Two heartbroken teams will meet in the Copa America 2024 3rd-place playoff, with the odds heavily favoring Uruguay over Canada. The South Americans are much stronger on paper, but is there’s a chance for their young opponents?
I explore the latest odds and lines in this article, before sharing my Canada vs. Uruguay prediction and best bet. Check out my analysis if you want to target the 3rd-place playoff.
Canada vs. Uruguay Betting Odds
The following Canada vs. Uruguay odds are courtesy of BetUS.
| Bet | Odds |
|---|---|
| Canada to win | +520 |
| Uruguay to win | -180 |
| Draw | +305 |
| Over 2.5 goals | -120 |
| Under 2.5 goals | +100 |
The Uruguayans are the heavy favorites coming into this one. Most online soccer bookies have them at around -180 to -190. A regular time victory for Canada, on the other hand, is available at +520.
The high odds for the underdog can be appealing, but let’s dig deeper to figure whether this is the best wager. Before I dissect both sides, you should know that BetUS offers plenty of other markets for this one, so feel free to visit the bookmaker and check for yourself.
Canada – A Debut Medal Incoming?
Even though Canada was invited to the 2001 Copa America as a guest, they withdrew later on after initially accepting the offer. That was the only time Canada could’ve played on the event before the 2024 edition.
Despite the lack of experience, the Canadians have played extraordinarily well. They had some defensive mishaps and weren’t exactly clinical in front of the goal at times, but when everything is done and dusted, Jesse Marsch’s men can be proud of themselves.
First ever Copa América ✅
First ever Copa América win ✅
First ever Copa América Knockout Stage ✅
First ever Copa América Semifinal ✅What a run for Canada in Copa América 2024 👏🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/uQih0SndOV
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 10, 2024
So far, they only lost two matches against Argentina. The problem is that they’re up against a team that isn’t too far off Messi and the company in the 3rd-place playoff.
Uruguay’s defense can be suffocating, but there are question marks around motivation. The South Americans were dreaming for gold, so they won’t care as much for the bronze.
Canada, on the other hand, will be desperate to get a medal and I expect a strong performance.
Uruguay – Do They Care About the Consolation Prize?
The Uruguayans are the deserving favorites coming into this one. They knocked Brazil out in the quarterfinals and just narrowly lost to Colombia in the semifinals. Before the playoffs, they aced group C, finishing on top with 9 points, 9 scored goals, and just one conceded.
Even though many are dissatisfied with their style of play, Marcelo Bielsa’s men have been near-perfect and almost went all the way to the finals. Unfortunately, they failed to capitalize on their chances and, despite having a man advantage for the whole second half.
Their last chance to make something notable out of their 2024 Copa America campaign is the third-place match. The Uruguayans already have 15 titles, so the bronze is hardly a worth prize for this team.
And yet, there’s another factor to consider here. Some of the players were involved in an ugly brawl after the semifinal, trying to protect their families in the stands.
Before slating Darwin Nunez, listen to this. Wouldn’t anyone have done the same thing in that situation?#LFC #Uruguay #Nunez #Colombia
— Ben Pescod (@benpescodjourno) July 11, 2024
Knowing Uruguay’s mentality and Marcelo Bielsa’s reputation, this incident would only fuel the team. They will channel their anger on the pitch, so Canada will be under lots of pressure in this one.
Canada vs. Uruguay Prediction and Betting Pick
The Copa America 3rd-place playoff could be more entertaining than the finals. It’s going to be aggressive, both defensively and offensively, mostly thanks to the way Uruguay plays important matches. However, it’s also going to be pacey and packed with individual solutions because that’s what Canada strives for.
The underdogs will give everything, but Uruguay is the better side and should win this one. The price of -180 is high enough for me to back the favorites.
