Group D of the Copa America 2024 will pit Colombia, Paraguay and Costa Rica against the might of five-time world champions Brazil.
With head coach Dorival Junior in charge — appointed in January to replace interim boss Fernando Diniz, who took temporary charge after Tite left in the wake of their quarterfinal exit at the 2022 World Cup — the Selecao have not enjoyed a particularly good past two years.
Beaten by Argentina at the final of the 2021 Copa America, they had the ignominy of watching their South American rivals winning the World Cup trophy in Qatar 2022, while Lionel Messi and company then inflicted upon Brazil their first home defeat in World Cup qualifying last year.
Miami is where the final of the Copa America will take place on July 14 next year after a month-long competition in the United States.
Below is how the Group D schedule looks with two teams confirmed alongside Brazil. Plus, there is a bracket for the knockout rounds, so the four nations will have a decent idea of what lies in store if they can progress to the quarterfinal stage and beyond.
MORE: Brazil vs. Argentina history and all-time head-to-head results
COPA AMERICA GROUP BREAKDOWNS:
Group A | Group B | Group C
Copa America 2024 Group D fixtures, schedule
| Date | Match | Venue |
| Jun. 24, 2024 | Brazil vs. Costa Rica | SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA) |
| Jun. 24, 2024 | Colombia vs. Paraguay | NRG Stadium (Houston, TX) |
| Jun. 28, 2024 | Paraguay vs. Brazil | Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas, NV) |
| Jun. 28, 2024 | Colombia vs. Costa Rica | State Farm Stadium (Glendale, AZ) |
| July 2, 2024 | Brazil vs. Colombia | Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara, CA) |
| July 2, 2024 | Costa Rica vs. Paraguay | Q2 Stadium (Austin, TX) |
Copa America 2024 Group D teams
Brazil
Brazil’s towering reputation has taken something of a battering since they reached the final of the Copa America on home soil in 2021.
Having lifted the trophy in 2019, the Selecao were primed to secure title number 10 before losing to bitter rivals Argentina behind closed doors at the Maracana. Argentina repeated that success in World Cup qualification in November 2023, with Lionel Messi and Co. having unforgettably swept to glory in Qatar last year.
Brazil fell to Croatia in the quarterfinals at the 2022 World Cup and have since been in a state of flux. Long-time head coach Tite stepped down and Fluminense’s Copa Libertadores-winning coach Fernando Diniz was the second interim boss to take charge, with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) subsequently appointing experienced Dorival Junior to lead them into the Copa.
Neymar is facing a race to be fit for the tournament after undergoing knee surgery, while the defeat to Argentina was Brazil’s fourth World Cup qualifier without a win. Perhaps the Copa America draw will sharpen minds ahead of a competition where the Selecao might be dangerously under-estimated.
- Current FIFA world ranking: No. 5 (February, 2024)
- Regional ranking: 2nd (South America)
- Copa America titles: 9
- Copa America appearances (last): 37 (2021)
- Coach: Dorival Junior (Brazil) since January 2024
- Key players: Alisson (Liverpool / England), Casemiro (Man United / England), Marquinhos (PSG / France), Neymar (Al Hilal / Saudi Arabia), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid / Spain)
Colombia
Argentinian coach Nestor Lorenzo took the Colombia job at what felt like a tricky time as Reinaldo Rueda’s second spell in charge of the national team ended in failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
There is an experienced core to the squad. All-time record appearance holder David Ospina is aiming to recover from a serious elbow injury to take his place between the posts, while centre-backs Davinson Sanchez and Yerry Mina and playmaker James Rodriguez have all previously caught the eye on the big stage.
However, it’s Liverpool livewire Luis Diaz who is likely to provide the X-factor and the winger will shoulder most of Colombia’s hopes, if they are to match their semifinal run last time around.
- Current FIFA world ranking: No. 14 (February, 2024)
- Regional ranking: 4th (CONMEBOL)
- Copa America titles (last): 1 (2001)
- Copa America appearances (last): 23 (2021)
- Coach: Nestor Lorenzo (Argentina) since June 2022
- Key players: David Ospina (Al Nassr / Saudi Arabia), Luis Diaz (Liverpool / England), Davinson Sanchez (Galatasaray / Turkey), Yerry Mina (Fiorentina / Italy), James Rodriguez (Sao Paulo / Brazil)
Paraguay
Paraguay qualified for four consecutive World Cups between 1998 and 2010 and reached the 2011 Copa America final. It represented a golden period for the two-time continental champions.
A Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan-inspired Uruguay ran out 3-0 winners in the 2011 showpiece and times have been tough since then for La Albirroja.
They are yet to return to the World Cup in three attempts and they suffered a troubling start to qualification for the expanded 2026 edition.
In the past two Copas, Paraguay were beaten on penalties in the quarterfinals — by Brazil in 2019 and Peru in 2021. Reaching the knockout stages once more would be considered a success this time around.
Head coach Daniel Garnero will have his hopes pinned on a pair of Premier League attacking talents. Miguel Almiron has long been a star of his national team and is scaling new heights with Newcastle United this season.
Julio Enciso is a hugely exciting forward whose breakthrough at Brighton has been halted somewhat by injury.
- Current FIFA world ranking: No. 56 (February, 2024)
- Regional ranking: 9th (CONMEBOL)
- Copa America titles (last): 2 (1979)
- Copa America appearances (last): 38 (2021)
- Coach: Daniel Garnero (Argentina) since September 2023
- Key players: Miguel Almiron (Newcastle / England), Gustavo Gomez (Milan / Italy), Fabian Balbuena (Dynamo Moscow / Russia), Julio Enciso (Brighton / England), Antonio Sanabria (Torino / Italy)
Costa Rica
Costa Rica confirmed qualification during the CONCACAF playoff round in March, beating Honduras.
A 3-1 victory in the one-legged decider was enough to book a Copa spot for the sixth time, with the previous best finish seeing them make the quarterfinals in 2004.
The squad blends experience from the likes of veteran goalkeeper Keylor Navas and 31-year-old Joel Campbell with some exciting young options.
Teenage Saprissa forward Warren Madrigal was on the scoresheet to seal that win against Honduras, and he could be one to watch out for if he makes the final squad.
- Current FIFA world ranking: No. 54 (February, 2024)
- Regional ranking: 5th (CONCACAF)
- Copa America titles (last): 0
- Copa America appearances (last): 5 (2016)
- Coach: Gustavo Alfaro (Argentina) since November 2023
- Key players: Keylor Navas (PSG / France), Joel Campbell (Alajuelense / Costa Rica), Francisco Calvo (Juarez / Mexico)
Copa America 2024 Group D: Knockout bracket, path to final
Here is how the knockout phase will look for the two teams that qualify from Group D, starting with the quarterfinals.
Copa America 2024 quarterfinals
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | Venue |
| Jul. 4, 2024 | 1A vs. 2B | TBD | NRG Stadium (Houston, TX) |
| Jul. 5, 2024 | 1B vs. 2A | TBD | AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX) |
| Jul. 6, 2024 | 1C vs. 2D | TBD | Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas, NV) |
| Jul. 6, 2024 | 1D vs. 2C | TBD | State Farm Stadium (Glendale, AZ) |
Copa America 2024 semifinals
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
| Jul. 9, 2024 | QF1 vs. QF2 | TBD | MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ) |
| Wed, Dec. 14 | QF3 vs. QF4 | TBD | Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, NC) |
Copa America 2024 3rd Place
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
| Jul. 13, 2024 | Semifinal losers | TBD | Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, NC) |
Copa America 2024 final
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
| Jul. 14, 2024 | Semifinal winners | TBD | Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, FL) |
