It's time for the business end of Copa America 2024.
From the quarterfinals onwards we are at a single-elimination knockout stage, where anything can happen. Fans are ready for the serious contenders to emerge, and perhaps some of the big names to fall by the wayside.
Some paths will prove easier than others in the knockouts stages, depending on the teams that qualify and on which side of the bracket each team winds up.
The quarterfinal matchups are all predetermined, with teams slotting in based on their finish in their respective groups (group winner or group runner-up).
As the knockout-stage action prepares to get underway in the USA, The Sporting News lays out all you need to know about the Copa America 2024 quarterfinals.
MORE: When and where are Copa America 2024 matches being played in the US?
Copa America 2024 quarterfinals schedule
The matchups in the quarterfinals were predetermined and the bracket has been filled out as each team clinched first or second place in their respective groups. Schedule dates and times are listed below:
| Date | Time (ET) | Match (click to buy tickets) | Location |
| July 4, 2024 | 9 p.m. | QF1: Argentina vs. Ecuador | Houston, TX (NRG Stadium) |
| July 5, 2024 | 9 p.m. | QF2: Venezuela vs. Canada | Arlington, TX (AT&T Stadium) |
| July 6, 2024 | 6 p.m. | QF3: Uruguay vs. Brazil | Las Vegas, NV (Allegiant Stadium) |
| July 6, 2024 | 9 p.m. | QF4: Colombia vs. Panama | Glendale, AZ (State Farm Stadium) |
MORE: Complete knockout round schedule through to the Copa America 2024 final
Teams in Copa America 2024 quarterfinals and bracket
The bracket for the Copa America comes in two halves. And each will produce a finalist. The bracket shaped up as a result of the group-stage, which concluded on July 2. You can check out the full group standings and results here
MORE: Downloadable and printable PDF Copa America bracket from The Sporting News
One half of the quarterfinal bracket features the following teams, from which one lucky finalist will emerge:
- Argentina [Group A Winner]
- Venezuela [Group B Winner]
- Canada [Group A Runner-up]
- Ecuador [Group B Runner-up]
The other half of the bracket will produce the other finalist from the following list:
- Uruguay [Group C Winner]
- Colombia [Group D Winner]
- Panama [Group C Runner-up]
- Brazil [Group D Runner-up]
MORE: How to watch all the Copa America 2024 action in the USA
How do quarterfinals work at Copa America 2024?
The quarterfinal stage is the start of what is commonly referred to as the knockout rounds, because every match is single elimination from here on out.
There are no points earned. There are no standings. There's simply a winner and a loser.
What happens if Copa America knockout matches finish tied — is there extra time and penalty kicks?
There has to be a winner on the day for each match and for subsequent knockout-round matches (semifinals, final). But unlike other major tournaments, such as Euro 2024, in the Copa America quarterfinals and semifinals there is no extra time.
So if teams are tied after 90 minutes of regulation, the match goes straight to a penalty shootout, which will determine the team that moves on to the semifinals.
For the final, that is different; if a tie occurs after 90 minutes an extra period of 30 minutes is played, and following that — if needed — there will be penalty kicks if a winner has not emerged by that point.
The quarterfinal pairings are set in advance. Teams that finish in first place in the group stage match up against teams that are runners-up in their respective groups.
How teams advance at Copa America 2024
There are 16 teams that reach the Copa America, after emerging from qualifying matches in their respective regions.
Group Stage
Once they get to the tournament, the first obstacle awaiting them is the group stage. In 2024, the 16 teams were split up into four groups of four teams each.
The group stage consists of typical round-robin group play, with each team playing the other three once. Three points are awarded for every win in the group stage, one for a draw, and none for a loss. If teams are tied on points, goal difference and then goals represent the first tiebreakers.
The top two finishers in each group advance to the knockout stage. Those teams are slotted into a predetermined bracket based on their group position that starts with the quarterfinals.
Knockout Rounds
Beginning with the quarterfinals through to the final, every match is single elimination. Teams advance from the quarterfinals to the semifinals, and lastly to the final.
As explained above, if teams are tied at the end of the 90 minutes of regulation, they go to a penalty shootout. In the final, tied teams will play 30 minutes of extra time followed by a penalty shootout, if necessary.