Canada will be playing in their first-ever Copa America game against perhaps the most difficult opponents possible as they face defending champions, Argentina
The top-ranked side in the world, Argentina, open their 2024 Copa America campaign with an exciting game against Canada who are one of the six invitees from CONCACAF for this edition. Argentina holds the record for most official titles won by a men’s national team with 22, and their pedigree cannot be overstated against what is Canada’s best team in decades.
The only previous meeting between both nations took place in an international friendly in 2010 which La Albiceleste won 5-0 at home. They are once again overwhelming favourites in this year’s opening game of the Copa America but must be cautious of their previous opening match against Qatar at the 2022 World Cup.
Argentina have won the last two international tournaments and they are poised to make it a hat-trick in the United States of America but would have to overcome some tough challenges.
Lionel Scaloni‘s men won 11 of their last 12 matches since lifting the World Cup and that run began with Thiago Almada and Lionel Messi’s late goals deciding a friendly against Panama.
The following game against Curacao ended 7-0 in favour of the world champions who closed out the March 2023 international break with very much a party atmosphere.
June brought a pair of 2-0 friendly victories against Australia and Indonesia while they continued the winning run against Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay and Peru. Goals from Ronald Araujo and Darwin Nunez dealt Argentina a 2-nil defeat against Uruguay at La Bombonera
The White and Sky Blues had to bounce back immediately which they did five days later with a 1-0 victory over Brazil at the Maracana that kept them top of their World Cup qualifying group.
2024 began with a comprehensive 3-0 win over El Salvador in March and Scaloni’s men also hit Costa Rica 3-1 in Los Angeles.
Argentina have the confidence and depth of quality within their ranks to overcome any obstacles that come their way in international tournaments. It is now up to the South Americans to win a second consecutive continental championship and they will look to avoid any slipups against a stubborn Canada side.
The Copa America debutants have seen their fortunes dip since the last World Cup but they remain the only national team alongside Mexico and the United States to win a Gold Cup.
Les Rouges returned from Qatar with a run to the CONCACAF Nations League final – their first final in 23 years – where they lost 2-0 to the United States. The CONCACAF Gold Cup began only a few days later and a win with two group-stage draws was enough to see Canada through to the quarterfinal where they lost to the USA again on penalties.
This game marked the end of John Herdman’s tenure with the national team as he left at the end of August to manage Major League Soccer side, Toronto FC.
Interim coach, Mauro Biello, had a huge job on his hands as he was promoted from his role as Assistant Coach and tasked with guiding the team through the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Nations League A, where victory in a two-legged tie against Jamaica would qualify them to participate in CONMEBOL’s 2024 Copa América.
Biello’s tenure was ushered in by a 4-1 friendly defeat to Japan but they regrouped to beat Jamaica 2–1 a month later. Canada needed only a draw in the second leg at home but they suffered a monumental collapse despite leading at halftime to lose 3–2 and relinquish the tie on away goals.
The humiliating loss capped off a disappointing year for Canada men’s soccer post-World Cup and they now had to qualify for a final place in the Copa America via a play-off against Trinidad and Tobago in March.
Cyle Larin and Jacob Shaffelburg each scored in the second half to lead them to the tournament being held in 14 cities across the United States. Canada will thus start their campaign against the defending champions in Atlanta and they have a daunting task on their hands.
The team nevertheless has to play the Netherlands in a friendly on June 6 as preparation for their first Copa America tournament. Biello is gradually stamping his mark on the squad as a combination of factors meant no players above 30 years old were invited to the March squad.
This attention to quality, as well as the resolution of several off-pitch issues with the Soccer Federation, may cause Canada’s players to approach this tournament much calmer than the calamitous showings of 2023.
Indeed, they have nothing to lose and plenty to gain in an opening match against the tournament favourites. It remains only a matter of time to know if their experience in recent tournaments can galvanise them this summer.
Match tickets
This matchday 1 Copa America fixture takes place on Friday, 21 June 2024 with kick-off scheduled for 1 AM UK time. Match tickets are available for sale on the websites of both national federations and you can hurry to copy yours.
Given that there could be up to 70,000 people in attendance at the Mercedez-Benz Stadium, this game should be sold out as no one would be willing to miss it. It is thus important to purchase tickets early enough and we urge supporters looking for Argentina vs Canada tickets to make their search on a ticket resale site.
Team news
Argentina captain and marksman, Lionel Messi, missed the friendly games in March due to a hamstring injury and he joins Paulo Dybala, Exequiel Palacios and Marcos Senesi on the injured list at the time of writing.
Jonathan Osorio missed Canada’s crucial Copa America qualifying playoff against Trinidad and Tobago due to a hip injury but the veteran midfielder should be fine and included in the squad for the tournament.
Line-ups
Competition for spots in the Argentina attack is fierce with Lautaro Martinez topping the Serie A scoring charts this season with 23 goals in 26 league games already. The 26-year-old should earn a starting place alongside Messi, but Julian Alvarez might have something to say about that.
Argentina: Martínez; Acuña, Romero, Otamendi, Molina; De Paul, Celso, Mac Allister, Fernández; Messi, Álvarez
Canada are blessed with exciting young talent and none more so than the versatile and pacy Alphonso Davies. The Bayern Munich man is a constant threat whether as a left-back or winger, and Argentina’s right side must be wary of his forward bursts.
Canada: St. Clair; Johnston, Cornelius, Miller; Davies, Eustaquio, Fraser, Buchanan; Ugbo, David, Larin
Prediction
Argentina will undoubtedly be the favourites due to having a stronger squad and better form coming into the game and they will be pleased to know that Canada have failed to keep a clean sheet in five of their last six matches.
Yet, the Maple Leafs would worry Argentina given their squad boasts talented individuals like Davies and Jonathan David who are capable of causing serious damage in attack. Hence, the South Americans’ experience would be key to controlling the game and deciding the outcome.
Argentina 3-1 Canada