2026 World Cup Hosts Struggle in Friendlies Ahead of Tournament

The United States, Mexico, and Canada fail to impress in pre-World Cup tune-ups, raising concerns about their readiness to host the global event.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 7:04pm

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The 2026 World Cup hosts - the United States, Mexico, and Canada - all struggled in recent friendly matches ahead of the tournament, failing to pick up wins and raising alarm bells just three months out from the opening match. While tournament favorites like Spain and France looked impressive in their preparations, the North American hosts were less than convincing, with the USMNT suffering a 5-2 defeat to Belgium and Canada needing late heroics from Jonathan David to salvage a 2-2 draw with Iceland.

Why it matters

As the first World Cup to be hosted by three nations, the 2026 edition is seen as a crucial opportunity for the United States, Mexico, and Canada to showcase their ability to stage a successful global event. However, the poor performances in these pre-tournament friendlies have sparked concerns about the hosts' readiness and whether they can compete with the world's elite teams.

The details

The United States was soundly beaten 5-2 by Belgium in a match played in Atlanta, with the Americans struggling to keep pace with their European opponents. Mexico managed a 0-0 draw at home against Portugal, while Canada needed a late comeback to earn a 2-2 draw with Iceland at home. The results have raised questions about the preparedness of the 2026 World Cup hosts, who were expected to use these friendlies to fine-tune their squads and tactics ahead of the tournament.

  • The recent international break allowed teams one final chance to assess players before fine-tuning their squads for this summer's World Cup.
  • The 2026 World Cup is just three months away, with the opening match scheduled for June 2026.

The players

Mauricio Pochettino

The manager of the United States national team, who started his strongest lineup against Belgium.

Jonathan David

The Juventus striker who scored two late penalties to salvage a 2-2 draw for Canada against Iceland.

Alphonso Davies

The Bayern Munich left-back and key player for the Canadian national team, who is currently nursing a hamstring injury.

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What’s next

The 2026 World Cup hosts will need to quickly address the issues exposed in these friendlies and continue fine-tuning their squads and tactics ahead of the tournament's opening match in June.

The takeaway

The struggles of the 2026 World Cup hosts in these pre-tournament friendlies have raised concerns about their readiness to compete at the highest level and host a successful global event. The teams will need to show significant improvement in the coming months to silence the critics and prove they can rise to the occasion.