Copa America 2024 Group C Preview: The USA, Uruguay, Panama, and Bolivia Battle for the Knockout Stage

Group C of the 2024 Copa América is set to kick off on Sunday, June 23, 2024. The host nation, the United States of America, is set to host Bolivia at 3:00 PM, while Uruguay hosts Panama at 6:00 PM in the first round of the group stage matches. Uruguay and the USA are considered the favorites to qualify for the knockouts, while Bolivia and Panama are considered underdogs. Here at Telecom Asia Sport, our expert team has looked closely at the chances of the four teams advancing into the knockout stage in Group C, along with their betting odds. You can also find all the Copa America group-stage matches here. 

Goalkeepers: Sergio Rochet (Internacional), Santiago Mele (Atletico Junior), Franco Israel (Sporting CP)

Defenders: Sebastian Csceres (Club America), Jose Maraa Gimenez (Atlético 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 Hotspur), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), Emiliano Martinez (Midtjylland), Nicolas de la Cruz (River Plate), Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Flamengo).

Forwards: Facundo Pellistri (Granada), Maximiliano Araujo (Toluca), Brian Rodriguez (Club America), Darwin Nunez (Liverpool), Agustin Canobbio (Athletico Paranaense), Brian Ocampo (Cadiz), Cristian Olivera (LAFC), Luis Suarez (Inter Miami).

Uruguay, the joint-most successful team in Copa America history, are the favorites to secure a top-table finish in this group ahead of the host nation, the United States of America. They have won the Copa América 15 times and have been tied with Argentina for the most titles in the tournament's history, winning their most recent title in 2011. In the Copa America tournament, Uruguay has finished as a runner-up a record six times and will be hoping to reach the final. They finished second in the Conmebol World Cup qualifiers, and in their warm-up friendly for the tournament, they had mixed form, playing two draws, losing once, and winning their recent match. Their squad is boosted with experienced and young players like Luis Suarez, Darwin Nunez, Araujo Ronaldo, Valverde Federico, and several others. 

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 (Bournemouth), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Yunus Musah (AC Milan), Gio Reyna (Nottingham Forest), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven).

Forwards: Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin), Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Josh Sargent (Norwich City), Tim Weah (Juventus), Haji Wright (Coventry City).

The host, the United States of America, and the seven-time Gold Cup winners return to the Copa America for their fifth appearance at the tournament. In two of their last four appearances, the USMNT have been knocked out of the group stages, and in the other two, they have come in fourth. Experienced players like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Ream Tim, and Gio Reyna will be crucial for the USMNT. In their friendly match for the tournament, the United States of America had a poor performance having lost a disappointing 5-1 to Colombia and played 1-1 to Brazil. 

Goalkeepers: Carlos Lampe (Bolivar), Guillermo Viscarra (The Strongest), Gustavo Almada (Universitario de Vinto).

Defenders: Jose Sagredo (Bolivar), Adrian Jusino (The Strongest), Roberto Fernandez (Baltika Kaliningrad), Luis Haquin (Ponte Preta), Jairo Quinteros (Bolivar), Diego Medina (Always Ready), Jesus Sagredo (Bolivar), Marcelo Suarez (Always Ready), Yomar Rocha (Bolivar), Sebastian Alvarez (Oriente Petrolero), Cesar Romero (Blooming).

Midfielders: Leonel Justiniano (Bolivar), Ramiro Vaca (Bolivar), Fernando Saucedo (Bolivar), Boris Cespedes (Yverdon-Sport), Gabriel Villamil (LDU Quito), Miguel Terceros (Santos), Hector Cuellar (Always Ready), Robson Tome (Always Ready), Pablo Vaca (Always Ready), Adalid Terrazas (Always Ready).

Forwards: Rodrigo Ramallo (The Strongest), Carmelo Algaranaz (Bolivar), Bruno Miranda (The Strongest), Jaume Cuellar (Barcelona B), Cesar Menacho (Blooming), Lucas Chavez (Bolivar).

Bolivia had disappointing results in their warm-up friendly for the Copa America tournament, having suffered four losses and only one win. Bolivia are considered a big underdog and the weakest team in South America considering their run of results ahead of the tournament. Bolivia, in the last edition of the Copa America, suffered defeats in all their group-stage fixtures. 

Goalkeepers: Orlando Mosquera (Maccabi Tel-Aviv), Luis Mejia (Club Nacional), Cesar Samudio (CD Marathon).

Defenders: Fidel Escobar (Deportivo Saprissa), Eduardo Anderson (Deportivo Saprissa), Jose Cordoba (Levski Sofia), Eric Davis (FC Kosice), Iván 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 Rodriguez (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).

Forwards: Ismael Diaz (CD Universidad Católica), Jose Fajardo (CD Universidad Catolica), Eduardo Guerrero (Zorya Lugansk).

Panama enters Copa América having suffered a 1-0 defeat against Paraguay in their warmup for the tournament. They have been impressive under manager Thomas Christiansen, finishing as runner-ups in the 2023 Gold Cup and in fourth place in the 2023/24 Nations League. Panama will feature in their second Copa America this summer. Their maiden campaign in the competition came in 2016, where they finished in third place in Group G. 

Based on our thorough analysis and historical records of Group C, we predict that Uruguay is the favorite to win the group. Their squad is strengthened by a mix of experienced and talented players, including Luis Suarez, Darwin Nunez, Ronald Araujo, Federico Valverde, and others, which will help them secure the top spot in the group.

The odds for the Copa America 2024 group stage are provided by Bet365, and they have provided the best odds for group-stage betting.