The U.S. men’s national team is ranked 11th in FIFA’s latest world rankings, making them a strong favorite against Bolivia, ranked 84th, in their Copa América opener. However, the high -550 moneyline odds for a USA win are not attracting many bettors at the moment. BetMGM’s trading manager, Seamus Magee, expects more action as the kickoff approaches and suggests that bettors may find more value in prop bets, such as backing the USMNT to win by a certain goal margin or betting on specific players to score.
As the USA prepares for their first Copa América match, Magee anticipates a surge in goalscorer bets and prop bets related to the total number of goals in the game once lineups are announced. Despite being the fifth choice in odds to win the tournament at +1200, bettors have been hesitant to back the Americans so far. Magee suggests that more realistic wagers may be to bet on the USMNT making it to the semifinals rather than winning the event outright. He highlights concerns about the team’s defense and inconsistent goal-scoring in major international competitions.
Looking ahead to the future of the Copa América, traditional soccer powers like Argentina and Brazil are the favorites to win the tournament. Magee notes that the USA could face strong teams like Uruguay in the group stage, providing an opportunity to gauge their competitiveness against top-level competition. Despite being ranked sixth in the odds to make the semifinals, Magee believes that better execution and consistent goal-scoring could propel the USMNT to a successful run in the tournament. He emphasizes the importance of a good draw in the group stage to advance further.
Despite being a strong favorite in their Group C opener against Bolivia, the USMNT is not among the frontrunners to win the Copa América according to betting odds. Magee acknowledges that while action on the American team has been light so far, he expects more betting activity as the tournament progresses. He suggests that there are alternative ways to bet on USA futures beyond backing them to win the tournament, with options like betting on the team to make it to the semifinals. With a focus on improving their defensive solidity and offensive output, the USMNT aims to exceed expectations and make a deep run in the competition.
