DEFENDING Copa America champions Argentina will not meet their biggest rivals Brazil until the final, according to the draw for the 2024 tournament held overnight.
The draw, which was held in Miami, presented both Argentina and Brazil with favourable groups, while hosts United States of America will battle Uruguay, who have won the tournament 15 times.
Lionel Messi’s Argentina, who are also World Cup holders, kick off the tournament at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 20 with a Group A clash against Canada or Trinidad and Tobago, who will meet in a CONCACAF playoff in March.
Argentina will also battle Peru and Chile, who got the better of Messi and his teammates in the 2016 final on penalties in the first Copa America played in the USA.
Nine-time winners Brazil, runners-up to Argentina last time out, are in Group D with Colombia and Paraguay as well as another CONCACAF qualifier, either Honduras or Costa Rica.
The USA are up against Bolivia and Panama in their first two Group C matches before taking on Uruguay, who are tied with Argentina for the most Copa titles.
CONCACAF Gold Cup winners Mexico are in Group B with Jamaica, Venezuela and Ecuador.
The top two in each of the four groups will advance to the quarter-finals.
With the structure of the draw, the only time Argentina and Brazil can meet is in the final if they both get there.
The tournament will be played in 14 host cities across the US from June 20 to July 14.
COPA AMERICA GROUPINGS
GROUP A
Argentina
Peru
Chile
Canada or Trinidad and Tobago
GROUP B
Mexico
Ecuador
Venezuela
Jamaica
GROUP C
United States
Uruguay
Panama
Bolivia
GROUP D
Brazil
Colombia
Paraguay
Honduras or Costa Rica
