The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup is underway. Being co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, this summer will see a bumper schedule of 104 games being played over 39 days across North America.
Although the United States is technically sharing the hosting responsibilities, this World Cup still feels very much ours. A total of 75% of matches are being played in the USA, including every game from the quarter-finals onwards, with the World Cup Final itself held on 19th July at the New Jersey, New York Stadium.
Although the USA is not fancied to win the World Cup, with this social prediction market only giving the team around a 1.5% chance of lifting the trophy, there’s still every chance that the USMNT can enjoy its best-ever tournament.
Host teams often enjoy strong World Cups due to the abundance of home supporters and familiar conditions. With the team set to play every game on home soil, there’s a growing expectation that the USMNT can secure its best-ever tournament finish.
The power of the host nation effect
Of the 22 World Cups held to date, six have been won by their host nation. Although most of these came in the early days of the tournament when the fields were much smaller, it still shows the advantage that playing at home can give. The last nation to win at home was France in 1998, though lifting the trophy is far from the only metric for success.
For some nations, such as Qatar in 2022 or South Africa in 2010, the automatic entry granted to host nations can give a massive boost. Both are competing at the 2026 tournament, largely thanks to the legacy of their time as hosts.
Similarly, Japan is considered a dark horse for a run deep into the knockout phase of the World Cup. The Blue Samurai think they are taking their best-ever squad to the tournament, and have enjoyed victories against the likes of England, Brazil, and Germany in recent years. The strong team that Japan has now is made up of the generations inspired by when Japan and South Korea co-hosted the 2002 tournament.
The USA, though, is not looking to use this World Cup as a stepping stone to boost the next generation. It is ready for success now, and will want to use its host nation boost to secure a best-ever finish.
Can the USA get a best-ever finish?
There’s no denying that soccer in the US is in the ascendancy. The MLS has shaken off its reputation of being a place where players go when they can’t keep up in Europe and is now a true powerhouse league. The USA is also producing world-class players, with the likes of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Timothy Weah all proving stars in Italy’s Serie A.
The USMNT may not be looking to lift the World Cup, but surely it’ll be looking to join the list of nations that first achieved their best-ever finish at their home tournament. The likes of Russia (2018), South Korea (2002), and Mexico (1970 & 1986) have all had their best-ever tournament at home.
Currently, the USMNT’s best tournament came in 2002 when Japan and South Korea co-hosted. Here they reached the quarter-finals and were unlucky to be defeated 1-0 by Germany. With a team of genuine soccer stars and home city support in 2026, the USA will want to at least equal this performance.
There can be pitfalls for a home team at the World Cup. Fans will never forget when Brazil cracked under the pressure of being expected to win at home, and fell to a devastating 7-1 defeat to Germany in the semi-finals.
For the USMNT, though, the stage seems set for them to announce themselves to the football world as a real force to be reckoned with.
