4JUL

Three World Cup co-hosts down to one

1 min read

10:34UTC

Mexico's exit left the United States as the last World Cup co-host standing, as Morocco, France, Norway and England filled four quarter-final places.

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SportAssessed

Key takeaway

Mexico's exit leaves the United States as the last World Cup co-host in contention.

Mexico's elimination on Sunday left the United States as the last of the three World Cup co-hosts still in the tournament, a day after Morocco and France had filled two of the eight quarter-final places ¹. Four of those berths are now settled, with Norway and England joining them on Sunday.

The United States stages most of the 104 matches, with Mexico and Canada sharing the rest, in the first World Cup co-hosted by three nations. Canada went out to Morocco on 4 July , the first host eliminated, and Mexico became the second. Morocco and France, drawn to meet on 9 July , and Norway and England now occupy half the last-eight bracket.

The United States play Belgium on Monday, with the reprieved Folarin Balogun available, in the tie that decides whether any host nation reaches the last eight. Portugal against Spain completes Monday's card, and Switzerland against Colombia and Argentina against Egypt close the round of 16 on Tuesday. Co-host attrition has outpaced the pre-tournament billing, and the draw is now filling around the three nations that built the event.

Deep Analysis

In plain English

The 2026 World Cup is jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, the first tournament ever shared between three countries. Canada was the first co-host eliminated, beaten by Morocco on 4 July, and Mexico followed a day later against England. That leaves the United States as the only host nation still in the competition. Four of the eight quarter-final places are now filled: Morocco, France, Norway and England. The United States play Belgium on 6 July hoping to keep the third co-host alive.

Deep Analysis

Root Causes

Canada and Mexico both drew knockout opponents, Morocco and England respectively, ranked above them in FIFA's world rankings. Their elimination reflects the standard variance of bracket seeding rather than any disadvantage specific to hosting the tournament.

The expanded 48-team format, used for the first time in 2026, added a round of 32 that did not exist in the 32-team era. That extra knockout round means more good teams eliminate each other earlier, raising the odds that any single co-host meets a stronger side before the quarter-finals rather than after.

Sources:Al Jazeera

Mentions:United States →Mexico →Canada →Morocco →France →Norway →England →Belgium →Portugal →Spain →Switzerland →Colombia →Argentina →Egypt →Folarin Balogun →World Cup →

First Reported In

Update #35 · England oust Mexico; Azteca held safe

Al Jazeera· 6 Jul 2026

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Causes and effects

Caused by

Morocco knock Canada out of home Cup

Morocco's win over Canada eliminated the first co-host and began setting the quarter-final bracket.

Occurred 4 Jul 2026

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Morocco meet France in 2022 rematch

The Morocco-France quarter-final draw fixed part of the bracket referenced in the co-host attrition summary.

Occurred 4 Jul 2026

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England oust Mexico to reach last eight

England's win over Mexico eliminated the second co-host and confirmed a quarter-final berth.

Occurred 6 Jul 2026

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Haaland double ends Brazil's World Cup

Norway's win over Brazil confirmed the fourth quarter-final berth in the same bracket update.

Occurred 5 Jul 2026

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This Event

Three World Cup co-hosts down to one

Only the United States can still give the tournament a home quarter-finalist, and they must beat Belgium on Monday to do it.

Led to

Belgium end USA's home World Cup

Mexico's exit two days earlier left the United States as the last co-host in contention before losing to Belgium.

Occurred 5 Jul 2026

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Different Perspectives

Spain

Spain face France on Tuesday for the second semi-final place, the last unresolved tie in the bracket.

France

France already through to the other semi-final, await Tuesday's result against Spain to know who plays the England-Argentina winner in the final.

Switzerland

Switzerland reached their first World Cup quarter-final since 1954 and led Argentina before Breel Embolo's second yellow card left them a man down for the last half-hour. They expect the run to raise expectations for the next cycle rather than close a chapter.

Norway

Norway leaned on Erling Haaland to reach a first modern-era quarter-final, and he nearly took them further before a disallowed goal and England's late double ended the run. Their tournament closes as the best World Cup performance in the country's history.

Argentina national team

Argentina broke down a 10-man Switzerland late, extending Scaloni's run of reaching every semi-final he has managed since 2019. Messi will make his first World Cup appearance against England, a fixture Argentine coverage framed around that unbroken run rather than the personal narrative.

England

England needed a 93rd-minute Bellingham winner to see off Norway, the third straight knockout tie settled in its closing stages rather than controlled. They travel to Atlanta as favourites but with Declan Rice a fitness doubt and Jarell Quansah suspended.