Host Nation Curse? Qatar Breaks Streak, 2026 Co-Hosts Restore It

For almost a century, World Cup host nations enjoyed a remarkable streak: none had lost their opening match—until Qatar 2022. The Maroon's 2-0 defeat to Ecuador in the tournament's curtain-raiser ended a proud tradition dating back to Uruguay 1930. Every previous host, from Argentina 1978 to Russia 2018, had at least earned a draw or victory in their debut fixture, making Qatar's loss a historic first. But the 2026 co-hosts wasted no time rewriting the narrative. Mexico opened their campaign wi...