Sports Betting: Our Bracket for Copa America 2024!
by Tyler Doty | by Tyler Doty
We are expecting an enthralling Copa América in the USA this summer. World champions Argentina are the betting favorites to lift the trophy after their success in the 2021 edition, while Brazil’s tantalizing front three are going to be great fun to watch.
Several dark horses will also fancy their chances. There are weaknesses in both the Brazil and Argentina squads – the 2021 showdown was the first time they had met in a Copa América final since 2007.
The 16 teams involved is the joint-most in the competition’s history. Held across 14 stadia around the US, this should be captivating from the first match to the last.
Our Bracket
We are predicting the two powerhouses to meet in the final, with Argentina lifting the trophy for a record-setting 16th time. The USA are expected to take another step forward in their development by knocking out Hungary and beating Ecuador in the third-place playoff.
This should be a high standard tournament from start to finish, with many of the world’s best players on show. It’s an opportunity to lay down a marker before attention returns to World Cup qualifying.
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What Are Our Predictions Based On
If you want to learn a bit more about how we reached these predictions, let’s dive a little deeper. Here are some key factors:
- Squad quality
- Team and player form
- Managerial pedigree
- Statistics
- Head-to-head records
- Tournament history
The squads and probable XIs are our primary focus when making pre-tournament predictions of this nature. Brazil and Argentina obviously have the better overall talent, and that’s a factor that puts them ahead of the rest of the teams involved. Beyond raw talent, we also consider the balance of each team. Some are stacked with forwards, but have a weakness in defence. Others will be strong at both ends of the pitch but lack proven quality in midfield.
The form of key players is important, though how a player performs at club level will not always translate to a major tournament like this. Team-wide form is more significant. Sides like Peru have struggled over the last 12 months, which obviously impacts how we project them for this summer’s competition.
Head-to-head records are worth looking at, too. We will consider how managers have fared in past matchups, and whether certain nations consistently get the better of one of their group-stage foes.
Tournament experience is worth considering. Looking decades back doesn’t necessarily tell us much about the current group, but how they have got on in the last few major tournaments can give an idea of their mentality coming into this tournament. Uruguay, for instance, have not been past the last eight of a Copa América or World Cup since 2011.
Group Stage Overview
Argentina, the USA, Uruguay, Colombia, and Brazil are all but guaranteed to qualify from their respective groups. This is reflected in their odds at the leading sportsbooks. Mexico and Ecuador are also odds-on to qualify, but we think there is potential for an upset in Group B with Venezuela or Jamaica potentially sneaking into the knockout rounds.
Sportsbooks favor Chile to take second place behind Argentina in Group A, and that’s what we’ve gone with for our forecast. We wouldn’t write off Peru or Canada, though.
In Group C, Bolivia and Panama would need to spring a massive surprise to knock out the USA or Uruguay. The same goes for Costa Rica and Paraguay in Group D.
Heading into the knockout rounds, Brazil and Argentina are on course to meet in the final. We’ve got the USA pipping Uruguay to the top of Group C to avoid Brazil in the quarters, while Ecuador top Group B and knock out Chile in the last eight.
