The 2015 Copa America finalists – Chile and Argentina – have been drawn in the same group for the special edition that is the 2016 Copa America Centenario, which will be held in the USA this June.
Chile came up trumps in the Copa America final less than a year back, as Alexis Sanchez and co. won the title on home soil, and the exciting South American side will face Lionel Messi's team in the group stages, after the two behemoths were drawn together in Group D of this tournament, which is being held to commemorate the centenary of CONMEBOL and the Copa America.
Chile and Argentina will be joined in Group D by Panama and Bolivia, who will need to play out of their skins and need some help from Lady Luck to qualify for the next round.
This 2016 Copa America Centenario (aka 2016 Centennial Copa America) will have 16 teams, instead of the usual 12, with ten teams from the South American federation CONMEBOL and six from the North, Central American and Caribbean football federation, the CONCACAF.
While Argentina and Chile will face off in the group stages, the really difficult group looks like being Group A, with hosts USA drawn with Colombia, Costa Rica and Paraguay. All four teams are capable of going deep in the 2016 Copa America Centenario, making Group A the one to watch.
Group B will have South American powerhouses Brazil face Ecuador, Haiti and Peru. Dunga should be pretty happy with this draw, because, on paper at least, it looks like the most straightforward one. Having disappointed in the last couple of big tournaments, though, Brazil will be under pressure to make an impression in this 100th year celebration of the Copa America.
Mexico, Uruguay, Jamaica and Venezuela make up Group C, and Luis Suarez's Uruguay will be fancied to go through as the winners, even if Mexico and Venezuela will want to have a say as well. Jamaica have improved of late and cannot be discounted either.
The Copa America Centenario will be held in the USA from June 3-26.
2016 Copa America Centenario draw: Group A: USA, Colombia, Costa Rica, Paraguay.
Group B: Brazil, Ecuador, Haiti, Peru.
Group C: Mexico, Uruguay, Jamaica, Venezuela.
Group D: Argentina, Chile, Panama, Bolivia.
