Copa América: Argentina vs. Canada live updates, score, highlights ...

Live47 updates

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 4:05 AM GMT+2

  FINAL: Argentina 2-0 Canada

  The reigning champs sit atop Group A with 3 points!

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 4:03 AM GMT+2
• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 4:01 AM GMT+2
• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 3:57 AM GMT+2

  Martinez puts Argentina up 2-0 after another crisp assist from Messi!

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 3:54 AM GMT+2

  Canada's substitutions for the final 10 minutes or so of the match: Richie Laryea on for Cyle Larin, Jacen Russell-Rowe for Liam Millar and Jonathan Osorio for Ismael Kone.

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 3:53 AM GMT+2

  Bombito's slide tackle had Messi writhing in pain on the field, but he's back up and back in action after a brief pause in action.

• 

  Fri, June 21, 2024 at 3:53 AM GMT+2

  Tons of chances, still 1-0 — somehow

  After the latest missed chance, Lionel Messi went down.

  Canadian center back Moïse Bombito flew into a tackle, and caught Messi flush in the ankle.

  Messi is up now, but limping. He'll likely stay in, but that'll hurt. And it was scary.

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 3:49 AM GMT+2

  Messi gets another 1-on-1 but once again misses the target

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 3:46 AM GMT+2

  Substitutions Nos. 2 & 3 for Argentina with Nicolas Otamendi replacing Leandro Paredes and Lautaro Martinez coming in for Julian Alvarez. Earlier, Canada's Jacob Shaffelburg replaced Tajon Buchanan.

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 3:44 AM GMT+2
• 

  Fri, June 21, 2024 at 3:40 AM GMT+2

  Canada howls for a penalty...

  Jacob Shaffelburg dipped past an Argentine defender into the big, and got taken down.

  The referee seemed to bring his whistle halfway to his mouth ... then didn't bring it all the way.

  On replay: It was absolutely a foul, but probably just outside the box, so there's nothing the VAR could do.

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 3:38 AM GMT+2

  Scaloni makes the first substitution for Argentina as Giovani Lo Celso replaces Angel Di Maria.

• 

  Fri, June 21, 2024 at 3:37 AM GMT+2

  Chances at both ends!

  Remember when Pelé wowed at the World Cup even when he sent shots wide? Messi just did something similar. He sat two Canadian players down with one feint on a break, and nearly scooped the ball into a gaping net, but his clever shot was blocked.

  At the other end, Jonathan David just flashed a header a few yards high and wide.

  Still 1-0 to Argentina.

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 3:35 AM GMT+2

  Messi magic still loading ...

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 3:29 AM GMT+2

  Di Maria a tad bit late here:

• 

  Fri, June 21, 2024 at 3:28 AM GMT+2

  On Argentina's goal: Messi magic? Or a bit of good fortune?

  To the untrained eye, Argentina's goal was the umpteenth example of Lionel Messi's greatness. His through-ball to Alexis Mac Allister was one that nobody else on the field could see.

  But I'm not sure Messi saw it either.

  He seemed to be looking for Julian Álvarez's feet. Alvarez, though, made a diagonal run, so Messi's pass went into no-man's land ... which Mac Allister happened to be running into.

  *whispers*

  I don’t think Messi meant this.

  He was looking for Julian Álvarez’s feet. Alvarez made a different run. Mac Allister just happened to be running into the space where the pass ended up. pic.twitter.com/5S95v4gUXA

  — Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell) June 21, 2024

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 3:26 AM GMT+2

  The 24-year-old Álvarez continues to do his part for the Albiceleste

• 

  Fri, June 21, 2024 at 3:18 AM GMT+2

  Argentina breakthrough!

  Messi to Mac Allister, who gets cleaned out by Canadian keeper Maxime Crépeau.

  It would've been a penalty, but Mac Allister's touch fell right to Julian Álvarez, who finished well.

  1-0 to Argentina.

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 3:14 AM GMT+2

  Second half starts now after a longer-than-usual halftime (20+ minutes).

• 

  Fri, June 21, 2024 at 3:10 AM GMT+2

  Can Canada hold on?

  In Canada's two pre-tournament friendlies, they also held elite opponent scoreless for 45 minutes.

  In the first, they got blown out by the Netherlands after halftime and lost, 4-0.

  In the second, they held on for a 0-0 draw with France.

  This third such game could really go either way. (Or, it could very easily go to Canada.)

• 

  Fri, June 21, 2024 at 2:56 AM GMT+2

  Halftime. Plenty of action, no goals.

  All in all, a pretty good start for Jesse Marsch and Canada.

  They'll be far happier than Argentina, both with the scoreline and the performance so far.

  But, of course, the Argentines are still the favorites. They've had chances. They'll have more. And, well, they have Lionel Messi.

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 2:50 AM GMT+2

  Emiliano Martinez with a heroic save to keep the score 0-0:

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 2:47 AM GMT+2

  Alexis Mac Allister denied

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 2:42 AM GMT+2

  Canada is not intimidated by the reigning World Champions!

• 

  Fri, June 21, 2024 at 2:42 AM GMT+2

  The playing surface is... a problem

  The temporary grass field that's been installed at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta was a topic of conversation pregame, and even more so throughout the first 30 minutes of this game in Argentina.

  It's a bit choppy and uneven, and sometimes seems to slow the ball down. Players don't quite seem as confident in their touch as they'd normally be. That iota of hesitation or discomfort can really make a difference.

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 2:37 AM GMT+2

  Another close call for Canada after a stellar setup by Messi, but Marcos Acuna didn't get the help he needed inside the box.

• 

  Fri, June 21, 2024 at 2:34 AM GMT+2

  Still 0-0 after 28 minutes

  This, so far, is a 50th-percentile performance from both teams.

  If it continues apace, you'd expect Argentina to eventually find a few more chances and a goal. But there's no guarantee that the goal will come.

  Canada also has firepower on the break, but Argentine defenders are so good at neutralizing the break with, among other things, tactical fouls.

• 

  Fri, June 21, 2024 at 2:28 AM GMT+2

  Canada survives the first 20

  Aside from one Argentine barrage, Canada has been ... fine. Not good, but fine.

  Messi and Di Maria are dangerous. They always will be. But the Canadian setup is solid, and the underdogs have maybe settled a bit now.

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 2:17 AM GMT+2

  Huge save for Crépeau!

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 2:14 AM GMT+2
• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 2:10 AM GMT+2

  Lionel Messi has set the record for the most appearances in the history of the CONMEBOL Copa América™️, with 35 matches ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/VG5yuGTjB0

  — CONMEBOL Copa América™️ ENG (@copaamerica_ENG) June 21, 2024

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 2:09 AM GMT+2
• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 2:08 AM GMT+2

  The match is underway in Atlanta! Here we go!

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 2:01 AM GMT+2

  Core memory unlocked.

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 1:50 AM GMT+2

  Looking ahead a bit, here's the USMNT's schedule for the Group Stage. Our guy Henry Bushnell will be there covering all three of these matches for us.

• 

  Fri, June 21, 2024 at 1:50 AM GMT+2

  The world champs are intact

  Eight of this Argentina starting 11 also started the World Cup final 18 months ago.

  Ten of today's 11 played in that unforgettable game.

  The only one of today's 11 who didn't is Lisandro Martinez, who is very clearly an upgrade on 36-year-old Nico Otamendi.

  So, yeah ... they're the tournament favorites for a reason.

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 1:39 AM GMT+2
• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 1:30 AM GMT+2

  The reigning World Cup champions have hit the field in Atlanta, led by their 8-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi.

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 1:25 AM GMT+2

  Here's our power rankings of the top national teams competing in the 2024 Copa América. Agree or disagree?

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 1:17 AM GMT+2

  Argentina's starting 11 is no joke.

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 1:15 AM GMT+2
• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 1:13 AM GMT+2
• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 1:11 AM GMT+2

  La Albiceleste, the nickname of the Argentina national team which translates to the White and Sky Blues, had fans starting the fiesta early in Atlanta ahead of tonight's matchup.

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 1:06 AM GMT+2

  Yahoo Sports senior writer Jay Busbee is in the house at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta to help us with our live coverage.

  Mercedes-Benz Stadium just showed Messi on the video board walking to the locker room, and the immediate eruption of sound was Georgia-over-Ohio-State level

  — Jay Busbee (@jaybusbee) June 20, 2024

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 1:05 AM GMT+2
• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 1:02 AM GMT+2

  With about 60 minutes left until kickoff, here's some pre-tournament pieces from Yahoo Sports senior writer Henry Bushnell to get you prepared for tonight and the next month of Copa América soccer:

• Fri, June 21, 2024 at 1:00 AM GMT+2

  Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Argentina vs. Canada in the opening match of the 2024 Copa América.