{"id":618945,"date":"2025-12-08T00:04:37","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T00:04:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/618945\/"},"modified":"2025-12-08T00:04:37","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T00:04:37","slug":"the-pressures-of-a-host-how-canada-mexico-and-the-usa-could-do-at-2026-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/618945\/","title":{"rendered":"The pressures of a host: how Canada, Mexico and the USA could do at 2026 World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"

By the time Mark Carney, Donald Trump and Claudia Sheinbaum pulled out their respective countries to kick off the actual drawing part of the FIFA World Cup Draw, spectators in attendance and across the world had already been waiting for what seemed like forever.<\/p>\n

With a list of attendees you could mistake for an Oscars ceremony, people were quick to criticise the various performances, speeches and peace award (really, a FIFA peace award) ahead of the draw.<\/p>\n

But alas, it\u2019s the football that really matters.<\/p>\n

With the stage now set for the tournament that FIFA President Gianni Infantino described to American audiences as \u201c104 Super Bowls in one month,\u201d how might the hosts fare in their respective groups?<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\n

Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Korea Republic, European Play-off D<\/p>\n

Mexican fans will be delighted with this selection, but this group may prove to be more difficult than they think.<\/p>\n

Fresh off a CONCACAF Gold Cup win in July, El tri sits 15th in FIFA\u2019s rankings \u2013 the highest of the group \u2013 but their recent form suggests they could be beatable.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mexico has been winless since that Gold Cup final against the US men\u2019s national team (USMNT), with four draws and two losses \u2013 against Colombia and Paraguay \u2013 in their last six matches.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It must be noted that these were international friendlies, and the side was lacking a few of its obvious starters at times, but it\u2019s impossible to ignore that record.<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n

Their first match, the tournament opener, will be a rematch of the 2010 World Cup opening match against South Africa.<\/p>\n

Goalscorers Siphiwe Tshabalala and Rafael Marquez from that 1-1 draw \u2013 the team\u2019s last time sharing the pitch \u2013 will be long retired when the teams clash again, but the score will likely favour the hosts this time.<\/p>\n

Although South Africa is an underrated African side, featuring a nominee for the 2024 Yashin Trophy in goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, among many others performing across the continent, a fit Mexico team is too dominant.<\/p>\n

Mexico then take on Korea Republic, a team they\u2019ve played during their recent run of underperformance.\u00a0<\/p>\n

El Tri drew 2-2 with the Koreans via Raul Jimenez\u2019s 94th-minute equaliser in September, with stars Santiago Jimenez and Heung-Min Son coming off the bench.<\/p>\n

With Korea dominating their qualification stage and impressing in recent friendlies, this will be a tough game with no obvious winner, but I\u2019ll give the nod to Korea.<\/p>\n

Their final opponents will be either Czechia, Denmark, North Macedonia or the Republic of Ireland.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to predict who will get through, but, unless Ireland brings their giant-slaying form into the tournament, only a healthy Denmark would seem to be a real challenge for Mexico.<\/p>\n

My prediction: Mexico advances\u00a0in second place.<\/b>
\nGroup B: Canada, European Playoff A, Qatar, Switzerland<\/p>\n

After a historic qualification to the 2022 Qatar World Cup was muted by three successive defeats in what was undoubtedly that tournament\u2019s group of death, things are looking better this time around for Canada.<\/p>\n

Not only is Canada playing at home, but they are a much stronger side than four years ago. Stars Alphonso Davies and Mo\u00efse Bombito are currently sidelined, but still, Jesse Marsch\u2019s side has seen the emergence of players like Promise David, Nathan Saliba and Tani Oluwaseyi, as well as the addition of foreign-born players like Middlesbrough\u2019s Alfie Jones.<\/p>\n

Les Rouges\u2019 first opponent will remain undecided until March, when either Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Northern Ireland or Wales qualify.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Both Bosnia and Herzegovina and Northern Ireland shouldn\u2019t pose too much of a challenge to the Canadians, although the team showed some cracks under the pressure of the last tournament, namely in the finishing department.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Italy would be the obvious favourites if they were to qualify, and against Wales \u2013 who lost 1-0 to Les Rouges in September \u2013 it could go either team\u2019s way.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n

Canada will then face the country that hosted them in their first World Cup in 36 years, Qatar. <\/p>\n

There\u2019s not too much to write here. This should be a comfortable win for Canada, especially at home.<\/p>\n

Finally, Canada will host Switzerland to close out the group stage.\u00a0<\/p>\n

From Shaqiri\u2019s screamers to unexpected upsets, everyone knows about tournament Switzerland.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Undefeated in their qualification campaign, the Swiss have recently put together one of the most consistent records in international tournaments, making the round of 16 in four of their last five World Cups and reaching the quarter-finals at the past two European championships.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Canada is the only host nation the Swiss haven\u2019t played this year, easily defeating Mexico and the USA 4-0 and 4-2, respectively.<\/p>\n

Despite being at home, the strength of Murat Yakin\u2019s side will likely see Canada lose their final game.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, then, the hosts\u2019 chances of safely leaving the group stage may rest on Italy missing out on a World Cup for the third time in a row.<\/p>\n

My Prediction:\u00a0<\/b>
\nWith Italy, Canada advances\u00a0on points in third<\/b>
\nWithout Italy, Canada advances\u00a0in second<\/b>
\nGroup D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, European Play-off C<\/b><\/p>\n

Celebrations were already over-the-top during the draw, but even more festivities might have been warranted in Washington, considering the Americans\u2019 draw means they may top a World Cup group stage for the third time ever.<\/p>\n

Former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino was under pressure during his first year as the USMNT went on their worst run of form since 2007 this summer after successive losses to Switzerland, Canada, Turkey and Panama.<\/p>\n

The side has been much better since, reaching the finals of the Gold Cup and winning four out of their last six friendlies, including the 5-1 thrashing of Uruguay.<\/p>\n

The USMNT kick off the tournament against Paraguay, who haven\u2019t beaten the hosts since slump back in 2007. The teams most recently played in November, with a heavily rotated USMNT the 2-1 victors.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Home fans should expect a win for their side, although not a comfortable one, as Paraguay conceded only 10 goals in their 18 qualifying matches \u2013 level with Argentina and only second to Ecuador.<\/p>\n

Another recent opponent, Australia, are the hosts\u2019 second challengers. The USMNT took on Australia just one month before they played Paraguay, winning by the same scoreline.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That defeat was the start of a three-game losing streak that the Socceroos will be carrying into the tournament, but their form before the loss was impressive.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Australia, who surprised with a group exit in the last tournament, cruised to World Cup qualification with only one defeat, beating Japan twice along the way.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Although those down under will be hoping for results similar to the 2022 tournament, the USMNT should get another three points from this fixture.<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n

The hosts\u2019 final group stage match will be their most important.<\/p>\n

Although their opponent is undecided, that playoff \u2013 between Kosovo, Romania, Slovakia or T\u00fcrkiye \u2013 will likely decide where the USMNT finish in the table.<\/p>\n

Kosovo has impressed in their run to nab a playoff spot, beating Switzerland, Slovenia and Sweden along the way, but the real threat is T\u00fcrkiye.<\/p>\n

With the likes of Arda G\u00fcler and Kenan Yildiz, T\u00fcrkiye would be the most difficult team for the USMNT. They suffered just one loss across their qualification campaign, and only one more in their last 10 matches.<\/p>\n

If T\u00fcrkiye qualify, they would likely be the only team to beat the hosts on home soil.<\/p>\n

My Prediction:<\/b>
\nUSA advances\u00a0in first<\/b><\/p>\n

These are merely predictions, as availability and form can drastically change in the months ahead of the tournament, but the host nations will all be quite pleased with favourable draws.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This is World Cup football, though. Anything can happen.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n