With the latest edition of the Copa America kicking off this week, we're sizing up the field. Here's how we think all 16 teams stack up heading into the competition in the United States.
1. Argentina 🇦🇷
Odds to win tournament: +175
Argentina is flying. Since losing the 2019 Copa America semifinal to Brazil, La Albiceleste have lost just two of 57 matches, ending an 18-year Copa America drought and winning their first World Cup in 36 years. Lionel Messi isn't idling toward retirement with Inter Miami; the effervescent forward, who turns 37 on the fifth day of the tournament, has 25 goal contributions (13 goals and 12 assists) in 18 MLS appearances. Argentina and Messi will attract a huge following in the U.S. throughout their run. - Daniel Rouse
2. Brazil 🇧🇷
Odds to win tournament: +225
Built around Neymar for so long, Brazil will enter a new era in earnest when Copa America kicks off. With the veteran forward recovering from a torn ACL, the Selecao are now powered, undisputedly, by Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior. There are question marks in other areas of Dorival Junior's squad, but the presence up front of Vinicius, supported by the likes of club teammate Rodrygo, Raphinha, and teen phenom Endrick - himself an impending Real Madrid player - makes Brazil an obvious threat. The balance of power in South America has shifted decidedly in Argentina's favor in recent years. Can Brazil wrest it back? - Gianluca Nesci
3. Colombia 🇨🇴
Odds to win tournament: +1100
Colombia is riding a 23-game unbeaten streak and is in with a chance of winning its second-ever Copa America. Its wretched seven-match goalless streak during 2022 World Cup qualifiers is almost forgotten after Nestor Lorenzo introduced a more direct style of play to get the best out of Luis Diaz's dribbling, Jhon Arias' pace and excellent use of space, and full-backs who are willing to attack high up the pitch. Goals are becoming increasingly abundant, too, with Lorenzo's team scoring three or more in four of its last five outings. - Rouse
4. Uruguay 🇺🇾
Odds to win tournament: +500
Uruguay has a population of under 3.5 million but shares the record for the most Copa America titles with Argentina at 15. And few can confidently rule out South America's great overachiever being the sole holder of that record once the final concludes on July 14. Uruguay has clicked under Marcelo Bielsa, rising to second in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying while the likes of Darwin Nunez, Facundo Pellistri, Manuel Ugarte, and Federico Valverde keenly execute the iconic tactician's high-energy style of play. La Celeste thumped Mexico 4-0 in their final Copa America tuneup game. - Rouse
5. United States 🇺🇸
Odds to win tournament: +1100
The host nation will get the litmus test it so desperately craves as it continues to build toward the 2026 World Cup by challenging itself against perennial powers beyond its own region. This is the most talented collection of players the United States has ever brought to a major tournament, with several core members entering the prime of their careers. Gregg Berhalter's group lacks a true statement victory outside of CONCACAF, though. This summer's competition provides a prime opportunity to change that, particularly with a potential quarterfinal match against Brazil looming. - Nesci
6. Ecuador 🇪🇨
Odds to win tournament: +1800
Ecuador is one of only two CONMEBOL members to never win a continental title despite consistently producing intriguing talent through the pipelines at local clubs Independiente del Valle and Liga de Quito. The Ecuadorians have never finished better than fourth at the competition and haven't accomplished that since 1993. But this squad may be good enough to change that. Piero Hincapie anchors a sturdy backline, Moises Caicedo, though not at the heights of his Brighton days, patrols the midfield, and Chelsea-bound teen sensation Kendry Paez injects creativity and pizzazz into Felix Sanchez's side. - Nesci
7. Mexico 🇲🇽
Odds to win tournament: +1400
Optimism isn't high while the wounds inflicted by damaging defeats to the United States and the 2022 World Cup group stage exit are yet to heal. The 2023 Gold Cup triumph felt hollow given that tournament is increasingly littered with fringe players. But Jaime Lozano has bravely ditched some older long-term internationals and has spoken passionately about how his players must make fans proud with committed performances. Perhaps Lozano, with help from standout players Santiago Gimenez and Edson Alvarez, can use the Copa America to bring fresh impetus to the program. - Rouse
8. Chile 🇨🇱
Odds to win tournament: +3300
Ricardo Gareca, the coach who turned around Peru's fortunes to lead it to the 2018 World Cup, is now in charge of Chile. Alexis Sanchez, Eduardo Vargas, Mauricio Isla, and even 41-year-old goalkeeper Claudio Bravo are still in the fold. But Gareca - known for giving opportunities to younger players - is gradually introducing the next generation, with Victor Davila, Marcelino Nunez, and Dario Osorio becoming regular starters during the coach's brief time in the dugout. Chile's performances in pre-tournament friendlies - a 3-2 loss to France and a dominant 3-0 win over Paraguay - raised fans' hopes of a run at Copa America. - Rouse
9. Canada 🇨🇦
Odds to win tournament: +6600
Canada's focus is on the 2026 World Cup (which it will co-host with the United States and Mexico). Jesse Marsch, who only took over in May, is still getting to know the players fighting for a place in his squad. So, the fans shouldn't expect much more than signs of progress at Copa America. The recent 0-0 draw with France might indicate solutions are being found to shore up the defense - a long-term problem area - but there could be a wait for goals to consistently arrive after the attack was shaken up by Alphonso Davies' deployment at left-back. Marsch also made a late change to his forwards for his final Copa America squad, dropping Ike Ugbo and calling up Jacen Russell-Rowe. - Rouse
10. Venezuela 🇻🇪
Odds to win tournament: +6600
Salomon Rondon, Venezuela's all-time top scorer with 41 goals, is still a nightmare to defend against. The 34-year-old striker was impossible to contain in his final match for Pachuca before Copa America, overpowering the Columbus Crew backline to score twice and set up another goal in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final. With the exception of a semifinal outing in 2011, La Vinotinto are woeful in Copa America - they didn't win a game in 12 consecutive appearances between 1975 and 2004. But with Rondon, midfielder Yangel Herrera, and gifted wingers to pick from, Venezuela could be a tough opponent. - Rouse
11. Paraguay 🇵🇾
Odds to win tournament: +6600
Despite boasting some genuinely electrifying Premier League players in the form of rising star Julio Enciso and veteran Miguel Almiron, there's a concerning lack of scoring punch in Daniel Garnero's squad. Since the Argentine bench boss took over in September, Paraguay has scored just two goals in seven matches, losing five times. Diego Gomez, who has been a standout performer for Inter Miami, was unable to recover from an ankle injury in time for the tournament, creating concerns in midfield, too. There are feisty players who will catch the eye this summer, including Mathias Villasanti, but on current evidence it seems unlikely that Paraguay can handle the difficult task of keeping up with Brazil and Colombia in Group D. - Nesci
12. Jamaica 🇯🇲
Odds to win tournament: +15000
Head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson is getting a tune out of the Reggae Boyz. Jamaica impressively fought back from a one-goal deficit to beat Canada in Toronto and qualify for the Copa America last November. Its third-placed finish in the 2023-24 Nations League could've also been much better: Jamaica took the lead 30 seconds into the semifinal against the United States in March and held on to its advantage until an unfortunate 96th-minute own goal. Jamaica couldn't recover from that gut punch, conceding twice in extra time. The uncertainty over Leon Bailey's involvement in the tournament amid a dispute with the federation tempers some of the optimism, though. - Rouse
13. Peru 🇵🇪
Odds to win tournament: +7500
Peruvians are generally pessimistic about their team's chances of reaching the quarterfinals - there's even a serious risk it will finish bottom of Group A. Nomadic boss Jorge Fossati, who guided Universitario de Deportes to the Peruvian Primera Division title in 2023, has only had four matches at the helm and his squad appears tired with 12 players aged 30 or over, including 40-year-old striker Paolo Guerrero. To make matters worse, Renato Tapia, whose Celta Vigo contract is about to expire, didn't travel after the federation failed to insure him in case he suffered an injury that harmed his chances of a big move. - Rouse
14. Panama 🇵🇦
Odds to win tournament: +15000
Panama has made steady progress under Thomas Christiansen. The Danish coach, who spent time at Barcelona during his playing career, has brought the Catalan club's possession-based credo along with him, incorporating a 3-4-3 system that sees Panama try to dominate the ball and dictate play. That could prove more difficult against sterner South American opposition, but, as Panama proved during its run to the 2023 Gold Cup final, there are reasons for optimism. Midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla, the team's undisputed star who currently plays in Major League Soccer with the Houston Dynamo, could be in line for a move to Europe after the tournament. - Nesci
15. Costa Rica 🇨🇷
Odds to win tournament: +8000
Goalkeeper Keylor Navas retiring from international duty in May was a serious blow for Costa Rica. Bryan Ruiz hung up his boots at the end of 2022. There are still familiar faces in the squad with attacker Joel Campbell (who is somehow only 31) and center-back Francisco Calvo, but the potential game-changer is Manfred Ugalde, a striker whose goals have dried up since a January transfer to Spartak Moscow. Costa Rica was dropped into a tough group with Brazil, Colombia, and Paraguay, but the experience could be extremely beneficial for a squad with 13 players aged 23 or under. - Rouse
16. Bolivia 🇧🇴
Odds to win tournament: +15000
Bolivian expectations are low heading into the tournament for a variety of reasons. The team is still trying to adequately replace Marcelo Martins Moreno, Bolivia's all-time leading scorer who retired in December. Options up front in the wake of his departure are limited. History is also against Antonio Carlos Zago's side: Bolivia has just one win in its last nine tournament appearances, losing 12 consecutive matches. Zago stated his goal is to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, and the manager plans to use this competition as valuable experience for his younger players in service of that objective. - Nesci
