Uruguay start record-chasing Copa América campaign with win over Panama

Maximiliano Araújo scored when he fired a left-footed shot into the far corner in the 16th minute, Darwin Núñez and Matías Viña scored late goals and Uruguay beat Panama 3-1 in the Copa América opener on Sunday night.

Seeking a record 16th Copa América title, Uruguay dominated with 20 shots, including seven on target. Michael Amir Murillo scored late in stoppage time for Panama.

The USMNT defeated Bolivia 2-0 in Sunday’s earlier Group C match in Arlington, Texas.

Araújo scored the first goal after receiving a pass from Viña from just outside the penalty area, taking a tap and turning. He tapped the ball twice and curled it past goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera’s outstretched left arm for his second goal in nine international appearances.

Núñez made it 2-0 in the 85th minute, after Panama turned the ball across the center of the field. Nicolás de la Cruz played a long cross to Araújo, whose header deflected off Murillo’s shoulder and fell to Núñez. He smashed in from 12 yards out for his 12th goal in 24 appearances, his ninth in his last six games.

Viña increased the margin to 3–0 with a header from De la Cruz’s free kick in the first minute of stoppage time, outsmarting defender Abdiel Ayarza for his first international goal.

Murrillo turned a defender to beat goalkeeper Sergio Rochet in the fourth minute of stoppage time for his ninth international goal.

Uruguay has been undergoing a rebuilding process under coach Marcelo Bielsa following the retirements of Edinson Cavani and Diego Godín, and a young squad has shown they are capable of competing at the highest level. Uruguay defeated Lionel Messi and Argentina and wayward Brazil in the World Cup qualifiers, before beating Mexico 4-0 in a friendly match in early June.

Luis Suárez, the 37-year-old striker who is Uruguay’s top scorer and was the player of the tournament in 2011, did not play.

Uruguay is tied with Argentina on a record 15 Copa América titles, but has not progressed beyond the quarter-finals since winning their last championship in 2011.

Panama failed to advance past the group stage in 2016, its only previous appearance as hosts at the South American Championship.

Uruguay will play Bolivia in New Jersey on Thursday, while Panama will face the US in Atlanta. The group ends on July 1 with a match between the US and Uruguay and a match between Panama and Bolivia in Florida. The top two teams advance to the quarter-finals.

The game drew 33,425 people to Hard Rock Stadium, home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. The stadium will host the July 14 matches and seven matches during the 2026 World Cup.