Argentina’s Julian Alvarez battles Canada’s Alphonso Davies in their Group A match on June 20. The two will face off again in the semifinals on Tuesday. | Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
A numerical look at the first of two semifinal matches in this year’s Copa America tournament
Sure, it’s already been done, but it’s a perfect time for a run-it-back.
When Argentina takes on Canada in the semifinal round of the Copa America tournament on Tuesday (8 p.m., FS1, Univision), it will be the second time these two face off in this year’s version of the tournament.
It was Argentina who celebrated a 2-0 win at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on June 20. Now, Canada looks to even the all-time score — and vault itself into the final of the Copa America, becoming just the second CONCACAF nation to do so in the history of the tournament.
When the two kick off at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday, it means a great deal for both. On the Argentina side, it’s a chance to defend their Copa title and go out as continental champions and as world champions after winning the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
For Canada, it’s a chance to be in the finals of a major tournament and prove that bringing in American coach Jesse Marsch was a bona fide decision for a nation hoping to a rising power in CONCACAF — and not an afterthought.
Before the game, here’s a numerical look at both teams and the implication that a win could mean for both.
1: Canada has just one loss in this year’s tournament. It was a 2-0 loss in an opening-round Group A game against … Argentina. Since then, the Canadians have two wins and a draw.
2: With a win, Canada would become just the second Concacaf nation to make it to the final of a Copa America. Mexico did it in 2001 but lost in the final to Colombia.
Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images
Canadian coach Jesse Marsch, right, has his team one win away from its first Copa America final.
3: The number of times Chilean referee Piero Meza will officiate an Argentina match. The Argentines have succeeded in both matches Meza previously called in a 1-0 win over Brazil in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match and a 3-0 win in a friendly against Italy.
4: The number of goals Canada has conceded in the second half of this tournament. The Canadians have allowed a second-half goal in their last nine appearances, and have scored just once.
5: The number of times consecutively Argentina has made it to the semifinal rounds of the Copa America tournament, with their only loss in these last five coming to Brazil in 2019.
Photo by JUAN MABROMATA/AFP via Getty Images
Argentina has made it to the semifinals of Copa on the last five occasions, winning the last installment in 2021.
9: Argentina’s win streak in Copa America matches. Here’s a little “did you know:” Argentina hasn’t lost a match in the United States in regulation of a major competition since the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
250: Cheapest ticket on Ticketmaster for this game, which has already gone the way of resale. That amount will get you a seat anywhere in the 300 (upper-most) level of the stadium. Wanna be down in front? We found four seats in section 112, first row: but they’ll cost you $3,400 apiece — plus fees, of course.
1959: The last time Argentina returned to a Copa America final as a defending champion. They could repeat the feat with a win over Canada on Tuesday.
