Hosts Shine at 2026 World Cup: Mexico, USA, Canada Thrive

The single sharpest fact is this: Canada, Mexico, and the USA have each made a deeper run in the 2026 World Cup than ever before.

Canada's midfielder Stephen Eustaquio celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates during the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between South Africa and Canada at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 28, 2026. (Photo by ETIENNE LAURENT / AFP)

Canada shattered their World Cup glass ceiling by making the knockout stages in style, thrashing Qatar 6-0. They then forced their way onto American soil for the remainder of the tournament, where they scored a first-ever knockout victory against South Africa, thanks to Eustaquio's late strike in Los Angeles.

A much tougher task awaits Canada in Houston on Saturday when highly-fancied Morocco face Jesse Marsch's men. Marsch has branded his team "Canadian heroes" just for making it this far and said taking on the 2022 semi-finalists was a "free hit" at more glory.

Mexico's players celebrate after winning the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between Mexico and Ecuador at the Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City on June 30, 2026. (Photo by Alfredo ESTRELLA / AFP)

Swept along by fanatical support in the stadiums and the streets, Mexico have already ended a 40-year wait to win a knockout game by beating Ecuador to make the last 16. Javier Aguirre's team made the most of a kind group-stage draw to ease past South Africa, South Korea, and the Czech Republic. But the first half destruction of Ecuador, who beat Germany in the group stages and finished second to Argentina in South American qualifying, served as a warning to England.

And in the USA, Folarin Balogun's first-half strike sealed a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the last 32, with Balogun scoring his third goal of the tournament. Even the sending off of Balogun could not derail the USA as the 10 men saw the game out with ease, with Mauricio Pochettino's team now eyeing the quarter-finals for just the second time.

Pochettino has successfully implemented the high-energy, attacking football that made him one of the most sought-after coaches in European football at international level, with the team's 4-1 victory over Paraguay getting them off to a flying start.

This is a World Cup that is all about surprises, and the hosts are no exception. Canada, Mexico, and the USA have each made a deeper run than ever before, with Canada making the knockout stages for the first time. And each country has shown glimpses of their ability to go further.

And with so much still to play for, the hosts are making their mark on the 2026 World Cup. Will Canada, Mexico, and the USA continue to defy expectations and go further in the tournament?