World champions Argentina beat Canada 2-0 on Thursday evening (20) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia (USA), in the opening match of the Copa América soccer male. With this triumph, the brothers took first place in Group A of the competition with three points. The Canadians appear under the key’s flashlight without any points.

A triumphant debut for the current champion 📈 pic.twitter.com/Uf1bppqcCu

– CONMEBOL Copa América™️ (@CopaAmerica) June 21, 2024

Even against a clearly technically inferior opponent, Argentina only managed to open the scoring thanks to the genius of Lionel Messi. Three minutes into the second half, the Argentine star made a nice deep pass to Mac Allister, who, inside the area, passed it to Julián Álvarez, who only had the task of finishing the first times.

Messi shone again in the 42nd minute, when he found Lautaro Martínez, who deceived goalkeeper Crépeau.

Always be careful. pic.twitter.com/MeKrXbptf4

– CONMEBOL Copa América™️ (@CopaAmerica) June 21, 2024

Copa America

The 48th edition of the Copa América brings together 16 teams in the United States. The competition will be played until July 14, when the big decision will be decided at Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami Gardens, Florida.

In the first phase of the competition, 10 teams from Conmebol (South American Football Confederation) and 6 other teams from Concacaf (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Football Associations) are divided into four groups . Group A: Argentina, Peru, Chile and Canada. Group B: Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela and Jamaica. Group C: United States, Uruguay, Panama and Bolivia. Group D: Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay and Costa Rica.

Quit the day. pic.twitter.com/KJH6nxLEG6

– CONMEBOL Copa América™️ (@CopaAmerica) June 20, 2024

The top two in each group advance to the quarter-finals. From then on, only the winner of each match advances, until the two finalists are defined.

Led by coach Dorival Júnior, the Brazilian team will make its debut in the competition next Monday (24), against Costa Rica, from 10 p.m. (Brasília time) in Los Angeles. Brazil enters the competition at a time of renewal, without striker Neymar and banking on the talent of young players like Vinicius Júnior, Rodrygo and Endrick.