At a crossroads in their national team history, Brazil begin a crucial 2024 Copa America journey with a group-stage match against CONCACAF guest participants Costa Rica.

Brazil have shown signs of life in recent months under new head coach Dorival Junior, but they have been sapped of their trademark global superiority over the past few years. They have been eliminated in the quarterfinals in four of the last five World Cups, have just one Copa America title in the last five events, and sit a shocking sixth in the early stages of the current CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying cycle.

A strong 2024 Copa America without an injured Neymar could reverse the narrative and provide promise of a return to prominence, but a poor showing would have a strong negative effect on a federation under recent fire.

Ranked 52nd in the world, Costa Rica are the second-lowest CONCACAF side in the competition and have struggled in recent years. They beat Japan at the 2022 World Cup and also picked up victories against the United States and Nigeria that year, but have secured just seven victories in 18 matches since, and none against truly strong opponents.

Brazil vs. Costa Rica prediction, odds

• Moneyline lean: Brazil (-650)
• Score prediction: Brazil 2-1 Costa Rica

Brazil are having a tough time and may struggle at this Copa America, but they should have enough firepower to make it past their opening group opponent. Costa Rica are prone to capitulation against top-tier opponents, and even if they manage to keep a lid on the game for much of the match and lock Brazil down, they just don’t have enough to secure what would be a famous result.

Brazil vs. Costa Rica match facts

• Date: Monday, Jun, 24, 2024
• Local kickoff time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT
• Location: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA)
• Referee: Cesar Ramos (MEX)
• Last meeting: Brazil 2-0 Costa Rica (Jun. 22, 2018 | World Cup)

• Pick: Both teams to score — Yes
• Odds: +135 (BetMGM)

We’ll get to Brazil’s disjointed attack shortly, but first let’s touch on their back line. The biggest issue for Brazil amidst their recent struggles is a lack of any type of defensive solidity. Since opening the 2022 World Cup with shutout wins against Serbia and Switzerland, Brazil have kept a grand total of two clean sheets, coming against offensively inept Peru and a struggling England.

In that span, Brazil have conceded goals to the likes of Venezuela and Guinea, both ranked lower than Costa Rica, plus coughing up two against a struggling Mexico, three to Spain, and four to Senegal.

Costa Rica will struggle to maintain a high volume of possession and must take their chances, but against this leaky Brazil back line, nearly 3/2 odds on the underdogs to find the net is exceptional value.

Brazil vs. Costa Rica prop bet

• Pick: Brazil under 2.5 total goals
• Odds: +120 (BetMGM)

Costa Rica are prone to defensive blow-ups, as evident by their 7-0 defeat to Spain at the last World Cup or conceding six goals across a pair of Nations League quarterfinal legs against Panama. Yet it doesn’t feel as if Brazil are primed to take advantage of such an opponent.

In the current World Cup qualifying cycle, following a 5-1 win over Bolivia to begin the slate, Brazil managed to score a total of three goals across five games against Peru, Venezuela, Uruguay, Colombia, and Argentina. They’ve done better in friendlies since, but they are missing a true No. 9 up front aside from teenage sensation Endrick who, for now, is a substitute option only.

Major tournament participants across the world usually struggle for attacking sharpness early in group-stage play before finding their stride, and Brazil seem to fit that bill.

Brazil vs. Costa Rica live stream, TV channel

The opening match for Brazil at the 2024 Copa America will be televised in English on FS1. There is also a Spanish-language broadcast on both TUDN and UniMas. All three channels will be available to stream on Fubo, who are offering a FREE trial for new users.

In Canada, the match will be televised on multiple TSN channels, with streaming on the broadcaster’s dedicated platform, TSN+. It will also be broadcast in French on RDS 2.

The entire 2024 Copa America will be televised in the United Kingdom on Premier Sports 1, with streaming on their platform, Premier Sports Player.