The World Cup is now only months away. For its three hosts, there are still a couple of major questions to ask.
It’s fair to say that none of the World Cup hosts can be entirely confident heading into the tournament. All three of the United States, Canada, and Mexico have had their shaky moments on and off the pitch, while injuries have also raised some concerns. Oh, and the fact that the three combined for exactly two wins in Qatar.
Of course, there are still some major question marks for each nation before the World Cup kicks off in June. Some are good problems to have, others not so much, but they will definitely be tournament-defining stories.
Canada: Can Alphonso Davies stay healthy?
Alphonso Davies needs no introduction. Since he broke out in 2019, the Bayern Munich star has consistently been one of the best left-backs in the world. For Canada — who he debuted for at the age of 16 — he’s been even more crucial.
It was fitting that Davies scored Canada’s first-ever World Cup goal when he found the back of the net after just a minute against Croatia in 2022. He’s often played in more advanced positions for the national team, but under Jesse Marsch, he’s reverted to his now-natural position in left-back. Unfortunately for Davies, he hasn’t played for Canada since a serious knee injury in a meaningless third-place win over the United States almost a year ago.
That isn’t his only injury concern. Davies has regularly missed time and has been limited to just 13 appearances in Munich this season. He suffered yet another injury after coming off the bench in a 6-1 win over Atalanta, which sidelines him for the international break. Reports from Germany indicate that Bayern are starting to worry about his repeated injuries.
Now, Davies is not the only quality player Canada has. Ismaël Koné is excelling in Serie A, for instance, while Jonathan David is always tough to deal with.
Marsch has a solid option in the form of Toronto FC veteran Richie Laryea if Davies remains sidelined. But Richie Laryea is no Alphonso Davies. It would be a massive loss for Canada if their main man were unavailable this summer.
Mexico: What to do with all your strikers?
Mexico has a couple of burning questions going into the World Cup. What to do in goal, for instance, after Luis Malagón’s recent injury. Or is the ugly winless streak towards the end of 2025 a real concern? Can Gilberto Mora continue to impress despite his young age?
But the most interesting question is what to do up top. Mexico is, on paper, loaded with quality striker options. Raúl Jiménez is 34 and still scoring in the Premier League with Fulham. Julián Quiñones is outscoring Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia. Santiago Gimenez plays for Milan. Germán Berterame just made a big-money move to Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.
But Gimenez, despite his incredible scoring record in the Eredivisie, has never quite managed to put it together for El Tri. He’s also been quiet since his Serie A move, while Berterame is struggling to make an impact for Miami so far. Armando González’s sudden rise has also added some complications.
Chivas Guadalajara striker González, 22, has scored 21 goals so far in the Liga MX Apertura and Clausura. Unsurprisingly, there are links to top European clubs, and he already scored his first goal for Mexico in a 4-0 win over Iceland. He might not be on Jiménez’s level yet, but he’s certainly on the right path.
Coach Javier Aguirre will surely go with Jiménez as the starting nine this summer, but equally interesting is how he will divide minutes between the other strikers — and who he calls up. At this rate, González’s record is too good to ignore altogether, but he’s far from the only option.
United States: What can you do with Gio Reyna (again)?
Yes, I know. American fans don’t want to talk about Gio Reyna. Some think he’s proven his worth already and shouldn’t be questioned, regardless of club form. Others think he’s not deserving of a spot on the roster, especially as he is struggling for minutes with Borussia Mönchengladbach. But everyone is sick of talking about him.
But it’s still by far the most interesting question about Mauricio Pochettino’s side heading into the World Cup (although the striker situation is also notable). Reyna is such a technically gifted player, and he — not Christian Pulisic — was on track to be the next great American star. Injuries, drama, and questionable career choices have derailed that.
Since the start of the 2023 Bundesliga season, Reyna has five league goal contributions across three clubs and 49 games. He’s managed eight for the United States in that time, including a goal and an assist in the latest cycle. Reyna is the definition of a player who shows up for the national team.
The United States is not desperate for options in attack alongside striker Balogun. Christian Pulisic is a guarantee to start. Malik Tillman is having a solid season for Bayer Leverkusen, while Brenden Aaronson was briefly on fire with Leeds United. Jack-of-all-trades Weston McKennie is certainly capable of playing a more advanced position. Alejandro Zendejas and Diego Luna have cases to be in the squad, as do the uncapped duo Rokas Pukštas and Montrell Culbreath.
There are arguments for Reyna to be a starter, a super-sub, a depth option, and not even a part of the World Cup squad. All of them have some valid points. None is entirely correct. It will be fascinating to see what Pochettino decides.
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Image via X.com.
