The United States men’s national team got off to a successful start to the 2024 Copa America. The Americans are favored to make it two wins in two games for Thursday’s game against Panama.
This tournament is the last best chance for the USMNT to play against elite competition in meaningful matches before hosting the 2026 World Cup. Panama isn’t elite competition and is a familiar CONCACAF opponent, but in order to get more games against the top teams in South America, the U.S. has to pass this test first.
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After the U.S. beat Bolivia 2-0, in a dominant, but perhaps wasteful performance, and Uruguay beat Panama 3-1 in the first Group C matches on Sunday, those two teams remain the clear favorites to advance from the group. Uruguay is favored to win the group, as it was before the tournament. Both the U.S. and Uruguay are favored in Thursday’s matches against the reverse opponents, which could set up a group finale between the two teams that would decide the group winner.
All odds from BetMGM.
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United States vs. Panama
Kickoff time: 6 p.m. ET
Records: USMNT (1-0-0, 3 points), Panama (0-0-1, 0 points)
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
The Americans passed the first test with mostly flying colors. The USMNT took the lead early, won by multiple goals, had more than 60 percent of the possession and outshot Bolivia 20-6.
The odds rate Panama as a better team than Bolivia. The Americans are still heavily favored to win, but the odds are not quite as lopsided.
Panama lost 3-1 to Uruguay and Los Canaleros’ only goal came in the last moments of the match, but it was a one-goal game 80 minutes in. Uruguay scored in the 85th and 91st minutes to put the match away before Panama got its consolation goal.
The U.S. has actually lost two of the last three meetings against Panama. Panama knocked the U.S. out of the 2023 Gold Cup in a semifinal (technically a 1-1 draw where Panama advanced on penalties), but that was almost entirely a B-team American squad. In 2022 World Cup qualifying, Panama won 1-0 in Panama City and the Americans won 5-1 in Orlando.
The only time Panama won on American soil in 90 minutes was in the 2011 Gold Cup. The U.S. is 18-4-4 against Panama all-time.
A USMNT win wouldn’t entirely ensure the team would advance to the quarterfinals of this tournament, but it would come close. If the U.S. wins, a Uruguay draw or win (something that has -5000 odds on BetMGM) later on Thursday would guarantee the Americans a spot in the quarterfinals.
More 2024 Copa America coverage
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Christian Pulisic has started smiling – this is why
The USMNT players who could change clubs this summer: McKennie, Reyna, Turner and more
(Photo of Matt Turner: Ron Jenkins / Getty Images)
