Copa America kicked off Thursday night in Atlanta, with Inter Miami icon Lionel Messi and his defending champion Argentina team beating Canada at Mercedes Benz Stadium, 2-0.

La Albiceleste (sky blue and white) are not only the reigning Copa champions, but also the World Cup champions, so they are the team to beat as the month-long tournament gets underway. Other teams expected to advance include Uruguay, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico and the host United States.

How it Works: The 16-team field is comprised of 10 teams from South America and six from North and Central America and the Caribbean. The tournament begins with four groups of four teams. During the group phase, teams earn three points for a win, one for a tie, and zero for a loss. After each team has played its group opponents once, the top two will advance.

Here’s a look at the groups, and predictions of which teams will move on to the knockout stage ...

GROUP A

— Argentina, Peru, Chile, Canada

Defending champion Argentina is the heavy favorite to raise the trophy again. Inter Miami star Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, led La Albiceleste to the 2022 World Cup title and since their 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in the opening game of that World Cup, Argentina has won 17 of its past 18 matches heading into the tournament. Their only loss was 2-0 to Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier.

Messi is joined by a loaded roster that includes Julian Alvarez (Manchester City), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico de Madrid), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez.

Chile is expected to be the second-strongest team with veteran Alexis Sanchez among the players to watch. Chile beat Argentina twice in 2015 and 2016 in penalty kicks in the Copa America final.

Canada has a shot to pull off an upset or two under new American coach Jesse Marsch. Peru lost 2-0 to both Argentina and Chile in World Cup qualifying and will have a tough time getting through the group, but if Edison Flores scores goals, La Rojiblanca could pull a surprise.

...continued

©2024 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.