As the host region for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, there are often heightened expectations for host nations to produce surprise performances, driven by strong home support and the pride of playing on home soil.
Massive pressure will be on many players from North America, especially the three host nations, the United States, Canada and Mexico, to set the tone for the remainder of the tournament with standout performances.
The majority of the pre-tournament favourites from the region who are expected to rise above their peers are concentrated in the three countries, and the eyes of the football commentators are undoubtedly on them.
The Peoples Gazette has selected five North American players to watch out for ahead of the opening match of the tournament.
Folarin Balogun
The 24-year-old, born in the United States to Nigerian parents, is expected to be one of the star players pushing the U.S. National Team as far as possible at the World Cup on home soil.
Balogun has enjoyed much success since switching his international allegiance from England to the United States in 2023 and has gone on to score 10 goals and register four assists, powering his country to consecutive CONCACAF Nations League titles in the last three years.
He has also been red-hot for his club since Monaco, scoring 19 goals and providing four assists across all competitions in the 2025/26 season as the club secured UEFA Conference League qualification.
Christian Pulisic
The former Chelsea forward is widely regarded as the most senior figure in the United States national team, and American fans will be watching him to set the team apart from their opponents in the tournament.
Pulisic is a versatile goalscorer for his country, and his teammates will need him to maintain the prowess when the World Cup begins on June 11. He has scored 33 goals since making his debut for the United States in 2016.
Following a hard time at Chelsea, the 27-year-old has regained his form since moving to AC Milan, scoring double-digit goals each season. In the 2023/24 season, he scored 16 goals and created 10 assists.
In the 2024/25 season, he netted 17 goals and recorded another 10 assists, then added another 10 goals and four assists in the just-concluded campaign.
Weston McKennie
The American is one of the biggest stars from North America set to feature at the World Cup. Alongside Pulisic, the Juventus man is one of the players from the host region who the football community are tipping to turn up in the tournament.
McKennie has been with the national team since 2017, winning three CONCACAF Nations League titles with the Yanks.
Despite not being an attacking player, the 27-year-old scored nine goals and assisted six for Juventus in the 2025/26 season.
Alphonso Davies
Despite missing the majority of the past season due to injuries, the captain of the Canada national team recovered from a hamstring injury in time for the World Cup. The 25-year-old only managed 23 matches for Bayern Munich across all competitions last season.
Davies is undoubtedly the biggest name in the 26-man squad called up by head coach Jesse Marsch, and the Bayern Munich defender is definitely one of the stars to watch in the tournament.
Raúl Jiménez
The Fulham forward is the point man for the Mexico national team, and both his teammates and fans would need him to be at the top of his game during the tournament.
Despite managing just 10 goals across 43 appearances for his club last season, the 35-year-old has been a scoring machine for Mexico. He has netted 44 times for Mexico in 123 games, making him the team’s most prolific goalscorer and understandably expected to shine on home soil.
