Looking to win their first-ever pan-American title at the fifth attempt, USA will be the headline act in Group C of this summer's Copa America, with the Stars and Stripes aiming to impress a home crowd.
The hosts will face a stern test from 14-time South American champions Uruguay in the section, who are striving to win only their second Copa America since the turn of the century, while Panama and Bolivia are hoping to spring a few surprises.
Here, Sports Mole provides the lowdown on Group C of Copa America 2024 and predicts who will progress to the knockout rounds.
COPA AMERICA 2024 GROUP C STANDINGS
COPA AMERICA 2024 GROUP C FIXTURES & RESULTS
June 23: USA 2-0 Bolivia (11pm | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas)
June 24: Uruguay 3-1 Panama (2am | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, Florida)
June 27: Panama 2-1 USA (11pm | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atalanta, Georgia)
June 28: Uruguay 5-0 Bolivia (2am | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey)
July 2: USA 0-1 Uruguay (2am | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri)
July 2: Bolivia 1-3 Panama (2am | Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, Florida)
All kickoff times BST
TEAMS
USA
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Previous Copa America appearances: 4, latest in 2016
Best result: 4th (1995 and 2016)
Copa America 2021: Not invited
Qualification: Winners of 2023-24 CONCACAF Nations League A
Manager: Gregg Berhalter
FORM
- L
- L
- W
- W
- L
- D
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City), Sean Johnson (Toronto FC), Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest)
Defenders: Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo), Mark McKenzie (Genk), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC), Tim Ream (Fulham), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Midfielders: Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Yunus Musah (AC Milan), Giovanni Reyna (Nottingham Forest), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven)
Attackers: Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin), Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Josh Sargent (Norwich City), Tim Weah (Juventus), Haji Wright (Coventry City)
URUGUAY
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Previous Copa America appearances: 45, latest in 2021
Best result: Champions (1916, 1917, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1935, 1942, 1956, 1959, 1967, 1983, 1987, 1995, 2011)
Copa America 2021: Quarter-finals
Qualification: CONMEBOL Member
Manager: Marcelo Bielsa
FORM
- W
- W
- W
- L
- D
- W
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Sergio Rochet (Internacional), Santiago Mele (Atletico Junior), Franco Israel (Sporting Lisbon)
Defenders: Sebastian Caceres (Club America), Jose Maria Gimenez (Atletico Madrid), Lucas Olaza (Krasnodar), Mathias Olivera (Napoli), Nahitan Nandez (Al Qadsiah), Ronald Araujo (Barcelona), Nicolas Marichal (Dinamo Moscow), Matias Vina (Flamengo), Guillermo Varela (Flamengo)
Midfielders: Manuel Ugarte (Paris Saint-Germain), Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), Emiliano Martinez (Midtjylland), Nicolas de la Cruz (River Plate), Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Flamengo)
Attackers: Facundo Pellistri (Manchester United), Maximiliano Araujo (Toluca), Brian Rodriguez (Club America), Darwin Nunez (Liverpool), Agustin Canobbio (Athletico Paranaense), Brian Ocampo (Cadiz), Cristian Olivera (LAFC), Luis Suarez (Inter Miami)
PANAMA
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Previous Copa America appearances: 1, latest in 2021
Best result: Group stage (2016)
Copa America 2021: Not invited
Qualification: 4th in 2023-24 CONCACAF Nations League A
Manager: Thomas Christiansen
FORM
- W
- W
- L
- L
- W
- W
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Orlando Mosquera (Maccabi Tel-Aviv), Luis Mejia (Club Nacional), Cesar Samudio (CD Marathon)
Defenders: Eduardo Anderson (Deportivo Saprissa), Jose Cordoba (Levski Sofia), Eric Davis (FC Kosice), Ivan Anderson (Fortaleza CEIF), Michael Murillo (Marseille), Cesar Blackman (Slovan Bratislava), Edgardo Farina (Municipal), Roderick Miller (Turan Tovuz IK), Martin Krug (Levante ll)
Midfielders: Anibal Godoy (Nashville SC), Adalberto Carrasquilla (Houston Dynamo), Cristian Martinez (Al-Jandal SC), Jose Luis Rodríguez (Famalicao), Edgar Barcenas (Mazatlan), Jovani Welch, (Academico Viseu FC), Freddy Gondola (Maccabi Bnei Reineh), Carlos Harvey (Minnesota United), Abdiel Ayarza (Cienciano), Cesar Yanis (AD San Carlos)
Attackers: Ismael Diaz (CD Universidad Catolica), Jose Fajardo (CD Universidad Catolica), Eduardo Guerrero (Zorya Lugansk), Cecilio Waterman (Alianza Lima)
BOLIVIA
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Previous Copa America appearances: 28, latest in 2021
Best result: Champions (1963)
Copa America 2021: Group Stage
Qualification: CONMEBOL Member
Manager: Antonio Carlos Zago
FORM
- L
- L
- W
- L
- L
- L
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Guillermo Viscarra (The Strongest), Carlos Lampe (Bolivar), Gustavo Almada (Universitario de Vinto).
Defenders: Diego Medina (Always Ready), Hector Cuellar (Always Ready), Marcelo Suarez (Always Ready), Yomar Rocha (Bolivar), Jesus Sagredo (Bolivar), Jose Sagredo (Bolivar), Adrian Jusino (The Strongest), Luis Haquin (Ponte Preta), Roberto Carlos Fernandez (FC Baltika Kaliningrad)
Midfielders: Lucas Chavez (Bolivar), Leonel Justiniano (Bolivar), Fernando Saucedo (Bolivar), Ramiro Vaca (Bolivar), Robson Matheus (Always Ready), Adalid Terrazas (Always Ready), Rodrigo Ramallo (The Strongest), Boris Cespedes (Yverdon Sport FC), Jaume Cuellar (Barcelona B), Gabriel Villamil (Liga de Quito), Miguel Terceros (Santos FC)
Attackers: Cesar Menacho (Blooming), Carmelo Algaranaz (Bolivar), Bruno Miranda (The Strongest)
Copa America 2024 Group C Prediction
After lifting a third straight CONCACAF Nations League title in March following victories over Jamaica and arch rivals Mexico, USA will be targeting top spot in this section, however we feel that a resurgent South American giant will force the Stars and Stripes to settle for second.
Having begun life under the expert stewardship of Bielsa promisingly, we expect Uruguay to top Group C at this summer's Copa America, with Panama finishing in third position ahead of Bolivia, who are set to be the whipping boys of the quartet.
Carter White
