2026 World Cup countdown has started

Qualification for the 2026 World Cup began on September 7, 2023, with three matches in the CONMEBOL conference. It will conclude on March 3, 2026, when the intercontinental playoff games take place to decide the final few places.

From thereon in, all eyes will be on Canada, Mexico, and the United States, where the tournament will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026.  

As things stand, Spain is a +550 favorite to win the tournament, closely followed by Brazil (+600), and England and France (both +650). Current world champion Argentina is pitched at +900 and is followed by Germany at +1000.

showpiece final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium

All of the above comes, though, with a huge caveat: none of those teams has yet qualified for the tournament. For the three host countries, expectations will be high, but particularly so for the USA, who will host the tournament’s showpiece final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on July 19.

At the time of writing, the US Men’s National Team (USMNT) is ranked 18 in the world by FIFA, compared to Mexico at 16 and Canada at 35. But it’s the USA who leads the betting for the trio at +3300 to win the tournament, with Mexico at +4000 and Canada at +8000.

Pressure on USMNT and Pochettino

As part of the USA’s quest for glory, which they hope will conclude in New Jersey on July 19, they have appointed the experienced Argentinian Mauricio Pochettino as head coach. In his extensive coaching career, he has also been manager of Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea.

His appointment was made, following the sacking of Gregg Berhalter in July of this year, with the specific aim of preparing the USMNT squad for the 2026 World Cup.

The US Soccer Federation opted to extend its search beyond its shores and search out a “big name.” In tempting Pochettino to the job it succeeded, even though his experience is in club rather than international soccer.

The Argentinian’s first task following his appointment was to pick and prepare a squad to play two friendlies: versus Panama in Austin, Texas on October 13 and then Mexico in Guadalajara three days later.

And it started well. While the USMNT was made to work hard by Panama, a 2-0 win courtesy of two second-half goals represented a good start for Pochettino, who had already spoken of the need to get US fans on board as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, they were unable to carry that momentum into the Mexico game and suffered a disappointing 2-0 loss against their biggest and most bitter international rivals. It wasn’t well received stateside.

Tricky start for Poch

If Pochettino was in any doubt as to how demanding US soccer fans can be, then the fallout from that defeat would have acted as a timely reminder.

Despite the Argentinian claiming his team played well, the US media and fans were unforgiving, some even going as far as to question Pochettino’s credentials for the job after just two games!

What is certain is that the US Soccer Federation will show more patience and will give Pochettino time to evaluate his squad ahead of his ultimate goal – the biggest soccer tournament on US soil since the 1994 World Cup.

The Argentinian will ultimately be judged on how his team fares in the 2026 tournament, but their odds of +3300 appear realistic and suggest the US media and fans need to temper their expectations. Realistically, for them to make it to the last eight – something Pochettino considers a possibility – would be a good outcome, with any progress beyond that a bonus.

Whether Pochettino’s current skillset stretches to managing the expectations of the US media and fans remains to be seen but if not, it’s a skill he quickly needs to acquire.

needs two wins to steady the ship

In November, the USMNT has a double-header against Jamaica in the CONCACAF Nations League, and Pochettino desperately needs two wins to steady the ship and get US fans believing again.

If he achieves it, then all will be good for Pochettino. If not, it’s not inconceivable the next odds we are talking about on these pages could be for the next US soccer manager – even before the start of the 2026 World Cup.

England also in transition

England, too, is in a transitional period between managers. Gareth Southgate opted to depart after leading his team to the European Championship final, which they lost 2-1 to Spain, and so the search for a new manager began.

It concluded last week with the English FA formally unveiling Thomas Tuchel as their new head coach and brought an end to a process that had become unduly messy. But now it’s done and the German’s task is crystal clear – to take England to the 2026 World Cup and win it.

It initially appeared that Lee Carsley was in the pole position for the job. England’s Under-21s manager had been handed the role on an interim basis while the FA began its search, but two wins in his first two games saw him emerge as the bookies’ favorite. It was, after all, the same route by which Southgate became England’s manager in the first place.

Carsley chaos

But things took a twist in Carsley’s second camp in charge when it was revealed Harry Kane was going to miss the game against Greece. Carsley took the opportunity to gamble and played with a “false 9,” which allowed him to go down the populist route of playing all of the squad’s big-name, creative players.

It didn’t work and, in truth, ended up being a bit of a shambles. Not only did England lose 2-1 – Greece’s first-ever win over England – but it was an England team without shape or method.

The upshot was that Carsley went from being favorite for the job to a huge outsider. It didn’t help that he gave the English media mixed messages when asked about his long-term ambitions. If there is one thing the England manager needs to be it is a good communicator and Carsley showed himself to be anything but.

confused and disjointed performance against Greece

As it transpired, part of the reason for those mixed messages was that Carsley had most likely been made aware of Tuchel’s appointment. But if the FA was in any doubt, the confused and disjointed performance against Greece and the poor media management that followed would have made up its mind.

Even though England’s following game against Finland ended in a 3-2 win, the FA had decided that it needed to be seen to act decisively. Within 48 hours of Tuchel’s name hitting the back pages, he was formally unveiled as Southgate’s successor.  

Tuchel the FA’s number one

According to reports, ten different coaches were interviewed by the FA – including some from England – but Tuchel quickly emerged as the outstanding candidate, and he was formally unveiled as England’s only third-ever foreign coach. Sven Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello were the other two. 

But to add another layer of confusion to a process that, from the outside looking in, appeared messy, it was announced that Tuchel will not officially take up his new position until January 1, 2025.

Therefore, Carsley will still be in charge for the November Nations League double-header against the Republic of Ireland (h) and Greece (a); something that appears illogical from most perspectives but was clearly part of the agreement to get Tuchel on board.

From the German’s perspective, to have managed the final two UEFA Nations League games before starting a World Cup qualifying campaign would have muddied the waters when he and the FA want him to be laser-focused on the latter.

For Carsley, it makes for a difficult November camp where he will be tasked with getting England promoted from Nations League Group B to Group A before returning to his post with the Under-21s.

Equally, there is some symmetry in Carsley being in charge of the entire Nations League campaign, something that will look good on his resume when he eventually decides to head for pastures new beyond the confines of St George’s Park.    

Pressure is on

So, both England and the USMNT have decided to clear the decks and appoint head coaches with a view to success in 2026. That both have been high-profile head coaches of Chelsea in the recent past shows that the FA and the US Soccer Federation are going all out.

While both countries may have differing expectations going into the World Cup campaign (as one of the host countries, the USA does not have to qualify), the pressure on both head coaches is huge.

Can either or both handle it?

Watch this space.

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