BBC Sport frames the World Cup 2026 co-host race through a practical question: USA, Canada and Mexico have the stage, but which side can turn home advantage into a deep run? The podcast brings in CONCACAF expert Jon Arnold, with BBC’s Mani Djazmi guiding the debate across the three hosts.

The episode gives Canada manager Jesse Marsch room to state his case, as he says his side can make history in a home World Cup. Former USA captain Marcelo Balboa and Mexican journalist Ricardo Otero also weigh in, giving each host a voice rather than treating the tournament as one shared party.

No results or player stats are in the source, so the value is in the setup. With 48 teams across Mexico, the US and Canada, the programme looks beyond the men’s tournament numbers to new teams, standout stars, trends and fandoms. It tests how far national pride can carry each co-host.