Who is CAPITAN? the Copa América 2024 mascot

The 2024 Copa América is set to kick off next week in Atlanta with the reigning world champions, Argentina taking on Canada in the inaugural game on Thursday. This will be the 48th edition of the soccer tournament - the sport’s oldest continental competition still in existence. The Albiceleste will also be defending the title they won back in 2021 - Leo Messi’s first and the nation’s 15th. Unsurprisingly, Argentina are the favorites to lift the trophy but face competition from the team they beat in the final of the last edition, Brazil and also Colombia, who are undefeated in their last 22 matches.

Argentina seeking to retain Copa América title in Miami

Lionel Scaloni’s team start out in Group A along with Peru, Chile and Canada. Uruguay are also expected to go far while expectation is high for tournament hosts the USMNT and Mexico, whose fortunes Jaime Lozano seems to have turned around after a period of instability.

Organizers are hoping for a large turnout this time around for the tournament which will be staged across 14 host cities with the final to be played at Miami Gardens in Florida on 14 July. Attendance figures during the last edition were affected by the coronavirus pandemic and it will be interesting to see how many fans pack the stadiums in the United States for the 25-day tournament. Tickets went on sale in February and the response has been promising so far, CONMEBOL have confirmed. The big attraction is Messi and Argentina, whose games have commanded the most ticket sales so far.

CAPITÁN, the Copa América 2024’s feathered friend

Someone who is guaranteed to be present for the games is the tournament’s official mascot, CAPITÁN. CONMEBOL unveiled CAPITÁN on 7 December 2023 during the group stage draw. CAPITÁN - the Spanish word for ‘captain’ is a brightly colored eagle - a symbol of the Americas, which according to the organizers represents “freedom, passion and the indomitable and determined spirit that characterizes the participating teams”.

CAPITÁN “represents the unique fusion between the South American passion for football and the vibrant American atmosphere. The daughter of a Latin mother and an American father, CAPITÁN invites us to join the celebration of the cultural diversity of South America and the US, always respecting the differences between the countries”.

CAPITÁN is the 15th Copa América mascot - all of whom have been given Spanish names - and the third bird (after Guaky, a macaw at Venezuela 2007 and Tangolero, an America rhea at Argentina 2011). Gardelito, a handsome, scarf-wearing Argentine figure, was the first when Argentina staged the competition in 1987 while Pibe, a football-crazy dog was the official mascot at the previous tournament in 2021.

The 2024 Copa América gets underway on Thursday 14 June 2024 with Argentina and Canada opening the tournament at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The game kicks off at 8 p.m. EDT / 5 p.m. PDT.