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COPA AMÉRICA

Copa América 2024 draw: Possible opponents for Panama

Thomas Christiansen’s side beat Costa Rica in the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Nations League to qualify for the 2024 Copa América.

Panama's possible Copa América opponents
JOSE CORDEROAFP

Panama have qualified for next year’s Copa América for just the second time in their history after beating Costa Rica in the CONCACAF Nations League.

The four semi-finalists of the Nations League are granted entry to the 2024 Copa América in the United States. Panama secured an emphatic 6-1 victory over Costa Rica in the quarter-finals, including an impressive 3-0 road victory.

José Fajardo has starred in front of goal in the Nations League, hitting three goals for Los Canaleros.

Panama triumphed over Costa Rica in the Nations League quarter-final.
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Panama triumphed over Costa Rica in the Nations League quarter-final.JOSE CORDEROAFP

Panama finished as runners up in the CONCACAF Golden Cup earlier this year and have shown signs of real progress in recent times. In 2018 they reached the World Cup for the first time in their history.

Who could Costa Rica play in Copa América?

The draw for the group stages of the 2024 Copa América will take place on Thursday, 7 December. The 16 teams have been be divided into four seeded pots, with four teams in each.

One team will be drawn from each pot to create four groups of four teams. This seeding system is in place to ensure that the groups are of roughly similar quality.

What are the pots for the Copa América draw?

Pot 1: Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, United States
Pot 2: Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
Pot 3: Chile, Panama, Venezuela, Paraguay
Pot 4: Jamaica, Bolivia, Playoff winner 1, Playoff winner 2

Panama are in Pot 3, so they can expect to face two teams stronger than them and one weaker side.

The toughest possible group would be Argentina, Uruguay and Jamaica. If they are lucky they might land a group with Mexico, Peru and one of the two playoff winners, potentially a rematch against Costa Rica.