By Reuben Olita -Busia
History has been made at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after all three co-host nations — the United States, Mexico and Canada — were eliminated before reaching the quarterfinals.
The United States became the last of the three hosts to exit the tournament after suffering a 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the Round of 16 on Tuesday. Charles De Ketelaere scored twice as Belgium cruised to victory.
The 2026 tournament is the first FIFA World Cup to be jointly hosted by three countries from North America. However, none of the hosts managed to progress beyond the Round of 16.
Canada were the first co-hosts to be knocked out after losing 3-0 to Morocco on Saturday, July 4. Mexico followed on Sunday, July 5, after a narrow 3-2 defeat to England. The United States completed the trio of exits with their loss to Belgium.
The outcome marks the first time since the 2022 FIFA World Cup that no host nation has reached the quarterfinals. In Qatar in 2022, the hosts were eliminated in the group stage without earning a single point, the earliest exit by a host nation in World Cup history.
Host nations have experienced mixed fortunes over the years. In 2010, South Africa became the first host nation to be eliminated in the group stage.
At the 2002 FIFA World Cup, co-hosts had contrasting campaigns. South Korea reached the semifinals before finishing fourth, while Japan exited in the Round of 16.
The United States also reached the Round of 16 when they hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup before being eliminated. Spain, hosts in 1982, were knocked out in the second group stage.
Since France won the tournament on home soil in 1998, host nations had generally enjoyed deep runs. France lifted the trophy in 1998, Germany finished third in 2006, Brazil placed fourth in 2014, and Russia reached the quarterfinals in 2018.
The 2026 tournament has now ended that trend, with all three co-hosts failing to make the last eight.
