Copa America Pressure Cooker Rankings: Brazil need to win, but what is success for the USMNT

Pressure isn’t on a team, in this case, as much as one player: Luis Diaz. The forward hasn’t captured his electric best for Liverpool this season, but always seems to show up for his national team.

There was the famous brace against Brazil, his father crying in the stands after a terrifying saga in which he was abducted by a Guerrilla group. There was an electric showing against Spain that carried his side to a friendly victory. And every time he puts on his country’s colors, something memorable seems to happen.

Colombia has some other talents. James Rodriguez is an interesting player, while MLS star Cucho Hernandez will look to stake his claim. But any glory for Colombia starts and ends with “Lucho.”

Is there life in a post-Edison Cavani and Luis Suarez world? Uruguay were supposed to go through something of a transitional phase after Suarez lost a step – he still might be in the Copa squad – and Cavani retired. Instead, they’ve pieced together an interesting squad, with legendary coach Marcelo Bielsa at the helm.

With the improvement comes expectations. There are questions to be asked – especially with the mercurial Darwin Nunez operating through the middle. But Uruguay really should top their group, and boast real opportunity to make a deep run.

Eighteen months ago, Canada were regarded as a potentially interesting side at the World Cup. America’s noisy neighbors had their most talented side in years, and with Alphonso Davies swaggering his way up and down the wing, a run in Qatar didn’t seem out of the question.

Instead, Canada finished bottom of their group, failing to win a single game. And the football federation has spiraled since. The players and association argued over a collective bargaining agreement for months, and there were worries that they couldn’t raise sufficient funds to travel to Japan for a friendly last October (the Canadians made it, but were battered 4-1.)

After a late crunch to qualify for the tournament, Canada arrive in the US looking to show they can still compete. There’s certainly talent, but a successful run is needed – if only as proof of sporting legitimacy.

Hello, Leo. Messi doesn’t have anything to prove anymore. After all, the Inter Miami star completed football by winning the 2022 World Cup – and starring along the way. Argentina come into the competition as reigning champs, with roughly the same side that won the whole thing in 2021, benefitting from a number of their key players in fine form.

This is, by some distance, the best team in the tournament, with the best player of all time as the razor-sharp edge.

And it is precisely there that the pressure comes. Argentina are so much better than every other team at Copa America that not winning the thing would feel like a bitter disappointment. This may be Messi’s last dance, too. He’s arguably never had an easier tournament to win. And while he may well make light work of it, if he doesn’t? Embarrassment.

No Memo O’Choa. No Chucky Lozano. Rafa Marquez retired years ago – or so we are told. Mexico are a bit of a mess at the moment. Between two generations of talent, and lacking in a true star – the exciting Santiago Gimenez notwithstanding – El Tri will be expected to show that they can still piece together a decent side on a national level.

Expectations should be low. This is, in theory, the worst Mexico team in years. But fans can be unforgiving, and it would be catastrophic to fail to show up at a major tournament at the home of your biggest rivals.

Here’s where the real soccer starts for the United States. Everything from June onwards feels like a trial run ahead of the 2026 World Cup. And there’s an argument to be made that this is the U.S.’s most important tournament in some time. Not only are they the hosts, but they are also expected to put on a show – this new wave of talent staking their claim as legitimate contenders against some of the best teams in the world.

Gregg Behalter comes into the tournament with a mostly fit squad, talent all over the pitch, but questions at key positions (for example: does the US actually have a decent striker?) Getting out of the group shouldn’t be difficult, but beyond that, the manager absolutely needs a signature win to prove he can do the job.

The Selecao are so back. Or are they? With no Neymar to rely on, new manager Dorival Junior has shaken things up for last time’s finalists, leaving Richarlison, Gabriel Jesus and Casemiro at home, and pegging all of his hopes on a young Endrick.

It seems a bold move for a manager unlikely to stay in the job after the tournament. Still, Brazil are Brazil, and will be expected to win the whole thing on name alone This simply has to work – or the alarm bells will start to ring in the world’s most successful footballing nation.