Will Canada be the Host Country to Beat in the 2026 World Cup?
It seemed that Canada Soccer was on the brink of collapse just two years ago. Players from the men’s team were publicly ripping management over proposed pay cuts and poor scheduling. Soon after, the women’s team made headlines for a spying scandal during the 2024 Olympics.
As bad as the last two years have been, it appears Canada Soccer may be ready to reach new heights during the 2026 World Cup. With the country serving as one of the three hosts, there is plenty of reason to believe the Canadian Men’s National Soccer Team (CMNST) is ready to make a statement on the national stage.
Below, we’ll discuss a few of the reasons why we believe Canada’s national team will be the best of the three host countries this summer.
Team Gaining Momentum at the Right Time
The CMNST has played two international friendlies this month, delivering wins over Wales and Romania. Those two teams aren’t exactly powerhouses, but it was the first time that Canada has posted back-to-back victories in Europe. That is a big deal, giving another confidence boost to a team looking to bring some international respect to the program.
Canada also found success playing in North America. They finished third in the CONCACAF Nations League after losing to Mexico in the semi-finals. It was the first time Mexico had beaten Canada in their last four meetings, making the disappointing loss to the fellow-host country a bad sign.
The good news is that the CMNST was able to defeat the US in California in the third-place game. It was their second consecutive win against their North American rival.
Sports Betting Could Build Fanbase
Canadian fans will be loud and proud this summer, but the CMNST may attract more fans once the tournament kicks off.
With sports betting spreading across Mexico, Canada, and the US, sportsbooks are projecting record-setting revenue numbers. Fans from other countries will be downloading apps and visiting retail sportsbooks in Canada.
With the team’s favorable odds, friendly international relations, rivalry with the US, and strong momentum, they could end up being the darlings of the World Cup betting season. While the industry is smaller than in the US, it is also expanding. By the time the World Cup rolls around, there could be significant changes, including which provinces allow legal sports betting in Canada.
Being a betting darling wouldn’t just affect sportsbook odds, but would also lead to more fans cheering for the team during matches. Feeling like you have home-field advantage is a massive boost during the World Cup, and could help inspire this team to outlast Mexico and the US.
US Soccer is Broken, Mexico Remains Unproven
The US Men’s National Soccer Team (USMNT) is broken, and we believe it is beyond repair. The hiring of Mauricio Pochettino was the right move, but it should have happened years ago. The drama surrounding former manager Gregg Berhalter dragged on for too long, particularly considering his subpar performance as team leader.
On top of the losing, there are stories about the parents of USMNT players attempting to assume influential roles with the team. They were treating it like a youth soccer team, and the situation led the program to become the laughing stock of the entire sport. While the drama has subsided (for now), the team’s poor play against mediocre competition makes it hard to believe they will magically find their groove in June.
Mexico has looked far better than both Canada and the USMNT. They have been aggressive during CONCACAF competition to prepare for the World Cup. However, they have not fared well against competition outside of the Americas. The team drew with Japan and South Korea earlier this month, which was a troubling sign.
While a win over Turkey is respectable, Mexico went on to lose 4-0 to Switzerland in a match played in the US.
Those struggles take away some of the shine from Mexico’s dominance across America, and have us doubting them heading into the World Cup.
