Lionel Messi, defending champions Argentina learn Copa America 2024 fate as it’s drawn alongside Peru, Chile into Group A

Lionel Messi and Argentina’s Copa America title defense will begin with group matches against Peru, Chile and Canada or Trinidad and Tobago.

Canada will play Trinidad and Tobago in a CONCACAF match on March 23.

Argentina won the last Copa America in 2021, beating Brazil 1-0 in the final thanks to a first-half goal from Angel Di Maria. For the Argentine it was the 15th triumph of the America’s Cup.

Argentina will play in the first match of the tournament, which will be played exclusively in the United States, at next summer’s Copa America against its North American rival on June 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Messi and the rest of the Argentine team will next face Chile on June 25 in East Rutherford, New Jersey at MetLife Stadium.

Lionel Messi’s defending Copa America champions Argentina are hoping to repeat the feat next year.

Messi and Argentina will face Peru, Chile and Team North America in the group stage.

Argentina’s Group A final will take place against Peru on June 29 in the Miami area at Hard Rock Stadium, where the tournament final will also take place.

If Argentina wins Group A, as it would prefer, it will face the Group B runner-up in the quarterfinals on July 4 at NRG Stadium in Houston.

Regardless of whether Argentina emerge as group winners or runners-up, the semi-final match will also take place at MetLife Stadium in the Greater New York area.

Argentina’s path to the final will bypass rivals Brazil and Uruguay, as well as the host country, the United States.

Group B consists of Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela and Jamaica.

Argentina have not won back-to-back Copa America titles since 1991 and 1993.

The last repeat Copa America champions were Chile, who hosted the 2015 Copa America and won the 2016 Copa América Special in the United States, the only time the event was held outside South America.

Messi turns 37 the day before Argentina’s second group stage game, which could signal that both of his last major international tournaments could take place in North America.

Argentina have not won back-to-back Copa America titles since triumphs in 1991 and 1993.

After winning the 2022 World Cup, Argentina are expected to do the same next summer.

The Inter Miami star is expected to try to stay in contention for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Uruguay and Argentina each have 15 Copa America titles.

No country outside South America has ever won the Copa America or competed in the championship.

Only 10 CONMEBOL countries competed in the 2021 Copa America, with Japan and Qatar competing in the 2019 tournament. None of the non-CONMEBOL teams won a game in the tournament or advanced from the group stage.

CONMEBOL has invited two visiting teams from around the world to every South American event since 1993.