Copa America: USA vs Uruguay Preview, Prediction & Betting Tips

Uruguay need just a point to guarantee top spot after securing their place in the quarter-finals with two wins from two. However, we expect them to pick up all three points against an inconsistent USA side who are facing elimination.

USA have been inconsistent at the back, conceding six in the two warm up games, and two so far in the tournament. After losing to Panama, they now face their toughest test yet in a Uruguay side who have been in fine form, scoring 12 in their last three.

Defensively, Uruguay have kept three clean sheets in their last four, but against a talented USA attack, they could face some issues. Pulisic and Balogun have both found the net, so will hope to be a threat once again.

Uruguay have lost just once in 10 games, and will be confident in improving a four game winning streak - USA 1-2 Uruguay

USA take on Uruguay in a pivotal final group stage game of Copa America with their place in the competition at stake.

Date: 02/07/24

Kick-off time: 02:00

Venue: Arrowhead Stadium

Following a shock 2-1 defeat in their second game against Panama, the USA now face a must win game against Uruguay to guarantee progression to the knockout stages of their home tournament. They were comfortable 2-0 winners in their opener against Bolivia, but suffered a huge setback as Panama put themselves firmly in the race to advance. A point could be enough for USA, but they would be nervously monitoring the score of Panama’s fixture against Bolivia. If the USA were to drop points and Panama win, they would be eliminated in third place.

In contrast, Uruguay are safely through to the quarter-finals. A draw in this final game will be enough to guarantee top spot. It has been a dominant campaign so far for the Uruguayans, with a 5-0 win against Bolivia following on from an opening 3-1 victory over Panama. They are the joint-most successful team to have played in the tournament, with 15 trophies which is tied with Argentina. However, they have not won since 2011, and have not progressed past the quarter-finals since.

Goals should be a feature in this game, with Uruguay especially being involved in two high-scoring games. Across two games, they have scored eight goals and have let in just one, highlighting the difficult task USA have on their hands. Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez leads the line for them and he has scored two in two, and he should have confidence in finding the back of the net once more. He will be facing a USA defence who have kept just two clean sheets in their last eight in a run dating back to last November. Though they played the majority of the game against Panama with 10 men, they struggled mightily against inferior opposition which does not inspire much confidence heading into a game against one of the favourites.

Going forward, USA have plenty of talent, but will be without Timothy Weah, who was sent off last time out. They have not been shut out in their last six games, so will expect to impose a threat on the Uruguay backline. Captain Christian Pulisic opened his account in the game against Bolivia with a stunner, and once again he will be one of the men they will look to in this crucial game.

These two teams have met seven times in the past with not much to split them. USA have won two games to Uruguay’s one and four draws. They have met just once in Copa America in 1993, which Uruguay won 1-0. In recent years, they have met twice, both in international friendlies. Both games ended in draws, the first being 1-1 and the latest one 0-0.

USA vs Uruguay will be available to watch on Premier Sports 1.

USA

Timothy Weah will miss this game after being shown a red card in the last game against Panama. Goalkeeper Matt Turner was forced off through injury, so his availability for this one is in doubt. If he cannot play, Ethan Horvath will likely be his replacement.

Uruguay

Uruguay have no injury concerns following their last game against Bolivia.

USA

In their last five games, USA have won two, lost two and drawn one. USA were in inconsistent form heading into Copa America, but managed to pick up a positive result in their group opener. They took on Bolivia and won 2-0 comfortably. They were much the dominant side and were rewarded just three minutes in as Christian Pulisic opened the scoring with a stunner. Folarin Balogun doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time, and this is how it ended.

However, they suffered a huge setback as they were shocked 2-1 by Panama. Timothy Weah was sent off after just 18 minutes for lashing out at an opponent. Despite this, USA took the lead through Balogun shortly after. They were not in the lead for long as Cesar Blackman equalised before Jose Fajardo secured the win with seven minutes to go.

Their preparations for this tournament ended in poor fashion, with a loss and a draw. Firstly a heavy 5-1 defeat to Colombia. They were 2-0 down at half-time, before Weah halved the deficit. Three late goals took the game away and turned it into a rout. They followed this with a 1-1 draw with Brazil. Their opponents dominated both on the goal and in attempts, and took the lead through Rodrygo. However, Pulisic pegged them back as they saw out the result. The first game of this run was a Nations League final victory over Mexico. They lifted the trophy after a 2-0 win with goals from Tyler Adams and Giovanni Reyna leading them to a triumph.

Uruguay

In their last five games, Uruguay have won three, drawn one and lost one. Uruguay came into the competition in mixed form, but got off to the perfect start in their group opener against Panama. They dominated from start to finish, and it took just 16 minutes for them to break the deadlock as Maximiliano Araujo found the back of the net. They were unable to add to this lead until the 85th minute, when Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez struck, but they put the game to bed through him and Matias Vina. Panama pulled one back in stoppage time but it was nothing more than a consolation.

They made it two wins from two with a 5-0 victory over Bolivia. Facundo Pellistri, Nunez, Araujo, Federico Valverde and Rodrigo Bentancur were all on the scoresheet.

Preparations for the tournament ended in an emphatic 4-0 win against Mexico. Nunez scored a hat-trick, including a first-half brace. This added to a further strike from Pellistri. This followed a draw and a loss, the first of which being a 2-1 defeat to Ivory Coast. Uruguay fell behind early thanks to an own goal, but equalised in the 77th minute through Federico Vinas. They were unable to turn it around though as Guela Doue scored seven minutes later to grab the win.

• Latest match predictions
• Football tips
• Football accumulator tips
• Football bet of the day