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The US defeated Bosnia in the round of 16. |
Not only did they capitalize on their home advantage, but the US, Mexico, and Canada also demonstrated their true capabilities on the field, dispelling the stereotype that home teams are often favored or only make an impression because of the crowd.
Three home teams shining together is a rare occurrence in history.
One of the biggest highlights of the 2026 World Cup is the performance of the three co-hosting nations. With the tournament being held in three countries for the first time, the fact that the United States, Mexico, and Canada all advanced to the Round of 16 is a remarkable achievement.
In reality, history shows that tournaments with multiple host countries often don't yield the expected results. This is simply because it's usually only two weaker football nations that have to "join forces," whereas when they operate separately, they're like individual chopsticks.
At EURO 2008, both co-hosts Austria and Switzerland were eliminated in the group stage. Switzerland even finished last in their group. Four years earlier, at EURO 2012, Poland and Ukraine also failed to capitalize on home advantage, both being knocked out after the group stage, with Poland finishing last in their group.
The 2002 World Cup was a rare occasion where both co-hosting nations advanced beyond the group stage. However, Japan was eliminated in the first knockout round by Türkiye, while South Korea progressed to the semi-finals in a journey that has been controversial for years due to a series of referee decisions in their matches against Portugal, Italy, and Spain.
Therefore, the fact that all three host nations of the 2026 World Cup have advanced deep into the tournament with convincing performances becomes even more significant. Even more noteworthy is that, to date, the tournament has not seen much controversy regarding favoritism shown to the host teams by the referees.
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The US has qualified for the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. |
The US team is the clearest example. Despite playing at home, they were down to ten men for most of the second half against Bosnia & Herzegovina after Folarin Balogun received a direct red card. Earlier in the group stage, the US also failed to remain undefeated, losing to Türkiye in the final match, although they still secured first place in the group. This shows that home advantage does not automatically guarantee privileges on the pitch.
Mexico remains stable, Canada delivers the biggest surprise.
Of the three host nations, Mexico has the strongest football foundation, so their deep run in the tournament is not surprising. The team in blue won all four of their first matches, scoring 8 goals and conceding none.
Although most of Mexico's opponents were not highly rated and their victory against Ecuador in the round of 16 was also predicted by experts, maintaining a perfect winning record and a flawless defense is still a very noteworthy achievement.
If Mexico performs to its full potential, then Canada is the biggest surprise. Four years ago at the 2022 World Cup, Canada lost all three group stage matches and finished second to last among the 32 participating teams. Entering the 2026 World Cup, not many believed this team could go far, especially when competing against many experienced opponents.
However, Canada underwent an impressive transformation. Their 6-0 victory over Qatar secured them second place in Group B, earning them their first-ever appearance in the knockout stage of a World Cup. Their next challenge was equally difficult. In the Round of 16, Canada had to travel to the United States, meaning they no longer enjoyed the advantage of playing at home. Even so, they still overcame South Africa 1-0 with a disciplined and effective style of play.
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Canada will also go deep in the 2026 World Cup. |
That's a huge difference compared to past disappointments from host nations like South Africa in 2010 or Qatar in 2022, both of whom were eliminated in the group stage. Of course, the journey for the three host teams is not over yet. Ahead of them is the round of 16 with much stronger opponents, and the possibility of all three progressing far is unlikely.
However, the mere fact that the US, Mexico, and Canada are all among the top 16 teams is already a great success for FIFA. After the controversies surrounding the organization and selection of host countries at the previous World Cup, this year's tournament is presenting a more positive image. The three host nations all possess developed football, modern infrastructure, and, most importantly, teams capable of competing on equal footing with the big names.
In the 21st century, no host nation has ever won the World Cup. The best performances have been reaching the semi-finals: South Korea in 2002, Germany in 2006, and Brazil in 2014. Therefore, if one of the three host nations, especially the USA or Mexico, can continue their fairytale run and advance to the semi-finals, or even further, this will be a memorable World Cup, not only because it's the first time 48 teams have participated, but also because it's the first time all three host nations have created a true phenomenon.
Source: https://znews.vn/con-ai-cuoi-che-cac-doi-chu-nha-world-cup-post1665427.html
