The World Cup will start on June 11 with three host countries. Canada, Mexico and the United States are co-hosts of the tournament, and it is the largest in the long history of the sport. There will be 48 teams and 104 games. The opening game will be played on June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, while the final will be played at MetLife Stadium on July 19.
The three host countries are not only hosts or even viewers. They are participants. Here’s how the teams were expected to perform at this high-profile global tournament and where they stand in group play based on odds from the prediction market.
High expectations for USMNT over Paraguay
The USA Men’s National Team is in Pool D, playing the following opponents.
- Paraguay (June 12, LA)
- Australia (June 19, Seattle)
- Turkey (June 25, LA)
The United States has the highest FIFA ranking in the group at 16, with Turkey (22), Australia (27) and Paraguay (40).
In 2022, the USA made it to the Round of 16, but the team hasn’t gone any further since 2022. The pressure is on, and the players know it.
Key players and team highlights:
- Chris Richards is a legitimate injury concern.
- Christian Pulisic arrives at the World Cup after a good club season.
- Manager Maricio Pochettino is confident he will end his World Cup goal drought.
Prediction markets, such as Kalshi and Polymarket, have USMNT 40% odds of winning Group D, but only 1.6% odds of winning the World Cup.
Mexico favors the exit from group A
Mexico opens the World Cup on June 11 at home: the Azteca Stadium. They are in group A.
- South Africa (June 11, Mexico City)
- South Korea (June 18, Zapopan)
- Czech Republic (June 24, Mexico City)
The co-hosts are heavily favored in Group A and are expected to advance from the knockout stages. Their story haunts them, though. The “Curse of the 5th Game” lingers. Mexico was eliminated in the round of 16 in seven consecutive World Cups from 1994 to 2018. In 2022, the turn was even worse as Mexico failed to advance from the group stage.
Mexico are rising higher in the prediction markets than their American counterparts, with a 57% chance of advancing, but still a 1.9% chance of reaching the final and winning.
Canada is more likely to finish in the round of 16
Canada enters the 2026 World Cup as the number two team in Group B, playing the following countries.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina (June 12, Toronto)
- Qatar (June 18, Vancouver)
- Switzerland (June 24, Vancouver)
The only host team ranked second in their group, Canada has a slight battle with Switzerland in the mix. Also, Canada’s World Cup history is lackluster. The country has never won a game in the tournament, nor escaped from group play.
Star player Alphonos Davies injured his hamstring in May. He will play the World Cup, according to the NYTimes report. It could be a decisive factor for Canada. If Davies plays, a relatively weak group and home field advantage could play in Canada’s favor.
Prediction markets have opened the door to trading with almost every possibility that occurs and are competing with World Cup betting promotions.
Pass the group stage soonand the three host countries have a lot of history and high hopes heading into the 2026 World Cup.
Each team has a reasonable and achievable path out of the knockout round, but who knows what will happen from there.
