from seasoned players like Milan Borjan, Lucas Cavallini, and Atiba Hutchinson to a new generation of talent is underway. Emerging stars such as Jonathan David, Cyle Larin, Tajon Buchanan, Alphonso Davies, and Stephen Eustáquio are expected to shine in this tournament.
Maxime Crepeau steps into the role of the new No. 1 goalkeeper, and Luc de Fougerolles is set to make his senior debut. Canada's possible starting XI might include Crepeau; Johnstone, Bombito, Cornelius, Davies; Buchanan, Koné, Eustáquio, Millar; David, and Larin.
This match against Argentina will serve as Canada's first significant competitive test under the spotlight. While the outcome may not necessarily determine their overall tournament success, it will provide a crucial learning experience as they build towards the 2026 World Cup.
Group A Overview
Group A is composed of Argentina, Canada, Peru, and Chile. This group is poised to offer intense and entertaining soccer, with each team bringing its unique strengths and strategies to the table. Argentina is widely expected to top the group, given their formidable lineup and experience.
For Canada, the key fixtures will be their matches against Peru and Chile. Competing against these teams will offer invaluable experience and help Canada gauge their own progress ahead of future international competitions.
How to Watch and Odds
The highly anticipated match between Argentina and Canada is scheduled for Thursday, June 20, at 8 p.m. ET. The venue is the state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Fans can catch the action live on FS1, Univision, and TUDN. For those preferring a live stream, Fubo offers a free trial to watch the match online.
As for the betting odds, Argentina is favored at -333, with a draw listed at +400, and Canada as the underdog at +900.
Prediction
While the opening match may start off tightly contested, Argentina is expected to edge out a victory. A narrow 1-0 win for Argentina is the predicted outcome, which would be an encouraging result for Canada. Regardless of the scoreline, Canada's focus will be on gaining valuable experience and building confidence for their key matches against Peru and Chile.
As the Copa America kicks off, soccer enthusiasts around the world are set to witness intense battles, spectacular goals, and unforgettable moments. Both Argentina and Canada will be looking to make a strong statement as they begin their journey in this esteemed tournament.