Lionel Messi, defending champions Argentina learn Copa America 2024 fate as it’s drawn alongside Peru, Chile into Group A

Lionel Messi and Argentina's title defense in the Copa America starts with group matches against Peru, Chile and Canada or Trinidad and Tobago.

Canada will play Trinidad and Tobago in a CONCACAF play-in match on March 23.

Argentina won the last Copa America in 2021, beating Brazil 1-0 in the final after a first-half goal from Angel Di Maria. It was the fifteenth victory in the Copa America for Argentina.

Argentina will play the first match of the US-only tournament of next summer's Copa America against its North American foe on June 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Messi and the rest of the Argentina squad will then face Chile in East Rutherford, New Jersey at MetLife Stadium on June 25.

Lionel Messi, defending Copa America champion Argentina, is looking to repeat that feat next year

Messi and Argentina will face Peru, Chile and a North American team in the group stage

Argentina's Group A final will take place on June 29 against Peru in the Miami area at the Hard Rock Stadium, where the final of the tournament will also take place.

Should Argentina win Group A, which is the preferred option, they will play a quarter-final against the runners-up from Group B on July 4 at the NRG Stadium in Houston.

Whether Argentina advances as group winners or runners-up, a semifinal would also take place at MetLife Stadium in the New York City area.

Argentina's path to the final would avoid rivals Brazil and Uruguay, as well as the host nation, the United States.

Group B consists of Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela and Jamaica.

Argentina has not won consecutive Copa America titles since 1991 and 1993.

The last repeat Copa America champions were Chile, who hosted the 2015 edition and won the special 2016 Copa America in the United States, marking the only other time the event was hosted outside South America.

Messi turns 37 a day before Argentina's second group stage match and could signal that his last two major international events could both take place in North America.

Argentina has not won consecutive Copa America titles since victories in 1991 and 1993

After winning the 2022 World Cup, Argentina is expected to do the same next summer

The Inter Miami star is expected to try to stay in contention for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup, which is being hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Uruguay and Argentina are tied with fifteen Copa America titles each.

No country outside South America has ever won the Copa America.

Only the ten CONMEBOL countries took part in the 2021 edition of Copa America, while Japan and Qatar took part in the 2019 tournament. Neither non-CONMEBOL team won a match at the tournament and advanced from the group stage.

CONMEBOL has invited two guest teams from around the world to every South American edition since 1993.