MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - JUNE 30: Jesus Gallardo of Mexico, Julian Quinones of Mexico, Israel Reyes of Mexico, Obed Vargas of Mexico celebrating the victory during the World Cup match between Mexico v Ecuador at the Mexico City Stadium on June 30, 2026 in Mexico City Mexico (Photo by Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images)
It has become a fun party game around American soccer circles to debate whether the United States men’s national team could realistically win the World Cup.
The general consensus is that, at the very least, the combination of increased talent level and home field advantage should give the Americans a chance at their deepest run in the program’s modern era. And while no one would call them favorites, there’s enough quality for the U.S. that a Cinderella run similar to Morocco in 2022 or South Korea in 2002 doesn’t feel absurd.
But on the evidence so far, perhaps we’ve been talking about the wrong host nation.
Mexico completed a thoroughly impressive 2-0 victory over Ecuador on Tuesday night in Mexico City to advance to the last 16. In the process, El Tri made the case that they’re the co-host nation that has the most ingredients necessary to make a deep run at the 2026 tournament.
It has become a fun party game around American soccer circles to debate whether the United States men’s national team could realistically win the World Cup.
The general consensus is that, at the very least, the combination of increased talent level and home field advantage should give the Americans a chance at their deepest run in the program’s modern era. And while no one would call them favorites, there’s enough quality for the U.S. that a Cinderella run similar to Morocco in 2022 or South Korea in 2002 doesn’t feel absurd.
But on the evidence so far, perhaps we’ve been talking about the wrong host nation.
Mexico completed a thoroughly impressive 2-0 victory over Ecuador on Tuesday night in Mexico City to advance to the last 16. In the process, El Tri made the case that they’re the co-host nation that has the most ingredients necessary to make a deep run at the 2026 tournament.
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