What to Expect From World Cup Host Teams | Entertainment

USA

The United States’ Men’s National Team is no longer soccer’s eternal freshman. Being hosts comes with its own pressures, but Mauricio Pochettino will bring organization and big game experience to some world-class talent, and that means fans can be optimistic.

If they win Group D — and a favorable draw sees the USMNT alongside Australia, Paraguay, and Türkiye — Pochettino’s men will come up against a third-place team in the Round of 32. Win that and a last 16 game could be against Belgium. With the Belgian golden generation a disappointing memory, the U.S. could easily avenge their heartbreaking 2014 loss to them, and then it would be game on.

How can they do it? Well, playing to their strengths — attack, attack, attack — and mitigating their weaknesses — defense — would be a great start. Pochettino has built his reputation as a front-foot manager, so exploiting the ability of Christian Pulisic, Timothy Weah, Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Haji Wright, and Brenden Aaronson is vital. Behind them in midfield, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams have both enjoyed stellar campaigns with Juventus and AFC Bournemouth, respectively. Flanked by either Malik Tillman or Tanner Tessman, the park center looks solid.

At the back is where most expect the team to struggle. Fullbacks Antonee Robinson and Sergino Dest are better going forward than they are defending. Could Pochettino adopt a wingback system to get the best out of these talents? It would be done at the expense of an attacker. Chris Richards is a superb center back, but Tim Ream, at 38, is not the player he once was. Is Toulouse’s Mark McKenzie a better bet? In goal, Matt Freese seems to have won the battle between the sticks, but he lacks big game international experience.

That said, if their progression is smooth, a quarterfinal berth is there for the taking. And if more inspiration is needed, they could look to the success of the U.S. women.

Mexico

The Men in green are at their most dangerous on their home turf. Luckily, they will be playing all their group games in Mexico.

Mexico’s performances in their previous 17 WorldCup appearances do not immediately suggest they can go all the way this time around. Their best performances to date were in 1970 and 1986, when El Tri reached the quarterfinals. Those standout results should be a good cause for optimism now, however, as they were both achieved on home soil, and this summer sees Mexico hosting again.

So, can they match those previous two quarterfinal appearances? If they emerge as Group A winners by overcoming South Africa and South Korea, they could face England in a potential last-16 matchup — presenting a substantial obstacle to

their progress.

First, they need to get out of their group. They have the players to make this happen: Talismanic skipper Rául Jiminéz has enjoyed another productive season in the English Premier League with Fulham, and much will rest upon his shoulders.

He’ll likely be flanked by widemen Roberto Alvarado and Alexis Vega; that trio propelled Mexico to Gold Cup glory last year, so they have knowledge of how to get over the line in must-win games. Other exciting attacking talents are Germán Berterame, who recently joined Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, Chivas stars Efraín Álvarez and Armando González and Hirving Lozano. In midfield, Fenerbahçe’s Edson Alvarez and Marcel Ruiz are quietly effective at winning the ball and moving it on to those who can inflict damage further up the pitch.

Defensively, Julián Araujo has excelled at Scottish club Celtic in recent months, and the center back partnership of Johan Vásquez and Cesar Montes is unflashy but reliable. Between the sticks, Luis Ángel Malagón was excellent in last year’s Gold Cup but hasn’t reached the same heights this season. Could eccentric veteran shotstopper Guillermo Ochoa, the “Mexican Jesus,” now 40, add to his 151 caps? He currently plays in the Cypriot First Division, but it would make for a great story.

Canada

After getting one monkey off their back at the last World Cup — netting their first goal in a final, courtesy of Alphonso Davies — Canada has two aims at this summer’s tournament: Gain its first win and, if this can be accompanied by another victory or two draws, make it out of the group stage.

Surely Les Rouges won’t get a better opportunity than this year. As tournament cohosts, they have a top-seed group ranking, ensuring they miss out playing one of the final’s favorites. Secondly, they drew Switzerland from the second-seed pot, avoiding the likes of Croatia, Uruguay, Morocco and Senegal.

Switzerland will be no pushovers, but Jesse Marsch will be feeling more confident about facing Granit Xhaka and Co. Get a positive result in their opening match on June 12 against Bosnia and Herzegovina and then all eyes will be on their game against Qatar six days later.

Captain Davies will be pivotal to their chances. The dynamic left back is Canada’s one truly world-class individual and, as he’s just returned to fitness following a devastating ACL injury last year, Marsch will be banking on his impact. The other player on the Canada roster with real international pedigree is striker Jonathan David. He hasn’t had the best debut season with Juventus, following five stellar years with Lille, but he is a banker for goals if provided with decent service. Here, Marsch will be looking at Tajon Buchanan, Cyle Larin and Ali Ahmed plus the creative midfield pairing of Ismaël Koné and Stephen Eustáquio.

Defensively, there are doubts. The goalkeeper spot is still up for debate with frontrunners Dayne St. Clair and Maxime Crépeau having interrupted seasons in the MLS. Moïse Bombito offers poise at center back, but who will line up beside him? The British-based duo of Derek Cornelius (Rangers) and Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough) seem favorites going into the tournament.

TV Guide Magazine’s 2026 World Cup Preview Special Issue is available for order online now at worldcup.tvgm2026.com and for purchase on newsstands nationwide.

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