(FILES) This photograph shows the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy following the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Play-Off draw at the FIFA's Home of Football in Zurich on November 20, 2025. beIN Sports will broadcast in France all the matches of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, to the detriment of the Ligue 1+ platform, which had nevertheless reached an agreement with FIFA, AFP learned on February 11, 2026 from several sources close to the matter. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)
For most national soccer teams, playing a tournament on home turf is a huge advantage. For the United States, it can be the opposite.
In the Gold Cup final last year, the US lost in a Houston stadium overwhelmingly packed with rival Mexico fans. The semi-final in St Louis, Missouri, was a sea of light blue for their opponents Guatemala.
There were similar scenes at the US-hosted Copa America a year earlier.
It is a huge concern for the US players under extraordinary pressure to deliver as co-hosts at this summer’s World Cup, documentary filmmaker Rand Getlin told AFP.
