There is more international football on the horizon and here is how you can follow all the action involving Chelsea’s South Americans at this summer’s Copa America.
The expanded 2024 edition of the Copa America features several nations from the CONCACAF region in addition to the traditional sides from CONMEBOL, and will be played outside of South America for just the second time in its history, with the USA hosting for a second time, eight years after the first.
Our European internationals are already in action at Euro 2024 in Germany this summer, but the South Americans will join them in their own continental championship when the Copa America kicks off tonight.
With the tournament taking place around the US, matches will be played late at night or in the early hours of the morning UK time.
Holders Argentina will kick off the Copa America against Canada tonight at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, which is where Chelsea will take on Club America in the third game of our US Tour.
Ecuador will also get their campaign underway at another of the grounds we will be visiting during Chelsea's US Tour 2024, when they play Venezuela at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, which will host our clash against Wrexham.
And the Copa America third-place play-off - plus one of the semi-finals - will also be held at another of the Blues' destinations this summer: the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte where we will play Champions League holders Real Madrid.
Group A
Argentina – Enzo Fernandez
Winners of the last Copa America and World Cup, Argentina go into this competition as favourites to retain their crown and become only the second country in history to win three consecutive major tournaments – following Spain in 2008-2012. They have failed to win just one match since their opening game of the 2022 World Cup.
Having recovered from the injury which forced him to miss the end of our Premier League campaign, Enzo Fernandez is expected to line-up in the centre of Argentina’s midfield alongside Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister, just as he did during their World Cup triumph.
Argentina's group fixtures:
Argentina v Canada - Friday 21 June, 1am BST (Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta)
Chile v Argentina - Wednesday 26 June, 2am BST (MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford)
Argentina v Peru - Sunday 30 June, 1am BST (Hard Rock Stadium, Miami)
Group B
Ecuador – Moises Caicedo (and Kendry Paez)
Ecuador go into this Copa America with hopes of surpassing their best previous performance of fourth place in 1993. Their only defeats in the last year have been to world champions Argentina and European title holders Italy, and they go into this tournament following back-to-back wins over Bolivia and Guatemala in their warm-up games.
Moises Caicedo will take on a similar holding midfielder role to the one he occupies with Chelsea, having started every competitive match for his country for over two years.
Ahead of him is likely to be Kendry Paez, the youngest player at this Copa America who will join Chelsea after his 18th birthday next May, who became a regular in Ecuador’s No10 position during their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Ecuador's group fixtures:
Ecuador v Venezuela - Saturday 22 June, 11pm BST (Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara)
Ecuador v Jamaica - Wednesday 26 June, 11pm BST (Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas)
Mexico v Ecuador - Monday 1 July, 1am BST (State Farm Stadium, Glendale)
Copa America knockout rounds schedule (dates are local times)
Quarter-finals: 4-6 July
Semi-finals: 9-10 July
Third-place play-off: 13 July
Final: 14 July
Don't miss your chance to visit some of the USA's most iconic stadiums this summer when Chelsea head Stateside
Chelsea’s USA Tour 2024
Chelsea vs Wrexham - Wednesday 24 July at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California – click for tickets or buy Club Chelsea hospitality packages
Chelsea vs Celtic - Saturday 27 July at Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, Indiana – click for tickets or buy Club Chelsea hospitality packages now
Chelsea vs Club America - Wednesday 31 July at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia – click for tickets or Club Chelsea hospitality packages
Chelsea vs Manchester City - Saturday 3 August at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio – click for tickets or buy Club Chelsea hospitality packages now
Chelsea vs Real Madrid - Tuesday 6 August at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina – click for tickets or buy Club Chelsea hospitality packages now
