"Money can buy a lot in modern football, but it can't buy a functioning team." Jonathan Wilson's verdict on Qatar's 2022 World Cup still lands like a punch. The Gulf state reportedly spent $220 billion staging the tournament — and sent out a side that didn't last a week.
Qatar's group-stage exit wasn't just an early elimination. It was historic in the worst possible way. They became the first host nation in 92 years of World Cups to lose all three of their group games. They were knocked out after just two matches — another record no one wanted. Ecuador, Senegal and the Netherlands all went through. The hosts went home.
For context: heading into that tournament, Qatar had never appeared at a World Cup finals before. Félix Sánchez's side were ranked 50th in the world and carried odds of +25000 to lift the trophy. Those odds told the story before a ball was kicked. The Maroons were Asian champions and had reached the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals as a guest team, so there was a floor of competence — but the ceiling was always dangerously low against World Cup-quality opposition.
South Africa's exit was embarrassing, Qatar's was something else
South Africa in 2010 holds the unenviable distinction of being the first host nation to exit at the group stage. But Bafana Bafana at least made it competitive. They beat France — admittedly, a historically dysfunctional France squad — collected four points, and only went out on goal difference in a tough group with Uruguay and Mexico. "They departed with heads held high," as The Guardian put it at the time.
Qatar had no such consolation. Conceding inside 30 minutes against Ecuador in their opener, losing to Senegal to confirm elimination before their final game was even played, then going down 2-0 to the Dutch. The scorelines were bad. The manner was worse.
The broader picture puts both exits in perspective. Of the 18 nations that have hosted a men's World Cup, 12 produced their deepest-ever tournament run on home soil. Six of those won the whole thing — Uruguay, Italy, England, West Germany, Argentina and France. Only four editions across 96 years failed to feature a host in the top eight. Qatar and South Africa are the only ones who didn't get past the groups.
What the 2026 co-hosts are actually facing
This summer brings something new: three co-hosts for the first time in World Cup history. Canada, Mexico and the United States each carry different expectations — and different risks.
Canada are the most obvious concern. Ranked 30th, they've lost all six of their previous World Cup matches across two tournaments. Their Group B draw — Switzerland, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Qatar — gives them a route out, and they're priced as second favorites to advance per Oddschecker. One win in that group probably does it. But the weight of expectation on a team with that kind of finals record shouldn't be understated.
Mexico's history as a host is genuinely encouraging. Both of their deepest World Cup runs — quarterfinal finishes — came on home soil, in 1970 and 1986. Javier Aguirre, who guided El Tri to the knockouts in 2002 and 2010, is back in charge. They're the highest-ranked team in Group A at 14th, and despite some shaky results earlier in 2025, they've gone six wins and two draws in their final warmups — including a 5-1 friendly dismantling of Serbia. The bookmakers have them as group favorites. That looks right.
The USMNT are trickier to read. Pochettino's side took a 5-2 hammering from Belgium and a 2-0 loss to Portugal in the same week in March, which would have had anyone nervous. They steadied somewhat — Pulisic ended an 18-month international goal drought against Senegal, and they pushed Germany before a 2-1 defeat in their final warmup. Ranked 16th, they're still the favorites to top Group D over Türkiye, Paraguay and Australia. Since 2000, the only time the USMNT failed to reach the knockout stage at a World Cup was 2022. Home advantage and a favorable draw should keep that streak alive.
- Canada (Group B): Switzerland are the clear frontrunners, but Canada are second favorites — Bosnia and Qatar both rank below them
- Mexico (Group A): Bookmakers' tip to top the group ahead of South Korea, Czechia and South Africa
- USA (Group D): Shortest odds to finish first despite a run of three losses in four recent games
Qatar's 2022 implosion set the floor for how badly a host can perform. None of the 2026 trio look likely to go anywhere near it. But Canada, in particular, will need to actually deliver at a finals — something they've never once done.
