World Cup preview: A closer look at the hosts USA, Canada and Mexico
TEAM AMERICA: Christian Pulisic of the United States of America argues with Referee Kevin Ortega. Pic: Jamie Squire/Getty Images.
The United States head into the World Cup facing perhaps higher stakes than any other team, with a deep run likely to accelerate the sport’s growth in the country and an early exit from a favourable group threatening to stall years of progress.
Put simply, it may be the most important World Cup in US soccer history.
As co-hosts, the Americans were spared the grind of qualifying, leaving questions over the readiness of Mauricio Pochettino’s squad. What is not in doubt is the pressure on the Stars and Stripes.
Reaching the knockout rounds is the minimum expectation for a team that advanced to the last 16 in Qatar in 2022, four years after the humiliation of failing to qualify for the 2018 tournament in Russia.
The US are the highest-ranked side in Group D, which includes Turkey, Australia, and Paraguay. Winning the group is a realistic target and would provide a more favourable route through the knockout rounds.
US soccer has spent decades trying to earn lasting credibility on the international stage in a country where most of the best male athletes are drawn to American football, basketball or baseball — sports that offer greater visibility, richer professional pathways and deeper cultural roots.
A deep run at a home World Cup, however, could reshape perceptions. Even a place in the latter stages would energise a new generation of fans, strengthen the team’s standing and provide a major lift to Major League Soccer.
Christian Pulisic believes the current squad is the strongest the country has produced and expects home support to provide a major lift. “The energy in the stadiums is going to be great,” he said. “We want to take that motivation and push to make the American people proud.”
They open their campaign on Saturday (2am Irish time) against Paraguay in Los Angeles.
Canada return to soccer’s biggest stage not yet among the elite but determined to redefine their place in the global game as co-hosts of the World Cup.
The nation’s appearance in the 2022 tournament snapped a 36-year absence from the finals and when Alphonso Davies headed Canada in front with their first-ever World Cup goal, albeit in a 4-1 loss to Croatia, it sparked country-wide celebrations.
But despite still looking for their first World Cup win after losing all three matches in 1986 and 2022, a side led by American coach Jesse Marsch — who steered Canada to the Copa America semi-finals in 2024 — and boasting internationally recognised talent have their sights set on the knockout rounds.
“We’re a team that has grown so much over the past few years under a new coaching staff with Jesse Marsch. I think he’s brought this team to a totally different level,” said winger Tajon Buchanan. “On our day, I think we could beat anybody.”
Standing between Canada and new World Cup territory is what appears a winnable Group B. Canada open their World Cup Friday against Bosnia & Herzegovina in Toronto followed by games in Vancouver against Qatar (June 18) and Switzerland (June 24).
Davies, 25, who was named captain in June 2024, has suffered a number of injury setbacks that have seen him miss a full year of international duty.
Up front, Canada’s all-time men’s leading scorer Jonathan David will be counted on to lead the way and the Juventus forward is eager to change how people view his team.
“First, we need to make sure we score. And then to win a match would be momentous for Canada,” said David. “After that, the aim is obviously to go as far as possible in the competition.”
Mexico will become the first country to host three World Cups when the renovated Estadio Azteca again takes centre stage from Thursday, but beneath the historic milestone lies a national team still wrestling with decades of disappointment and instability.
The weight of “la maldicion del quinto partido” — the failure to reach the quarter-finals since 1986 — has haunted Mexican football for generations.
Since 1994, Mexico had repeatedly advanced from the group stage only to painfully fall in the round of 16 and at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar they found a way to make the curse worse by not making it to a fourth match for the first time since 1978.
The fallout triggered promises of structural reform across Mexican football, with federation officials speaking about reviving the promotion and relegation league system, reducing foreign players in the Liga MX and improving youth pathways.
Critics and fans believe little has really changed.
Argentine manager Diego Cocca lasted just seven matches in 2023 before Jaime Lozano took over and briefly restored optimism by winning the Gold Cup, only to be dismissed after Mexico crashed out in the 2024 Copa America group stage.
Javier Aguirre, now in his third spell as coach, was brought back to steady the ship before the home World Cup. His results have been more consistent, underpinned by two recent Concacaf trophies, but doubts remain about the team’s identity, lack of top-tier players and a growing rift with fans, who boo the team at home matches after years of frustration.
Mexico, drawn alongside South Africa, South Korea, and the Czech Republic in Group A, are expected to make the most of home advantage and progress as group winners.
That could hand the hosts a manageable last-32 tie before a possible clash with England or Croatia later.
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