This article is also available in French.
Summer can only mean one thing to soccer fans, international tournaments! The USA will host Copa America in 2024 and Canada will take part for the first time in their history. Les Rouges makes their competition debut with Jesse Marsch in charge following John Herdman’s exit. Canadian soccer fans are eager to see Marsch in his first competitive fixture. So when does the Copa America start and where can you watch it?
Novibet is here to give soccer fans a helping hand this Copa America. We have outlined all the key dates and other important aspects of the tournament below. Whether you want to know more about the Copa America stadiums or upcoming soccer predictions, we have you covered.
When does Copa America Start?
The opening game of the tournament kicks off in Atlanta, Georgia. You can lock in your bet on the Argentina vs Canada fixture before the match starts on June 20 at 8:00 pm EDT at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Lionel Messi’s Argentina enters Copa America as favourites. Jesse Marsch’s men must be at their best if they want to take anything from this game.
Welcome to the CONMEBOL Copa América™, @CanadaSoccerEN ! 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/UhiGQel9Io
— CONMEBOL Copa América™️ ENG (@copaamerica_ENG) March 23, 2024
There are few better places to kick off Copa America. The Merdedes-Benz Stadium set the MLS Cup attendance record in 2018. 73,019 fans were in attendance to watch the game between the Portland Timbers and Atlanta United. We are likely to see similar crowds in this opener.
When does the Group Stage Start?
The group stage begins on June 20. Group A will kick off proceedings when Argentina meets Canada. The format has changed from previous iterations of the tournament following Copa America’s expansion to 16 teams. There are now four groups of four nations instead of two groups of five. Each country will play the other three in their group once.
Peru will face Chile on June 21 in the second group game of the tournament. After that, they will play two group games every day for the next 11 days. The 24th and final group game of the tournament will take place on July 2 between Costa Rica and Paraguay in Group D.
Canada received a tough group in the draw on December 7. They will face Argentina, Chile, and Peru. The World Cup winners should top the group with Chile fancied to take second place and progress to the knockout stages.
When do the quarterfinals start?
Following the final group game, the top two teams from each group progress to the Copa America quarterfinals. The first Copa America quarterfinal game kicks off on July 4 at 8:00 pm CDT at the NRG Stadium between the Group A winner and the runner-up of Group B. They play the final fixture of this round on July 6 at 6:00 pm MST between the winner of Group C and the runner-up of Group D. Every game after the group fixtures follows a straight-knockout format. If the game is level after 90 minutes, extra time is played, followed by penalties if necessary.
They place the eight teams who progress to the quarterfinals into matches according to their finishes in their respective groups. In theory, teams who top their group will receive a more generous draw at this stage. However, we often see that anything can happen in the group stages, and we may even see some shock exits.
When do the semifinals start?
This is where we see some of the most competitive games of Copa America. The winners of the quarterfinal games receive a rest before the semifinals. The winners of the opening game receive five days, while the remaining three teams receive four.
These two fixtures run on consecutive days. The first is on July 9 at 8:00 pm EDT at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey. They play the second on July 10 at 8:00 pm EDT at the Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina.
When is the Copa America final?
The Copa America Final takes place four days after the second semifinal game on July 14 at 8:00 pm EDT at the Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida. Over 64,000 fans will flock to the stadium to watch the clash. It will be the third-ever competitive soccer match at the venue, the other two coming in the weeks prior for Copa America group games.
Our online sportsbook has Argentina and Brazil leading the way as favourites for the tournament. Argentina is the current holder having taken home the Copa America in 2021. We price them at 9/5 to match that feat, following their Qatar World Cup triumph in 2022. Lionel Messi won the Golden Ball award in Qatar, becoming the first player ever to win the award twice. He will lead La Albiceleste onto the field in what many believe could be his final international tournament. The Inter Miami man turns 37 during the competition.
Not far behind Argentina in the soccer betting odds is Brazil, who is 9/4. Selecao is the most successful nation in the 21st century in this tournament. They have lifted the Copa America on three occasions, the most recent coming in 2019. However, they will be without their talisman Neymar. The 32-year-old is recovering from a torn ACL. In his place, we will see young stars like Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and teenage prodigy Endrick.
Both nations can avoid each other on their prospective routes to the final. This means we could see them face off at the Hard Rock Stadium in a rematch of the 2021 final.
How long does Copa America last?
Copa America begins on June 20 and ends on July 14. The schedule is shorter than most international tournaments. The 16-team format removes the Round of 16 stages you will see at the 2024 Euros. However, it is still jam-packed with soccer. They kick off the group stage with the first two games on June 20 and June 21, respectively.
Following those fixtures, they play two group games every day until June 2. In the next part of the competition, they play four quarterfinal games over three days, two semifinals over two days, and the final on July 14. There are 32 games in 24 days with just five days of break between them.
With the games coming thick and fast once the tournament starts, it is smart to get your Copa America bets in early. The first eight group games are open for betting on our sportsbook. Beyond that, you can wager on the outright winner, group winners, and teams to reach the final. New customers can sign up for our welcome bonus to bet with reduced risk. We will match your first deposit up to $500, allowing you to wager with bonus funds.
Where to watch Copa America 2024 in Canada
TSN’s ‘Summer of Soccer’ has seen them secure broadcasting rights for Copa America and Euro 2024. In French-speaking areas, all the Copa America action will be available on RDS while Euro 2024 will be shown on TVA Sports. The Bell Media sports networks will broadcast every Copa America game on their TSN, TSN+, and RDS platforms. They will also have comprehensive news, analysis, and highlights throughout the tournament. If you are interested in European soccer, find out when EURO 2024 starts and where you can watch every game!
