USMNT won't look past Bolivia in Copa América opener: 'This is a huge event for them'

ARLINGTON, Texas – One quick glance at the Copa América odds tells the story.

Of the 16 teams competing at USA 2024, just three — Costa Rica, Jamaica and Panama — are more of a long shot to win the tournament than Bolivia, according to the bookies.

That should make the host U.S. men's national team feel pretty good about its chances of kicking off their Copa slate with a victory on Sunday over the Bolivians (kickoff at 6 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app).

The Americans still aren't taking anything for granted.

"We know that this is a huge event for them," U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said of Bolivia during Saturday's pregame press conference at AT&T Stadium. "Not always qualifying for the World Cup, I think increases the magnitude of Copa América for teams like Bolivia. So we know it's going to be a challenging match."

Somewhere in their subconscious, though, it would be easy for the U.S. to look past La Verde. FIFA ranks Bolivia 84th globally to the No. 11 Americans. They've made just one World Cup appearance since 1950. And they come into this Copa having won just one of their five matches this year; the other four were all losses. Still, the Bolivians have become a more sophisticated, more dangerous opponent since hugely experienced Brazilian manager Antonio Carlos Zago took the helm late last year.

"It's a different team than you might think on paper," U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner told a handful of reporters in Dallas on Friday.  "They've kind of gone with a younger guard since their manager change back in [November]. They used to be a deeper-sitting team, just hoping for one or two chances. But now they seem to be trying to create more on their own, pressing a bit higher up the pitch, trying to build out from the