Copa America 2024 will begin on Thursday when Lionel Messi and Argentina take on Canada in Atlanta for a Group A matchup. Argentina won the World Cup in 2022 and are 15-time Copa America champions, including a dazzling display at Copa America 2021 where they went unbeaten in seven matches and outscored opponents 12-3. Meanwhile, Canada are making their first-ever Copa America appearance as they begin preparations for the 2026 World Cup, which the nation will host along with the United States and Mexico.
Kickoff from Mercedes-Benz Stadium is set for 8 p.m. ET. Argentina are listed as the -360 favorites (risk $360 to win $100) in the latest Argentina vs. Canada odds, with Canada the +1100 underdogs. A draw is priced at +470 and the over/under for total goals scored is 2.5. Before locking in any Canada vs. Argentina picks or Copa America 2024 predictions, you need to check out what SportsLine soccer expert Brandt Sutton has to say.
Sutton is a former collegiate soccer player and has been SportsLine's top soccer editor since 2017. He has followed soccer closely for much longer and factors in managerial tactics, projected lineups and past performances to make the most informed decisions possible.
Sutton finished the 2022-23 Champions League season with a 16-7 record (+8.93 units) on SportsLine's UCL pick sheet and is 25-20-2 (+3.20) in 2023-24. He also finished 2022 as SportsLine's No. 1 soccer expert with a 165-130-2 mark, returning nearly $2,200 for $100 players, and is 139-136-5 since the 2022 World Cup.
Now, Sutton has taken a close look at the Argentina vs. Canada match and locked in his Copa America 2024 picks. You can visit SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for Argentina vs. Canada:
- Argentina vs. Canada over/under: 2.5 goals
- Argentina vs. Canada money line: Argentina -360, Draw +470, Canada +1100
- ARG: Over their last four friendly matches, Argentina outscored their opponents 11-2
- CAN: Canada have kept a clean sheet in two of their past three matches across all competitions
- Argentina vs. Canada picks: See picks here
Why you should back Argentina
The Argentinians have been the most dominant force in world football in recent years, winning Copa America for the first time since 1993 in 2021 and then winning their first World Cup since 1986 the following year. It could have been a fitting end to Lionel Messi's national team career but the 36-year-old is back for more after winning his eighth Ballon d'Or in 2023.
Messi currently plays for Inter Miami in the MLS and his squad sits atop the Eastern Conference standings through 20 matches thanks in large part to his 12 goals and 10 assists in 12 matches. Messi's brilliance is undeniable but Argentina's depth and experience are a great asset, with 20 of their 26 players for Copa America having made at least 20 career national team appearances. See which team to pick here.
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Why you should back Canada
Forward Cyle Larin is among Canada's offensive threats. Since 2014, the 29-year-old has scored 29 times in 68 appearances for the national team. In the qualifying playoff win over Trinidad and Tobago, he scored the match's first goal. His best year for Canada came in 2021 when he registered 14 goals in 13 matches. As a member of Mallorca of La Liga in Spain, he scored three goals in 35 matches this past season.
Forward Jonathan David is a young, up-and-coming standout for the Canadians. The 24-year-old has already scored 26 times in 48 appearances for the national team. He first joined the Canadians in 2018, scoring three times in three matches. He scored eight times in nine appearances in 2019. Professionally, David is a member of Lille in Ligue 1 in France, registering 19 goals in 34 league matches this past season. See which team to pick here.
How to make Argentina vs. Canada picks
Sutton has broken down the Copa America 2024 match from every angle. He has identified two picks for Argentina vs. Canada, including a prop that involves Lionel Messi, and offers a full breakdown of this showdown. You can only see his picks and analysis at SportsLine.
So who wins Argentina vs. Canada on Thursday, and where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see which wagers in Argentina vs. Canada have all the value, all from the soccer expert who returned nearly $2,200 for $100 players, and find out.
