The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first to take place across three countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This rare opportunity for the host nations to make history comes with high expectations, especially for the US men’s national team and Mexico, neither of which has won the tournament before.

Host Nation Performance History

Since the debut event in 1930, only six host nations have won the World Cup on home soil. Uruguay, the smallest country to have won, took the title in 1930. Italy followed suit in 1934, and later in 1982. Other host nations that have won the tournament include England in 1966, West Germany in 1974, Argentina in 1978, and France in 1998.

Some host nations have had disappointing performances, such as Japan and South Korea in 2002, and Qatar in 2022, which became the second host country to be eliminated in the group stage. The US, in its first time hosting the competition in 1994, fell to Brazil 1-0 in the Round of 16.

Current Tournament

The US is in Group D with Australia, Turkey, and Paraguay. Mexico is in Group A with South Africa, South Korea, and Czechia. Canada is in Group B with Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Qatar. As the tournament progresses, fans will be watching to see if any of the host nations can make a deep run and potentially win the title.

Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.