USMNT 2024 Copa América preview

The 2024 Copa América kicks off on June 20 when reigning world champions Argentina face Canada at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta at 8:00 PM EST. The tournament is traditionally held in South America, but a partnership between the soccer federations of South America and North America, Central America and the Caribbean will allow an expanded version of the tournament to be held in the United States.

The United States Men’s National Team has competed in the Copa América four times before this year’s edition, including an impressive run to the semi-finals in 2016. The USMNT will look to replicate its success eight years later.

The tournament will also kick off a series of important summers for American soccer. The US will host the first 32-team FIFA Club World Cup next summer, and the FIFA World Cup will return to US soil in 2026. With three major international tournaments being staged back-to-back, the eyes of global football fans will be turned towards the US. The Copa América will be the first test for the No. 11 ranked USMNT to see how they fare against elite teams ahead of hosting the sport’s biggest tournament in 2026.

Attackoptions

At the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the USMNT had the second-youngest roster with an average age of 25.2 years. Ahead of the Copa, the squad remains young with an average age of 25.6, but the team now has more experience after reaching the knockout stages of the World Cup 18 months ago.

The USMNT will look to control teams with its energetic midfield. With captain and Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams still returning from injury, a young midfield trio of AC Milan’s Yunus Musah, Juventus’ Weston Mckennie and Borussia Dortmund’s Gio Reyna are likely to feature in the opening matches. Johnny Cardoso, a 22-year-old midfielder who impressed for Real Betis in Spain last season, will provide more depth in midfield.

Juventus striker Tim Weah and AC Milan striker Chrisitan Pulisic will add a quick and skilful attacking threat up front, but questions remain over who will play as striker. Head Coach Gregg Berhalter has several options on the roster, including PSV’s Ricardo Pepi, Coventry City’s Haji Wright and Norwich City’s Josh Sargent, as well as AS Monaco striker Folarin Balogun who switched his playing eligibility from England to the US in May 2023. Berhalter is likely to rotate these players until someone stakes a claim as the team’s leading forward.

Defense

Fulham USMNT defensive duo Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson are likely to start at the back alongside centre-back Chris Richards, who had a solid club season at Crystal Palace. Joe Scally, a 21-year-old defender who starts for German Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach, will look to solidify the right-back position for the USMNT at the Copa.

Goalkeeper Matt Turner has produced several standout performances for the USMNT in recent years, keeping 23 clean sheets in 39 appearances. However, after losing his starting position for club team Nottingham Forest last season following a string of shaky performances, Turner will be aiming to return to better form in the Copa.

Coach

When Berhalter became head coach in 2018, there was great uncertainty about the future of the USMNT after missing the 2018 World Cup. He worked hard to create a winning culture among the young, talented team. He earned three consecutive CONCACAF Nations League appearances between 2021 and 2024, won the 2021 Gold Cup and reached the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup.

Despite the recent success, the U.S. Soccer Federation was given the opportunity to move in a new coaching direction when Berhalter’s contract expired at the end of 2022. Instead of hiring a new coach to give the improving team a fresh start, the federation opted to go with Berhalter. This tournament will test whether Berhalter has the tactical and managerial skills to bring the USMNT closer to the pinnacle of international sport.

Competition

Lionel Messi’s Brazil and Argentina are tournament favorites. Uruguay and Colombia will also be strong competitors, with both teams reaching the knockout stages at recent World Cups. Mexico, Canada and the US, the top three teams in the North American region, will all look to match up with South America’s elite.

The USMNT had mixed results in friendlies prior to the tournament. The team was defeated 5–1 by Colombia on June 8, resulting in the team’s biggest defeat since 2016. Four days later, the USMNT rebounded with one of its most impressive results, drawing Brazil 1–1 . With the exception of one distribution error from Turner, the team kept Brazil’s electric front line of Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo and Raphinha relatively calm.

The USMNT is in Group C with Uruguay, Panama and Bolivia. Following inconsistencies in recent friendlies, it is unclear which version of the USMNT will face Bolivia for the opening match on June 23 at 6:00 PM EST. If the USMNT plays every match with the same intensity as they did against Brazil, the team has the potential to go far in the tournament.

Thank you for joining us as the 2024 Copa América begins.

To keep up with The Game House further reporting on the Copa America the whole summer.

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