Has three winning hosts supercharged this World Cup? Was Neymar worth the risk? Day eight recap

Day Eight underscored three host nations’ momentum as Mexico and Canada joined the United States in strong group-stage form. Mexico beat South Korea 1-0 to top Group A, and Canada thumped Qatar 6-0 to lead Group B, while the US defeated Paraguay 4-1 and prepares to meet Australia in Seattle. The tournament’s host-coast narrative is boosted by the ongoing Pulisic decision-making and Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi’s ongoing match-fixing investigation, though no charges have been filed and Canada reports entry authorisations have been granted after visa delays. The results highlight the value of hosting across three countries and its populist impact ahead of knockout rounds.