Canada at the Copa America 2024: What Bets on the Canucks?
by Tyler Doty | by Tyler Doty
Canada have never competed in the Copa América before. Ahead of co-hosting the 2026 World Cup, the Canucks are taking part in the 2024 edition of the tournament.
They featured in their second World Cup a couple of years ago. Canadian football is the strongest it has ever been, led by Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David. While they are no more than rank outsiders for this summer’s tournament in the US, the experience will be invaluable after losing all three of their matches in Qatar.
In a group with Argentina, Chile, and Peru, there are some long odds available in Canada Copa América futures markets. We think there’s value out there, though, so here are some of the best bets for your Copa América predictions.
Make It Out of the Group
Canada are +200 to make it out of Group A at FanDuel. Sharing that price with Peru, sportsbooks are not massively confident in the Canucks’ ability to reach the knockout rounds.
Jamaica, Bolivia, Panama, and Costa Rica all have longer odds to progress, however. Group A looks set to have a fair amount of parity behind tournament favorites Argentina.
While Canada are not widely fancied due to Chile’s Copa América pedigree, we are reluctant to write off the Canucks after qualifying for just their second-ever World Cup a couple of years ago and competing deep into the last couple of Gold Cups.
Argentina Lead Canada
FanDuel are offering a straight forecast on each Copa América group. With holders Argentina expected to progress with ease, they are inevitably favored to top the section.
We can pair Argentina winning the group with Canada finishing second for odds of +550. This price is very appealing given that the Canadians are +200 to make it through. If the Canucks are to upset the odds, it’s likely to be from getting results against Chile and Peru.
Argentina dropping any points would be a bit of a surprise. The reigning world champions have won their last five matches. Their squad might not be as packed with star names as at other tournaments, but Lionel Messi is back, and their record under Lionel Scaloni is exceptional.
Losing All Group Games
If you’re less confident in Canada’s chances, you might consider backing the Canucks to lose all three group games at DraftKings. The current price is +750, which seems reasonable enough after they lost all three of their matches at the 2022 World Cup.
Canada have lost three of their last six matches. Their recent record against teams of the calibre they will be facing in Group A is poor, aside from a goalless draw with France in the build-up to this competition.
Given Canada’s relatively lengthy odds to progress from their group, the +750 price in this market is longer than expected. Six teams, including their Group A peers Peru, have a shorter price to lose all their matches.
Jonathan David To Top Score?
He might not have scored in his last eight caps, but you can talk yourself into backing Jonathan David at +4200 for the Golden Boot. David scored 19 goals for Lille in Ligue 1 last season, and he’s only four goals away from becoming Canada’s all-time leading goal scorer.
Ranking in the 83rd percentile in non-penalty expected goals per 90 over the last 365 days, David is Canada’s main goal-scoring threat. His record at international level is excellent, including winning the Gold Cup Golden Boot in 2019.
This is obviously a longshot, but if Canada finish in the top two, they will fancy their chances against whoever they face from Group B.
