The three host nations of the 2026 FIFA World Cup have made an impressive start to the tournament, collecting seven points from a possible nine in their opening matches.
Mexico and the United States kicked off their campaigns with victories, while Canada secured a valuable draw, ensuring that none of the co-hosts suffered defeat in their first outings.
Mexico got the tournament underway in style with a 2-0 victory over South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez sealed all three points and made Mexico the first host nation to win a World Cup opening match since Russia defeated Saudi Arabia in 2018.
The victory also added another milestone to Mexico’s football history, as the country became the first nation to host World Cup matches on three separate occasions, having previously staged the tournament in 1970 and 1986.
Canada also made history despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto. After falling behind, the hosts fought back through Cyle Larin, whose equaliser secured Canada’s first-ever point at a FIFA World Cup.
The most dominant performance of the opening round came from the United States. Playing in Los Angeles, the Americans produced an attacking masterclass to defeat Paraguay 4-1.
An early own goal from Paraguay defender Damian Bobadilla gave the hosts the lead before Folarin Balogun struck twice to put the game beyond doubt. Giovanni Reyna added a fourth goal, while Mauricio scored a late consolation for Paraguay.
The result marked the United States’ biggest victory in a World Cup opening match and the highest number of goals scored by a host nation in a tournament opener since Germany’s 4-2 victory over Costa Rica in 2006.
With two wins and a draw from their opening fixtures, the three host nations have sent a strong message to the rest of the competition and given their supporters plenty to celebrate as the biggest FIFA World Cup in history continues across North America.
