The United States, Mexico and Canada are stepping up their preparations to host the expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup tournament.
FIFA has already sent a delegation to conduct operation visits to the 16 cities hosting the tournament, which will be held across three separate nations for the first time.
They watched a Major League Soccer (MLS) match at the Atlanta Stadium and a National Football League (NFL) game at the Kansas City Stadium during the tour.
Each of the three host nations will be desperate for their teams to make an impact at the World Cup. Read on as we take a closer look at each of them.
United States
The US is no stranger to hosting major sporting events, and the 2026 World Cup will mark its return as a tournament host after the 1994 edition.
The US Men’s National Team (USMNT) decided to shuffle their pack after a disappointing exit in the group stage of the 2024 Copa America.
They won just one of their three games in the initial phase to finish third in Group C, which wasn’t enough to secure a spot in the knockout phase.
Gregg Berhalter was subsequently sacked as head coach. Mikey Varas, the boss of the Under-20 side, was installed as the interim manager of the senior squad.
Varas previously led the U20s at the 2023 World Cup and will oversee the upcoming September friendlies against Canada and New Zealand. He will be hoping for strong performances.
They will be fairly confident about defeating Canada, having won six of their last ten meetings, but New Zealand could be tricky opponents for the US.
The match is guaranteed to generate plenty of interest in the betting industry, with punters on both sides of the equation renowned for wagering on their respective teams.
Most NZ betting sites will be inundated with wagers on the game, with Kiwi punters expected to punt heavily on their team to emerge victorious.
However, with the US bidding to make a statement ahead of Mauricio Pochettino’s probable appoint as head coach, the odds are stacked against New Zealand.
Mexico
Mexico are rated as 51.00 shots to win the World Cup and they will be eager to make significant progress having failed to make it past the group stage at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
They also failed to progress from the Copa America group stage, finishing level on points with Ecuador and exiting the tournament on goal difference
Their recent performances have resulted in Javier Aguirre returning as head coach. The Mexican is set for his third stint in charge and is tasked with rejuvenating the team.
He has already made some eye-catching moves by sidelining omitting Guillermo Ochoa, Raul Jimenez and Hirving Lozano from his squad for upcoming friendlies against New Zealand and Canada.
Mexico are hoping to reach the knockout stage of the World Cup for the tenth time, and the upcoming games will gauge their readiness for the showpiece event.
Canada
The 2026 World Cup is a historic opportunity for Canada to defy the odds and elevate its football scene to unprecedented heights.
The Canadian Men’s National Team (CANMNT) has been on an upward trajectory, and the tournament offers them a chance to inspire a new generation of players and fans.
Unlike their co-hosts, Canada’s performances at the 2024 Copa America were remarkable. The bookmakers were impressed, trimming their odds to win the World Cup to 101.00.
They finished fourth, the highest of any CONCACAF team, showing they have what it takes to compete with the best teams in the world.
This success has raised expectations for the national team, which is now looking to build on that momentum as they prepare for the World Cup.
The success of the national team at Copa America and the prospect of playing in a World Cup on home soil are expected to have a lasting impact on the growth of the sport in Canada.
