All three co-host nations—the United States, Mexico, and Canada—have officially been sent packing in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Despite massive home-field advantage and record-breaking crowds, the North American trio couldn’t survive the first wave of the knockout stages
The USMNT was the final host to fall, taking a brutal 4-1 loss to Belgium in Seattle just hours ago
The dream is officially over for North America. In a stunning sequence of events over the past few days, all three co-hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup—Canada, Mexico, and the United States—have been eliminated in the Round of 16. What was supposed to be a historic, deep run on home soil has abruptly turned into an early exit for the entire continent.
The heartbreak happened in quick succession. Despite riding insane crowd energy and putting up serious fights, the competition in the knockout stage proved to be too much for the CONCACAF heavyweights.
Canada was the first to fall. Facing a relentless Moroccan squad on July 4 in Houston, the Canadians were completely outclassed, suffering a 3-0 defeat. Just a day later in Mexico City, El Tri went down swinging in an absolute thriller against England, ultimately falling 3-2 in a devastating end to their campaign.
All eyes then turned to the USMNT, the last remaining host nation. Playing in Seattle against a loaded Belgium squad on Monday, July 6, the Americans found themselves in an early hole. Despite Malik Tillman briefly equalizing the match with a free-kick, the Belgian attack—led by Charles De Ketelaere and Romelu Lukaku—completely took over, handing the U.S. a 4-1 reality check.
With the co-hosts officially out of the mix, the 2026 World Cup enters its quarterfinal stage with a completely different energy. While the local fans might be reeling, the tournament itself is absolutely delivering on the hype as the remaining global heavyweights prepare for the next round.
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For over half a decade, Joyce Li has served as an Editor on Hypebeast’s global team, leveraging profound industry insights to capture the zeitgeist. Through her editorial lens, she anticipates emerging trends while dedicating her platform to spotlighting those making the greatest impact on culture today. A storyteller first and foremost, she examines the cross-pollination of fashion, footwear, art, music, and sports. This intersectional approach has led to compelling interviews with industry-defining figures like LeBron James, Pharrell Williams, Tom Brady, NIGO, A$AP Rocky, KAWS, and more.
