Copa America Centenario Draw: Winners and Losers from New York Event
The groups for the 2016 Copa America Centenario were unveiled on Sunday night at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.
Group A will be declared by many as the "Group of Death" after the United States were paired with Colombia, Costa Rica and Paraguay.
Brazil will face Ecuador, Haiti and Peru in Group B. Group C features Mexico, Uruguay, Jamaica and Venezuela, while Group D is comprised of Argentina, Chile, Panama and Bolivia.
The tournament will begin on June 3 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, when the United States host Colombia. The final will be held at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, on June 26.
Here's a look at our winners and losers from Sunday's draw.
Winner: United States
1 of 5
The United States men's national team need to prove that they belong on the world's biggest stages, which is why drawing the "Group of Death" is perfect for the Yanks.
Some fans may have trembled in fear of Colombia, Costa Rica and Paraguay during the draw, but a realistic supporter knows this is the group the Yanks need to test themselves.
Jurgen Klinsmann's bunch are no strangers to playing in the most competitive group of a major tournament and succeeding. The 2014 FIFA World Cup was a perfect example of how capable the Yanks are of winning games with the spotlight shining bright on them.
The three difficult matches that will be played at Levi's Stadium, Soldier Field and Lincoln Financial Field also give the Yanks an opportunity to draw massive crowds on home soil and use that to their advantage.
Winning will definitely not be easy come June, but the Yanks should embrace the task in front of them and find a way to advance to the knockout phase.
Loser: Venezuela
2 of 5
Venezuela were going to face a tough set of matches regardless of who they were going to play, but Sunday's draw handed them no favors as they face Mexico, Uruguay and Jamaica.
Mexico is the seeded team in Group C, and El Tri are expected to have as much of a home-field advantage as the USMNT, if not greater.
Uruguay enter the competition with a chance to win the group with the help of Luis Suarez, who will be one of the best players to take to the field in the United States in June.
Venezuela's opener against Jamaica will not be easy going for Noel Sanvicente's side either since the Reggae Boyz are one of the rising sides in CONCACAF.
Winner: Argentina
3 of 5
Argentina have a chance to shake the demons from the 2015 Copa America final in their first Group D match of the Copa America Centenario.
The Albiceleste will face off against holders Chile on June 6 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
After the clash with Chile, Lionel Messi and his teammates should be able to cruise into the knockout round with wins over Panama and Bolivia.
If Argentina come out on top of Group D, they will avoid Mexico in the quarterfinals, and they wouldn't have to play Brazil until the final as long as the Selecao take first place in Group B.
Loser: Panama
4 of 5
After advancing all the way to the semifinals of the 2015 CONCACAF Cup, Panama were expected to be one of the teams to shock everyone during the Copa America Centenario in June.
However, that dream may have died on Sunday night as Los Canaleros were drawn with Argentina and Chile in Group D.
Panama should be able to create momentum for themselves in their opener on June 6 against Bolivia at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, but taking points off Argentina and Chile will be no simple task.
If they somehow make it out of the group, Panama may be the team no one wants to play in the knockout round, but they have a long road to get there first.
Winner: Brazil
5 of 5
If look at Group B, you have to think Brazil are the favorite to take first place in a section that contains Ecuador, Haiti and Peru.
The Selecao will face at least one difficult opponent—just like all of the favorites to hoist the trophy on June 26—but they have a chance to put on an attacking show against both Haiti and Peru.
Regardless of their result against Ecuador on June 4 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Brazil will have a chance to gain a full head of steam before the quarterfinals with wins over Haiti and Peru.
If the Selecao are unstoppable on the pitches across the United States in June, they could set the tone for a successful summer with the Olympics looming in August on home soil.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90
