Football14 Jun 2026·5 min read

Canada World Cup 2026: Group H Preview — The Co-Hosts' Moment

Canada have never won a World Cup match at a men's tournament. In 2022, they finally returned to the finals after a 36-year absence — and the group stage proved too tough. In 2026, as co-hosts on home soil, the mission is different. Canada want to progress. The country needs them to.

Canada: Home Advantage, Real Quality

The Canadian squad has undergone a transformation. Alphonso Davies — the Bayern Munich and Real Madrid left back — is one of the most exciting players in the world at his best. Jonathan David is a prolific scorer in Ligue 1. Jonathan Osorio, Cyle Larin, and a generation of Canadian players raised in European football academies give this team genuine quality.

The home factor matters enormously. BMO Field in Toronto, BC Place in Vancouver — these venues will be packed with passionate Canadian support for every group game. In football, that is worth goals and points.

The target: get out of the group for the first time in men's World Cup history.

Croatia: Back-to-Back Final Four Achievers

Croatia's 2018 final appearance and 2022 third-place finish are among the greatest overachievements in World Cup history. Luka Modrić — the greatest Croatian footballer of all time — leads a side that has maximised every tournament they've entered for a decade.

By 2026, Croatia's core is ageing. The question is whether their collective intelligence and experience can compensate for reduced pace. They remain dangerous and organised, but they're no longer the underdogs with nothing to lose.

Chile and Nigeria

Chile are rebuilding after their golden generation of 2010-2016. A younger squad carries the tradition of pressing football that made La Roja famous.

Nigeria have always had extraordinary athletic talent. The Super Eagles can upset anyone on their day.