The Hosts' Previous Experience at the World Cup

## In Case You Didn't Know If you're on RateGame, you probably know what the World Cup is and know where it's being hosted. If you're not well 1. GO WATCH IT. NOW!!! And 2. The World Cup is being hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. It is being hosted by 16 different host cities, here's a comprehensive list. \*deep breath in\* 1. Atlanta 2. Boston 3. Dallas 4. Houston 5. Kansas City 6. Los Angeles 7. Miami 8. New York\* 9. Philadelphia 10. San Francisco 11. Seattle 12. Guadalajara (Mexico) 13. Mexico City (Meixco) 14. Monterrey (Mexico) 15. Toronto (Canada) 16. Vancouver (Canada) (\*New York's hosting stadium is Metlife Stadium, located in New Jersey.) Phew that's a lot of words. As the hosts, Canada, Mexico, and the United States automatically qualify. Most of them probably would have qualified either way but hey they're here anyway.   ## Wait? They've hosted before? Not Canada. This is the first time Canada has hosted or co-hosted the World Cup in the nation's history. However, the United States has hosted once before and Mexico has actually hosted twice before.   ### Mexico 1970 In 1970, the World Cup took their first trip to North America in Mexico. There were 5 host venues (Mexico City, Guadalajara, Puebla City, Toluca, and León, two of which are host cities in 2026.) and 16 teams from 5 confederations participating. Morocco was only the second African nation to ever qualify for the World Cup (Thus making their debut) (The first African nation to ever qualify was Egypt in 1934.) Israel and El Salvador also made their debut as only one CONCACAF nation joined Mexico in their hosted World Cup. This was also the only time Argentina entered qualifying and didn't make the World Cup the following tournament.   Back in 1970, a win only equaled 2 points in the group stage, making it almost unrewarding to win 1 game because if you went 1-0-2, you would have 2 points while a team that had drawn all 3 games would have 3. Anyway.   Mexico would take a spot in Group 1 and come second to the Soviet Union, who they drew in the group stage.   Mexico would then lose to the eventual silver medal finishers Italy in the Quarterfinals (which was the first knockout stage round of the world cup back in 1970. Crazy, ain't it?)   ### Mexico 1986 Mexico would become the first country to host multiple World Cup's in 1986. This time there was 12 host venues in 11 cities (I really don't feel like listing them all.) This time, they would be joined by CONCACAF friends Canada (who were making their debut)   They would be placed in Group B, going 2-1-0, drawing to Paraguay, and coming first in their group.   Mexico would win their first knockout stage match in the Round Of 16 against Bulgaria 2-nil before losing to West Germany in the Quarterfinals 0-0 (4-1 on penalties).   ### USA 1994 The United States would host their first World Cup in 1994 across 9 host cities (Boston, Wahsington D.C., New York, Dallas, Orlando, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, and San Fransisco, 5 of which would return for the 2026 World Cup)   The US would get lucky by being one of the top 6 3rd place teams and advance to the Round Of 16. They would then lose 1-0 to eventual champions Brazil 1-nil.   ## Weren't we focusing on the previous results? That's literally the next part. Chill.   ### Canada We're starting with them since they have the least World Cup experience. They first appeared in 1986 with CONCACAF friends Mexico. They would let up 5 goals and score none as they went 0-0-3 and finished last in the full standings.   2022 wasn't much better. They let up 7 goals and scored 2 for the same exact -5 goal differential. As you would expect, they went 0-0-3 and finished 31st out of 32 competitors in the full standings.   So far in 2026, they're 0-1-0 with a 0 goal differential, tied for first in their group, and are projected to make the knockout stage, with their ceiling being the quarterfinals.   ### Mexico Mexico is the best team from CONCACAF concerning the World Cup, even though they have only reached the quarterfinals twice. In 1930 they came and went back home after going 0-0-3 and allowing THIRTEEN GOALS.   They didn't come back to the World Cup until after WW2 in 1950 where they then proceeded to go 0-0-3 and allowing ten goals. From the 1954 World Cup to the 1966 World Cup, they would go 1-3-7, allowing 23 goals and only scoring 9. *(To see their 1970 result, go to the "Wait? They've Hosted Before?" section.)*   In 1978 they would go back to their stupidly stinky ways and go 0-0-3 and, obviously, getting grouped.   In 1986 they would host again. *(To see their 1986 result, go to the "Wait? They've hosted before?" section.)*   In 1994 they would return back to the World Cup and start an amazing run. From 1994 all the way to 2018 (spanning 7 World Cups) they would reach the Round Of 16 every single time. Their total record over this time was 10-8-10 (including knockouts) and 10-8-3 (excluding knockouts).   In 2022 they would go 1-1-1 but get grouped. Now in 2026 they're expected to make the Round Of 16 with their ceiling being as high as the Semifinals.   ### The United States Of America ~~FREEDOM! LIBERTY! THE USA RAHHHHHH!!!~~ In 1930, they would sweep Group 4 going 2-0 and advancing to the knockouts, where they would lose 6-1 to Argentina and take home the bronze medal over Yugoslavia on goal differential.   Now the 1934 World Cup was uh... weird... (it deserves a little DYK on it's own) but the US qualified nonetheless just to lose 7-1 (🤔) to the eventual champions Italy.   They then returned to the World Cup in 1950, getting grouped with a record of 1-0-2.   They wouldn't return to the World Cup until 1990 where they would go 0-0-3 and get grouped, finishing 23rd out of 24 competitors.   *(To see their 1994 results as hosts, go to the "Wait? They've hosted before?" section.)*   1998 was their worst result yet, going 0-0-3 and coming last in the full standings.   In 2002 they achieved a quarterfinals finish going 2-1-2, beating Mexico 2-0 before losing to Germany 1-0.   In 2006, they went 0-1-2 and got grouped. LOL.   In 2010 and 2014, they went 2-3-3 and lost in the Round Of 16 to Ghana and Belgium respectively.   They failed to qualify in 2018 but then returned in 2022 and went 1-2-1, losing to the Netherlands in the Round Of 16.   This year, they're expected to make the Round Of 32, with a ceiling of the quarterfinals (or, if you're a **true American**, WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS)