On July 7th, the Copa América quarter-finals saw Brazil fall to Uruguay in a penalty shootout, ending their hopes of reaching the semi-finals. The Brazilian team has had a disappointing performance in the two Copa América tournaments hosted in the United States, leaving many wondering how they will break the curse ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
This year’s Copa América in the United States did not see Brazil at their best. They finished second in their group with a record of 1 win, 2 draws, and 5 points. In the quarter-finals, they faced Uruguay, drawing 0-0 after 90 minutes before succumbing in a penalty shootout and bowing out of the tournament.
The 2016 Copa América, also held in the US, saw an even worse performance from Brazil. They managed only 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 loss in the group stage, accumulating 4 points and failing to even qualify for the quarter-finals.
It’s worth noting that Brazil suffered a similar fate in the 2022 World Cup, losing to Croatia in a penalty shootout in the quarter-finals, marking the second consecutive major tournament where the Seleção have fallen at this stage.
The United States was once a haven for the Brazilian national team. In 1994, they conquered the World Cup in the US, defeating Italy in a penalty shootout to become four-time world champions. Now, this once-fortunate land has become a haunting ground, with Brazil’s consecutive Copa América defeats in the US casting a shadow over their prospects for the 2026 World Cup in North America.
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