North America and Asia played host to meaningful friendly matches for teams already qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup from Asia’s AFC or South America’s CONEMBOL. The three world cup host nations, Team USA, Canada, and Mexico’s El Tri also participated in two games this window, with mixed results overall. The rest of CONCACAF qualifying is covered here.
Colombia’s First Choice Lineup Embarrasses Mexico
In one of the most anticipated games of the October international window, Mexico battled Colombia at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas. In front of 72,000 fans, nearly evenly divided between the two nations, Colombia ran away 4-0 winners, scoring three second half goals to leave Mexico feeling not just defeated, but outright embarrassed.
Colombia was more clinical with their chances and better on set pieces, Mexico’s midfield was also a huge disappointment, with Orbelin Pineda and Marcel Ruiz failing to generate much service. Santiago Gimenez and the forwards also struggled, as substitute Hirving “Chucky” Lozano was actually a welcome addition back to the national team. Club America’s first choice keeper Angel Malagon was also poor on the night as Colombia generated magic off the boot of James Rodriguez, scoring their first goal off a free kick. Johan Carbonero scored the cherry on top goal late in the game off a Malagon error for El Tri. Carbonero was celebrating in tears as he returned to his beloved Los Cafeteros after suffering a knee injury.
Carbonero, from SC Internacional in Brazil, told the media after the match (translated) “I feel immense joy. It came to my mind a lot – at the time of his goal – that two years ago, when Manager Néstor (Lorenzo) called me, a day before I injured my knee, a cruciate ligament injury, an injury that kept me out for a year. It was a very hard blow, because I have always wanted to be in the National Team, and that injury prevented me from doing so. But well, God does not leave a righteous person without an answer and here is the revenge,”
The scale of the defeat made Colombian supporters feel the team was peaking after a third-place finish in CONEMBOL World Cup Qualifying, with the likes of Luis Diaz playing great for Bayern Munich, while supporters of Mexico’s El Tri were left wondering if their black and gold uniforms were simply a funeral suit ahead of what may be a painful group stage exit at the World Cup as hosts, after Mexico was eliminated in the group stage of Copa America 2024.
Canada’s International Window Felt Dull
The second of the three World Cup host nations, FIFA’s #26 Canada had a difficult international window after two European triumphs in September. Returning to friendlier shores, Canada hosted Australia in Montreal, as Watford FC’s Nestory Irankunda scored a 1-0 winner for Australia, in a game where Canada arguably looked better, but failed to break through. The Canadians outshot Australia 17-5 and had 61% possession, but Australia are great at grinding out games.
Game 2 of the window was an incredibly flat draw in New Jersey against Colombia that ended scoreless. Colombia’s starting lineup was a rotation of players, many of whom are on the edge of consideration for their World Cup squad. Colombia were favored and effectively playing at “home” in front of a large crowd of Colombian-Americans who call the New York/New Jersey metro area home, but still, Canada’s performance was toothless and afraid. They managed just 4 shots and no meaningful chances, while conceding 60% possession to the Colombians.
In Colombia’s second game, players like Real Betis Cucho Hernandez, Benfica’s Richard Rios, Rosario Central’s Jaminton Campaz, and Atletico Nacional’s Andres Roman struggled and the team looked sluggish in its own right, but Luis Diaz missed a clear chance to be the match winner in the second half.
Ecuador Can Defend but How are They Going to Score?
Finishing second place in CONEMBOL qualifying was an incredible achievement for a rising Ecuador team, but La Tri’s desire to be a true World Cup dark horse has hit turbulence in recent games. Of Ecuador’s last seven games, six have been draws, and in that time the team has produced only three goals. Leaving South America, they played Team USA in Texas, drawing 1-1, and then in Guadalajara, Mexico, they produced the same 1-1 scoreline against an El Tri team that they expect to be better than.
On October 10th, Ecuador had just 34% ball possession against the US Men’s National Team. Enner Valencia, Ecuador’s legendary striker and great leader, scored an opening goal in the 24th minute on a U.S. defensive error, but Ecuador went into a shell after and Folarin Balogun from AS Monaco would eventually find an equalizer in the second half. Ecuador defends deep at an elite level, but they have almost no goal scoring options.
Facing Mexico four days later, Ecuador stunningly conceded a goal within 3 minutes, as Monterrey Rayados naturalized attacker German Berterame scored his first goal for El Tri. Mexico would concede an ill-advised penalty later in the first half, converted by IDV midfielder Jordy Alcivar, then the game went flat. Mexico produced 13 shots to Ecuador’s 7, and had an edge in possession. “Chucky” Lozano had another good game for El Tri, but the same can’t be said of other attackers for El Tri like AC Milan’s Santiago Gimenez.
Team USA Builds Confidence Ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup
That result against Ecuador built confidence for Maurico Pochettino’s US MNT. Crystal Palace’s Chris Richards played two solid 90-minute games in the backline, and the U.S. would win their second game of the window in comeback fashion as Coventry’s Haji Wright scored a brace to give the U.S. team a 2-1 win over Australia, after the Aussies scored first. This U.S. team is not world class, but like the two other host nations, they are desperate to be competitive on the world’s stage in their own World Cup.
Brazil Loses to Japan, and other CONEMBOL News and Notes
Chile and Peru played just one match this window, a Clasico del Pacifico that was won by Chile 2-1 on a 94th minute winner by Maxi Gutierrez from Chile.
Venezuela had its friendly against Belize cancelled in Chicago due to political unrest. Their other game was a competitive 1-0 defeat to Argentina in Miami played in front of 20,000, mostly Argentine supporters. The defending World Cup champions put six goals past Puerto Rico in a lopsided second friendly of the window, Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan) and Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool) both had braces against a Puerto Rico side that includes some college students.
Uruguay stretched their winning streak to four wins in five matches, defeating the Dominican Republic 1-0, and Uzbekistan 2-1, the results were not convincing, but a win is a win. Brazil’s tour of Asia was a tale of two games, 5-0 over South Korea in Seoul with Estevao and Rodrygo scoring braces, followed by a 3-2 defeat in Japan, where Carlo Ancelotti’s team conceded three second half goals. Paraguay drew Japan 2-2, and lost 2-0 to South Korea.
Bolivia’s hopes to qualify for the World Cup remain hard to evaluate. Jordan, who already qualified from AFC, lost to them 1-0 in Istanbul on a last-minute winner. Four days later in Moscow, Bolivia looked hapless as Atlanta United’s Aleksei Miranchuk was on the scoresheet with Russia winning 3-0 in a friendly.
A Tale of Two October Friendlies
Ultimately, this October window was a tale of two tournaments. For teams like the USA and Colombia, it was a chance to build a winning identity and send a message to the world. For Mexico, Canada, and Ecuador, it was a sobering reality check that exposed deep-seated issues. With the 2026 World Cup now looming large, these friendly results have stopped being friendly, instead becoming the first true chapters in the story of who will be ready when the world arrives.
