The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico will be a thrilling showcase of international football.
The expanded format paves the way for nations who believe they can rub shoulders with the best teams in the world to show they can compete on the biggest stage.
The tournament also provides an opportunity for some teams to prove a point after previously failing to live up to expectations. Here are three nations who fall into that category.
3 Teams Needing Results at 2026 World Cup
England
For a nation that claims to be ‘the home of football’, winning one major international trophy in six decades does not cover England in glory.
They came close to ending their trophy drought at last year’s European Championship tournament in Germany. But after a dramatic run to the final, they were defeated by Spain.
If there any team that has something to prove at the World Cup, it’s England. In their defence, they’ve had some questionable managers over the years.
They include previous boss Gareth Southgate, whose overly cautious style prevented the Three Lions from fulfilling their potential in major tournaments.
However, they have finally taken steps address their issues. The decision to appoint Thomas Tuchel as Southgate’s successor could be inspired.
England are not used to having foreign managers at the helm, so the Football Association’s move was unsurprisingly met with plenty of backlash.
It is up to Tuchel to silence his doubters, but his CV speaks volumes. A serial winner at club level, he has won major trophies across spells in Germany, England and France.
International management is an entirely different ball game, but after leading Chelsea to five finals during his short-lived spell, Tuchel knows a thing or two about knockout football.
The German already has a huge target on his back. Anything but success at the World Cup would only feed him to the dogs. England certainly have a point to prove but so does Tuchel.
New Zealand
New Zealand have a golden opportunity to show they can hold their own against the best in the world at the prestigious event.
Next year’s trip to North America will be only the third time the Kiwis have featured in a 2026 World Cup tournament.
Their two previous two appearances were nothing to write home about. They failed to get past the group stage on both occasions and couldn’t even get a win on the board.
New Zealand are the dominant force in Oceania. There is no team across the continent that can go toe to toe with them but it’s a different story every time they leave their comfort zone.
They have a history of crumbling under pressure, but that will not stop Kiwi punters from placing wagers on their national team.
Reputable football betting sites in New Zealand will be inundated with bets on the team defying the odds by reaching the knockout phase for the first time.
With striker Chris Wood in excellent form, New Zealand have the firepower to deliver a winning return to bettor who wager on them at the World Cup.
They will certainly be out to prove they belong in the spotlight this time around. That is easier said than done, and much will depend on their group-stage opponents.
United States
Many people will be watching to see how Mauricio Pochettino fares as a manager on the international stage next summer.
Pochettino’s appointment by the United States was hailed as a masterstroke, but it would be fair to say that things have not gone to plan.
The US were eliminated from the CONCACAF Nations League semi-final after losing 1-0 to Panama courtesy of a last-gasp goal by Cecilio Waterman.
He couldn’t even lead them to a third placed finish, falling to a 2-1 defeat against Canada. For context, the US had won the tournament three times in a row before Pochettino’s arrival.
The CONCACAF Gold Cup is a shot at redemption for Pochettino, but results at the World Cup will ultimately decide his fate.
As joint hosts alongside Canada and Mexico, the US will be under the spotlight. That could be a blessing or a burden, but it depends how Pochettino and his troops approach the tournament.
With the US hosting the 2026 World Cup for the first time in over three decades, he will have no hiding place if they don’t make a deep run in the tournament.