Without needing to qualify for the World Cup, Mexico can approach Copa America as the last test in official matches to see opponents outside of CONCACAF. However, El Tri starts the 2024 Copa America against a more familiar opponent in Jamaica. Saturday’s match will be the sixth time in the last three years these teams have met.
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Mexico is favored to win but does not enter this tournament playing well. El Tri lost its last two warm-up friendlies (4-0 to Uruguay and 3-2 to Brazil) and has lost five of its last eight matches. Mexico needed penalties to get by Honduras in the two-legged quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Nations League, which served as qualifying for this tournament.
Even still, Mexico is the favorite in Group B. Mexico is -400 to advance out of the group, which also includes Ecuador and Venezuela, and +110 to win it. Mexico closes group play against Ecuador, which could be the match that decides the group.
All odds from BetMGM.
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Mexico vs. Jamaica
Kickoff time: 9 p.m. ET
Venue: NRG Stadium, Houston
The last time these teams met, Mexico beat Jamaica 3-0 in a Gold Cup semifinal in 2023, but the recent history between these teams has featured mostly competitive matches. Before that Gold Cup match, Jamaica held Mexico to a pair of draws in the Nations League. In qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, both matches were tied in the final 10 minutes before Mexico got late game-winners.
Jamaica has been adding talent via an English pipeline in recent years, but there is still drama around Kingston-born Leon Bailey. The Aston Villa forward was named to the Jamaica squad but has said he won’t play. Jamaica has three other active English Premier League players: defender Ethan Pinnock (Brentford), midfielder Bobby De Cordova-Reid (Fulham) and forward Michail Antonio (West Ham). Demarai Gray is also in the squad after playing eight seasons in the EPL. Jamaica has enough quality players to push a struggling Mexico team.
This tournament represents an important chance for manager Jaime Lozano to restore confidence in the Mexican national team. Mexico was eliminated in the group stage at the 2022 World Cup after having advanced in the previous seven World Cups. On top of that, El Tri has gone seven matches without beating the U.S., with only one of those coming in a friendly.
More 2024 Copa America coverage
Copa America 2024 preview: The Athletic’s complete guide to the tournament
Copa America 2024 squad guides: Everything you need to know about the teams
The FIFA World Rankings are not that important – and that’s a good thing
(Photo of Orbelin Pineda: Tim Warner / Getty Images)