Fans of the Stars and Stripes will have their attention focused on Jerry World on June 23, when the United States and Bolivia open Group C play in 2024 Copa America odds.
Both nations hope to earn more points than Uruguay and Panama and make their way to the knockout stages. Only Argentina can match Uruguay’s 15 titles in the competition, but they’re seeking their first trophy in 12 years.
The Yanks are expected to advance, but can they overcome Uruguay to win the group? Plus, where should you focus your betting while watching?
Join me as I answer those questions in our 2024 Copa America Group C betting guide.
Copa America 2024 Group C odds
The oddsmakers have drawn a clear line in the sand as to where they view the drop-off in talent lies in Group C. Uruguay is -1,111 to move into the knockout rounds, while the United States are priced at -667 to do the same.
Should you choose to bank on Panama or Bolivia to make it through, you’ll get odds of +450 and +875, respectively.
| Country | To advance | To win group |
|---|---|---|
 Uruguay |
-1,111 | -143 |
 USA |
-667 | +125 |
 Panama |
+450 | +2,100 |
 Bolivia |
+875 | +4,900 |
Odds courtesy of Betano as of 6-15
Copa America 2024 Group C best bet
Uruguay 1st / USA 2nd straight forecast (+112 at Betano)
Heading into the tournament, I had every expectation of betting on Uruguay to win the group at -125 odds. However, the inclusion of Luis Suarez and Ronald Araujo in the squad this weekend — combined with the United States losing 5-1 to Colombia—saw their price quickly go up to -143.
So instead, we’re going to take a different angle, one that gives us a better payout while banking on the two teams who clearly have the most talent in Group C.
The Americans are inconsistent when facing quality South American teams. Their performance against Colombia laid this problem out for the world to see, and the fans are once again calling for the job of manager Gregg Berhalter.
Under his reign, the United States have just five wins against teams ranked in the FIFA Top 20 — and four of those have come against Mexico. The other win came against Iran in the World Cup, with the rest resulting in seven draws and six defeats.
I don’t see the Americans having a chance against Uruguay, but luckily for the USMNT, they have more than enough talent and skill to get points against Panama and Bolivia.
As for Uruguay, they’ve got the two best strikers in the group, featuring both Luis Suarez and Darwin Nunez. I expect them to earn at least seven points, if not a perfect sweep of their three fixtures.
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Copa America 2024 Group C team previews
Uruguay (-143 to win group)
Marcelo Bielsa’s style of high-pressure play suits this Uruguayan side very well. It’ll be interesting to see if he starts Nunez and Suarez together, while Manchester United winger Facundo Pellistri could be an X-factor in attack.
A midfield led by Fede Valverde of Real Madrid will sit in front of a stout defense with Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo and Jose Maria Gimenez of Atletico Madrid, and that back line held Brazil and Argentina without a goal in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers last fall.
Uruguay has eight wins and three draws against just one defeat since their disappointing World Cup performance in 2022, and they’re on a mission to prove they’re better than that showing. Look for Uruguay to win the group and make a run in what’s likely Suarez’s final Copa America.
USA (+125 to win group)
In what many view as a warm-up to the 2026 World Cup, the Americans are hosting a major international tournament on home soil. That also brings added pressure to what many view as the most talented group the USMNT has possessed in more than 20 years.
Christian Pulisic is a star, and the AC Milan winger will join Timothy Weah of Juventus as they flank what’s expected to be a rotating door of central forwards. The midfield has more depth than it’s had in ages, as Weah’s club teammate Weston McKennie links up with the likes of Tyler Adams, Yunus Musah, and Gio Reyna.
However, the defense has real questions, and Colombia exposed them repeatedly. The key decisions remain who partners Chris Richards in the middle of the defense, and whether Matt Turner should start for his national team when he can’t start for his club.
Berhalter should get the team through the group stage, but a second-place finish would likely mean another meeting with Colombia in the knockouts.
Panama (+2,200 to win group)
Panama opens play against Uruguay, and it could be a rough day for the Central American side. Their only two defeats in regulation since the start of last year’s Gold Cup both came at the hands of Mexico, but they’re likely to double that total at this competition.
Marseille defender Michael Murillo is one of the few players on this team employed in a major European league. While midfielders Adalberto Carrasquilla and Anibal Godoy will be known to MLS fans, they have a lot of players with limited international experience.
The biggest problem for Panama is their lack of a true goal-scoring threat. They lost 3-0 to Mexico in March despite taking 18 shots, and were shut out in regulation against both Mexico and the United States in the Gold Cup last year. They won’t pose much of a threat to the two big dogs in this group.
Bolivia (+4,900 to win group)
The 85th-ranked team in the world has escaped the group stages just four times since winning Copa America in 1963, despite participating in every tournament since then. They’ve lost their last 11 matches in the competition, with just six goals scored over that period.
They now must replace their all-time leading scorer after Marcelo Martins Moreno retired earlier this year. As if things weren’t tough enough, five other key players have backed out either due to retirement or injury.
La Verde has lost eight of its last 10 matches, including five of six World Cup qualifiers. They’ve been outscored 20-8 in that period, and a roster with very few players employed outside of Bolivia is likely to be on the wrong end of some crooked numbers yet again.
Copa America 2024 Group B players to watch
Christian Pulisic, United States
Captain America is coming off a terrific season with AC Milan after leaving Chelsea, and expectations for the American winger have never been higher. As the set-piece taker and focal point of the attack, he’s going to be involved in nearly every major scoring opportunity his team has.
He scored once and assisted twice in four matches at the 2022 World Cup, and will need to improve those numbers if the Yanks are to make a run.
Pulisic — Most assists (+1,200 at Betano)
Darwin Nunez, Uruguay
It was a rough season for Nunez, whose 26 missed chances established a new Liverpool club record. However, a switch seems to flip when he dons the national team kit, and his hat trick against Mexico before the tournament put him on a five-match scoring streak.
Nunez has scored five goals in World Cup qualifiers and if his form continues, Uruguay will be a strong option to go far in this tournament.
Nunez — Top goalscorer (+600 at Betano)
Luis Suarez, Uruguay
This is probably the final Copa America for Luis Suarez, whose spot was in doubt due to a knee injury. The 37-year-old striker has scored 12 goals while assisting five others for Inter Miami, but he’ll hope to add a few to his national team tally.
Suarez is Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer with 68 goals, and many of his countrymen hope he finds a similar chemistry with Nunez as he has in the MLS with Lionel Messi.
Suarez — Highest direct involvement in goals (+2,200 at Betano)
Copa America Cup Group C schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Home | Away | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 23 | 6:00 p.m. | United States | Bolivia | AT&T Stadium |
| June 23 | 9:00 p.m. | Uruguay | Panama | Hard Rock Stadium |
| June 27 | 6:00 p.m. | Panama | United States | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| June 27 | 9:00 p.m. | Uruguay | Bolivia | MetLife Stadium |
| July 1 | 9:00 p.m. | Bolivia | Panama | Inter&Co Stadium |
| July 1 | 9:00 p.m. | United States | Uruguay | Arrowhead Stadium |
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