USA get tricky Copa America group against Uruguay, Panama and Bolivia – and could meet Brazil in the quarterfinals

Copa America hosts United States will face Uruguay, Panama and Bolivia in their group in next summer’s Copa America – and could face Brazil in the quarterfinals if they make it out the group.

Uruguay, coached by Marcelo Bielsa, was the one team coach Gregg Berhalter would have wanted to avoid but will play them last in their group – potentially with their place in the knockout stages already sorted by then. 

Berhalter’s men begin the tournament at the AT&T Stadium in Texas on Sunday, June 23 against Bolivia.

Four days later they will be in Atlanta for the game against Group C rival Panama at the Mercedes Benz Stadium.

They round of the group in Kansas City, playing Uruguay at Arrowhead Stadium which could well be a playoff to avoid Brazil in the next round.

USA will play against Uruguay, Panama and Bolivia in their Copa America group next summer 

The team could potentially come up against Brazil in the quarterfinals of the tournament 

If they win Group C, they will then take on the runner up in Group D, out of what will almost definitely be a Neymar-less Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay and a qualifier to be determined next year. 

The tournament will be a key yardstick for the US ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which it also hosts alongside Canada and Mexico. 

Berhalter will overall be pleased with the draw but failure to get out of this group would be a disaster, even with Uruguay lying in wait in the last game.

‘We always knew that was going to be a possibility,’ Berhalter said of facing Uruguay. ‘It will be a challenge for the group and last in the group, it could really set the stage. 

‘We control our own destiny in the first two games. We know what is lurking round the corner in Group D (in Brazil). But we will take whoever we have to take. The next year is going to be a phenomenal year.’

At the 2022 World Cup, the US made the last-16 before being swept aside 3-1 by Holland. 

In the aftermath, Berhalter was embroiled in a public, bitter row with the parents of Gio Reyna for naming one of the star attackers on the US roster as a substitute for their games in the tournament.

Reyna has since returned to the US fold since Berhalter was announced to continue as USA coach and been one of the standout players for his country. 

Berhalter was relishing the possibility of facing Uruguay and Brazil in the Copa America 

Elsewhere, Lionel Messi and Argentina – the defending champions – will meet Peru and Chile in Group A, alongside a qualifier to be determined next year out of Canada and Trinidad and Tobago.

Argentina will open the tournament in Atlanta against Canada or Trinidad and Tobago on June 20.

Brazil play Colombia and Paraguay while Mexico in Group B will play Ecuador, Venezuela and Jamaica.