Argentina Kick Off Copa America Title Defense with Win Over Canada

Alvarez and Martinez Seal Victory for Argentina in Copa America Opener

Argentina kicks off Copa America title defense with 2-0 win over Canada in Atlanta. Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez score, extending Argentina's unbeaten run to 9 matches. Tournament held in USA, with MLS and NFL stadiums hosting matches.

Argentina, the defending champions, kicked off their Copa America campaign with a convincing win over Canada in Atlanta, Georgia. Manchester City's Julian Alvarez broke the deadlock just four minutes into the second half, scoring from close range. Substitute Lautaro Martinez sealed the victory late in the game, expertly turning in a pass from the legendary Lionel Messi.

The win extends Argentina's unbeaten run in the Copa America to nine matches, building on their success in the 2021 edition in Brazil and their third-place finish two years prior. The reigning World Cup champions will face Chile next on June 26 at 02:00 BST. Meanwhile, Canada, led by former Leeds manager Jesse Marsch, will take on Peru on June 25 at 23:00 BST.

In a disappointing turn of events, Canada Soccer, the nation's governing body, announced that one of their players was subjected to online racist abuse following the defeat. In a statement, Canada Soccer expressed their deep disturbance and condemnation of the racist comments, emphasizing their commitment to promoting inclusivity and respect in the sport.

“Canada Soccer is aware of and deeply disturbed by racist comments made online and directed at one of our men's national team players following tonight's match,” read a statement posted on X.

“We are in communication with [governing bodies] Concacaf and Conmebol about this matter.”

The 2023 Copa America is being held in the United States, with a unique blend of Major League Soccer (MLS) and National Football League (NFL) stadiums serving as host venues. This year's tournament features a mix of soccer-specific stadiums and iconic American football venues, providing a diverse range of backdrops for the competition.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home to both Atlanta United (MLS) and the Atlanta Falcons (NFL), has come under scrutiny from Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni due to its playing surface. Although the stadium typically features an artificial pitch, a temporary grass surface was installed specifically for the Copa America. Scaloni expressed his disapproval of the pitch conditions, highlighting the challenges of adapting stadiums for different sports and events.

“With all due respect, thank goodness we won,” Scaloni said.

“Otherwise, it would have been a cheap excuse. We have known for seven months that we are going to play here and they changed the turf two days ago.

“It is not good for the show. It is not an excuse. The stadium is beautiful and with synthetic turf it must be spectacular, but with today's turf it is not suitable for this kind of players.”

Julián Alvarez named man of the Match honors.