The 2026 football World Cup is jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. The tournament kicks off on June 11th 2026. The three countries won the hosting bid in 2018 under the slogan "United As One".
North America is home to more than 500m people and accounts for roughly a third of global GDP. Trade between the three countries is worth more than $2trn a year, according to Diego Marroquín of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
Relations between the three host nations are at a nadir as the tournament approaches. Donald Trump has threatened direct action against drug gangs in Mexico and repeatedly suggested making Canada the 51st state. Mark Carney has called Canada's relationship with the United States a "weakness". An American travel ban affects fans from 19 countries, some of whom will be unable to attend matches in the United States. Many fear American agents will use the matches to round up undocumented immigrants. Hospitality workers at a stadium in Los Angeles are threatening to strike unless federal immigration agencies vow to stay away from the competition. National merchandise is far more widespread than any joint material.
Guadalajara is due to host four matches in June, raising political stakes for keeping violence under control after the killing of Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes in February 2026.
On July 1st 2026, with the tournament still under way, the three countries must decide whether to extend the USMCA beyond its current expiry date of 2036.
Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.