USMNT vs. Uruguay: Top Storylines and Predictions for 2024 Copa America
Erik BeastonJune 30, 2024
Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The United States will battle for its Copa América livelihood Monday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City when it battles Uruguay in what has developed into a win-or-go-home scenario.
An unfortunate loss has put the team on the defensive, against a tournament powerhouse who has not suffered a single misstep to this point.
Does the host country stand a chance or will it see its championship hopes dashed?
Find out with this preview.
Viewing Information
Date: Monday, July 1
Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
TV: FS1
Streaming: Fox Sports app, Fubo TV
Win or Go Home for the United States
After an encouraging showing in the 2022 Copa América, this was supposed to be the year that the United States went on a run in the tournament. The host country has a strong team and, with two years to grow and evolve, was hopefully more mature.
Not so much.
Chippy play and uncontrolled emotions culminated in US winger Tim Weah throwing two punches, and connecting with one, to Panama defender Roderick Miller. He received a red card and was ejected from the game.
FOX Soccer @FOXSoccer”Seeing my brothers have to go a different route to get to our main goal, it really hurts a lot.” @JennyTaft caught up with Tim Weah, who was handed a 2 game suspension by CONMEBOL after his red card vs Panama pic.twitter.com/AUX2B3dctp
The US scored to tie the game but Panama added a second goal while the home team lost goalie Matt Turner to an injury. His status for Monday’s game is uncertain.
Panama won the game and put a once optimistic squad on the brink of elimination.
To avoid an untimely exit, the United States must defeat a Uruguay team that is the best in Group C and has dominated thus far in the tournament.
That Panama team the Americans lost to? Uruguay bested them 3-1. From there, the squad obliterated Bolivia, taking that match-up 5-0.
Making matters worse is the fact that the United States’ loss to Panama meant Uruguay could not clinch its spot in the knockout round. As a result, the team has plenty to play for instead of resting its players.
The Americans can still lose their match Monday but will need Panama to somehow lose to a Bolivian team giving up at least two scores per game. They will also need to retain a higher goal total than the team that put them in this situation in the first place.
The United States will have to put the disappointment of Thursday’s loss behind them and not let the pressure they find themselves under affect their game.
“It’s a knockout game a round early,” defender Tim Ream said.
The team has experience in similar situations but in a game where one goal can be the difference, there is very little experience can do. Adjusting to what Uruguay presents and matching their tone will be key, as will the United States’ ability to keep their emotions in check and avoid a repeat of Thursday’s debacle.
The has the roster and talent to make a go of it against a team that has not demonstrated many weaknesses to this point.
Prediction: Uruguay wins
