GOALLLLL!!! The countdown to the 2026 World Cup brings excitement and pressure to CONCACAF giants, the U.S. and Mexico

By Kevin Ruiz

A brief history of Soccer in the U.S.

Soccer in the United States dates back to the 1800s, with colleges across the country playing different forms of soccer, and rules varying from institution to institution. Oftentimes, the sport was played more like rugby than soccer itself. There were different failed attempts in the late 1800s and early 1900s to establish a soccer league in the U.S. It wasn’t until 1913 that the U.S. Football Association was established, evolving into what is now known as the U.S. Soccer Federation. 

In the 1930 World Cup in Uruguay, the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) was one of the 13 teams to participate in the inaugural tournament. They eventually lost to Argentina in the semifinals. In the 1950 World Cup, the United States managed to beat soccer giants England in a major upset, one of their biggest wins to date. Soccer stars like Pele came to play for the New York Cosmos in 1975 and helped establish soccer in the United States. Twenty years later, the World Cup was hosted by the United States for the first time. Here is where the sport reached mainstream popularity among American audiences. 

You can’t talk about the history of soccer in the United States without mentioning the success of the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT). In 1985, the USWNT played its first friendly match. The women’s team has captured the crown of best in the world four times and won the inaugural competition in 1991. Household names like Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, and Carli Lloyd have etched their names in the history of the sport. The current team, led by young stars such as Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson, and Sophia Smith, won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.  

Now, more than 30 years later, the United States is once again gearing up for another opportunity not only to win World Cup glory but also to capture the attention of Americans. While soccer is the most popular sport across the world, soccer falls behind in the United States to the major sports like football (the other one), basketball, baseball, and hockey. The United States is set to host the 2026 World Cup alongside co-hosts Mexico and Canada, with the tournament expanding from 32 teams to 48 teams, marking the largest in its history. To preview the event, FIFA held its first-ever FIFA Club World Cup (FCWC) in the United States.

The FIFA Club World Cup spotlights the current status of U.S. Soccer.

This tournament differs from the World Cup, where players compete with their international teams, rather than competing at a club level. The FCWC is designed for European clubs, such as Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich, to compete against smaller clubs from North and Central America, South America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. The tournament was originally an eight-team event in its past iteration, with only one team from each region qualifying. While European teams have historically dominated the previous tournaments, this new version of the FCWC has allowed the rest of the world to compete with the best.

Historic clubs outside of Europe made appearances, with the likes of Boca Juniors and River Plate, Palmeiras and Fluminense participating and representing the South American continent.  The tournament brought big clubs closer to fans and featured familiar faces like Lionel Messi, who played against his old team, Paris Saint-Germain, in the round of 16. To complement Inter Miami's representation of the North American region, the Seattle Sounders, C.F. Monterrey, Pachuca, and LAFC also participated. 

Image provided by FIFA. 

The same history of European dominance continued with Chelsea winning the final against Paris Saint-Germain, which had just won its first UEFA Champions League title. The Brazilian team, Fluminense, was the only team outside of Europe that managed to make it to the final four. While some questioned the tournament model, including whether teams would care about it after a long season and the lack of fan attendance for less attractive matchups, it brought a lot of excitement to fans. 

Fans carried their love and passion with them as they took over stadiums, specifically those from River Plate and Urawa, who filled Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. A highlight of that is sure to be replicated at next year’s World Cup. 

Image owned by Kevin Ruiz

Another highlight was the young talent that was displayed throughout the different clubs. Young talents from clubs all over the world shone with players such as Desiree Doue, Gonzalo Garcia, Cole Palmer, Savinho, Obed Vargas, and Elias Montiel, leading their teams. Young athletes like F.C. Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, who didn’t qualify for the tournament but has become a prominent face of soccer, are spearheading a movement where young soccer players are competing at an elite level more than ever before. 

So while the FCWC didn’t have the complete takeover that maybe FIFA expected, it gave a perspective on the current state of soccer in the United States. The passionate fans will continue showing up, but it raises the question of how the event will get the average fan to be more invested. Will it be the young stars around the world, or will the USMNT replicate the success of the 1994 World Cup with a showing of their own? 

With the U.S. cultivating a collection of talent, their young star might show up just in time for next summer's biggest event. According to Dario AS, as of January 2025, the U.S. has over 34 players among the top six leagues in Europe, with 21 of them being under the age of 25. The MLS has continued to provide young players with opportunities to play, a proven formula that has worked for the biggest clubs in Europe. With the U.S. cultivating a collection of talent, their young star might show up just in time for next summer's biggest event.

Although recruiting that talent to come to play for the U.S. isn’t set in stone. This is because Mexico and the United States continuously compete for talent at the youth levels because of the influx of players who hold dual nationalities. Bournemouth's Julian Araujo played for the U.S. growing up but switched over to the Mexican national team when he was called up for the senior team. So while the USMNT will be one of the big headlines to watch next year, their neighbors down south will have just as much to say. The World Cup will impact the decisions of these young players going forward, so success matters for now and the future of the sport.

What the 2026 World Cup means for the U.S. and Mexico

The U.S. and Mexico rivalry is fierce at different levels of the soccer pyramid. Both have a history of soccer that is not only important for the game itself but for the culture in the region. Given the political chaos of the United States, next year’s event will turn out to be a collision of soccer and culture. 

Since the 1994 World Cup, the U.S. has qualified for several World Cups, making it as far as the quarter-finals by beating Concacaf rivals, Mexico, in the 2002 World Cup behind Landon Donovan. Then, in 2014, USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard had a World Cup record 16 saves before the team lost to a strong Belgium national squad. The future looked bright heading into 2018. 

All that progression was swept away when the team missed the 2018 World Cup and shifted its eyes to a new generation. A new generation of young players led by AC Milan star Christian Pulisic has brought hope to U.S. soccer fans, but has also dealt with controversy. Fans haven’t seen any significant results from this generation of the USMNT in the World Cup. The team fell short after being eliminated in the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup by the Netherlands. For a country trying to win its first World Cup, it does not come without failures and disappointment. Just ask Mexico fans. 

When the U.S. and Mexico play in the United States, the crowds are overwhelmingly in support of the Mexican national team. Another example of how the sport is seen in the United States and the work that needs to be done to shift the culture. A heavyweight for players who want to compete at the highest level. For Mexican players, that same responsibility is rooted in a history of soccer deeply ingrained in Mexican culture. The last two World Cups in Mexico were won by soccer legends Pelé and Maradona. Mexico’s history will be on full display when the team opens the 2026 World Cup in Mexico City. 

Throughout their history, Mexico has beaten international powerhouses in major tournaments. In 2018, Mexico defeated the then-defending world champions, Germany, in a huge upset. Their players, like Guillermo ‘Memo’ Ochoa, have captured the world’s attention with their heroic saves in the World Cup. The Mexican national team has achieved different successes throughout the region year after year. Still, they have failed to advance past the round of 16 in what fans call the dreaded “Quinto Partido”, which translates to the fifth game, or the quarterfinals, in the World Cup. 

To add to the pain, the United States has gotten the better side of ‘El Tri’ beating three times out of four in their last four competitive matchups. Mexico finally ended the streak by defeating the USMNT in the 2025 Gold Cup final, the last competitive matchup between the two nations until the 2026 World Cup. 

For Mexico and the United States, this is an opportunity to make a statement that this time around, things will be different to both their fan bases, which often transcends borders. While the US seeks to prove to American audiences that it is worth watching, Mexico has its eyes set on establishing itself as a soccer powerhouse that was once thought to be achievable. While the national teams are focused on World Cup glory, the competition at the club level is becoming just as fierce. 

The summer soccer season in North America continues to raise the stakes with the 2025 Leagues Cup. The tournament pits MLS and Liga MX teams against each other in a three-game league phase, with the four best teams from each league advancing to the knockout stage. The tournament has already provided shocking results, with the Seattle Sounders defeating the current Concacaf Champions Cup champion, Cruz Azul, 7-0. Yes, you read that right: 7-0. This is now the largest margin of victory for an MLS team against a Liga MX team. 

For many years, the Liga MX has been recognized as a top league in the Americas, and it has been well ahead of the MLS. However, tournaments like the Leagues Cup and FCWC have put those rankings in question. Both leagues have seen top European players make the move to North America. According to ESPN, LAFC is reportedly signing Heung-Min Son in a record-breaking MLS deal, and the Vancouver Whitecaps have their eyes set on signing Thomas Muller. Mexico’s Club Monterrey signed Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos just last year, and Pumas' signing Aaron Ramsey was another big move. Both leagues are bringing in older but notable talents, which is making competitions like the Leagues Cup even more interesting. 

Both leagues are growing at the youth and professional levels, and there is a growing fire of soccer culture in the United States, with Mexico and the rest of Latin America just as much a part of the mix. The national teams have even more to play for, and if the World Cup is anything like that in 1986 or 1994, it is set to be a fantastic tournament that will capture the eyes of audiences all over the world and put the spotlight on soccer in North America. A spotlight that will inspire another generation of soccer fans and players for years to come. 

Disclaimer: This article reflects personal opinions and research and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any individuals, teams, or organizations mentioned.