How the Copa America became a colossal force

The Copa America is one of international soccer’s biggest tournaments and it is one that appears to be growing in stature with each passing edition that takes place.

The competition will feature the best players from the top countries in South America, as well as providing glimpses of those who feature for invited nations to compete, usually from North America.

Given the quality on the pitch, bettors who are looking for soccer odds have started to use the competition as a means of wagering, as they know they can follow some of their favorite stars and see some competitive action take place.

Which players and nations can be seen in the Copa America?

The main attraction of the Copa America, which perhaps makes it a nice alternative from the European Championships that happens simultaneously alongside it, is the involvement of South America’s best. This will usually be the likes of Argentina and Brazil.

The Albiceleste were victorious in the 2024 edition, having defeated Colombia in the final. In doing so, they became a record 16-time holder of the Copa America. Indeed, the team is full of superstars that most football fans will be aware of, with the likes of Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Angel Di Maria, and Enzo Fernandez among the star names.

Speaking of Messi, it could be the final edition of the top competition, as he is 37 years old. The next one will be in 2028, when he will be 41 and it’s hard to foresee him being at the event when it is held in a selected country or more if a joint bid. We already know that Di Maria has decided to retire on top, but Argentina is a country that has always been able to produce superstar talent.

Brazil is another fine example of this, which is why so many continue to watch Selecao when they take to the field, even if they have been disappointing in their recent major competition outings.

The South Americans are stacked with talent from goalkeeper to their attacking line, with individuals like Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, and Endrick among some of the youngest stars to be coming through and making an impact, with the likes of Estêvão looking like a player of the future.

Did the 2024 event tarnish the Copa America?

While Argentina managed to create history with their 16th title, the 2024 Copa America might be remembered for the wrong reasons, which may tarnish the reputation of the major event.

Held in the USA this year, there were numerous instances whereby crowd trouble was witnessed, with the final being no exception. Thousands of fans had tried to attend the match without having tickets, which caused the start of the game to be delayed by 82 minutes. This didn’t happen in Germany with the European Championships, although that tournament had its own issues with streakers and the pitches that were used.

Marcelo Bielsa – who is manager of Uruguay – also criticized the tournament organizers because of violent clashes between his players and Colombian fans, while Jesse Marsch said he was unhappy about how his Canada players were treated throughout the tournament.

With that said, hopefully it’s a one-off and something that will be learned from before the 2028 Copa America, as the tournament is one of the very best to watch when it all goes as smoothly as it ought to.