Micah Richards has backed supporters in North America to help create a strong atmosphere at the 2026 World Cup.
The tournament will be staged across the United States, Mexico and Canada, giving all three host nations a major platform during the biggest edition of the competition so far.
Richards believes the fans in those countries are still not always given the respect they deserve, and the next few weeks will provide a clear test of that view.
Micah Richards says North American fans do not get enough credit
Micah Richards has made the point clearly. The former Manchester City defender is part of The Rest Is Football during the tournament, alongside Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer, with the show delivered from New York as part of Netflix’s World Cup coverage.
Speaking about the World Cup in North America, Richards said: “It’s so special, I think what’s great is in Mexico, Canada and America, the fans here don’t get enough credit, I feel like the atmosphere in the stadiums is going to be amazing, I can’t wait.”
It was a clear show of support for the tournament’s host nations, and particularly for a region that can still be discussed too narrowly in football terms.
The United States is often judged differently to more established football nations, especially by European audiences. That is understandable to a point, because the sport does not occupy the same cultural position there as it does in countries such as England, Argentina, Brazil or Germany.
But that does not mean the support lacks depth. It also does not mean American soccer fans should be treated as a novelty at a tournament of this scale.
Richards was careful to mention Mexico and Canada as well, which matters. This is not simply an American World Cup. It is a North American tournament spread across three countries, each with its own football identity and supporter base.
That is why his comment carries weight. The issue is not whether North America can stage major sporting events. It clearly can. The question is whether the football atmosphere will match the size of the stage.
Richards expects it to do so, and there is enough evidence around the tournament to understand why.
The World Cup stage is big enough for Richards’ prediction to be tested
The scale of the 2026 World Cup is central to the argument.
The tournament will be played across Canada, Mexico and the United States, with 48 teams and 104 matches. FIFA’s tournament hub also lists the competition across 16 host cities.
That gives supporters across the region a wider role than usual. The tournament will not be defined by one city or one fan base, but by a series of very different venues across three host nations.
Demand has also been strong. FIFA said fans from more than 200 countries and territories submitted five million ticket requests in the first 24 hours of one random selection draw phase.
That figure does not guarantee a perfect atmosphere at every match. It does, however, show that interest in the tournament is already significant.
There is also a necessary note of caution. Ticket prices have been part of the build-up, with backlash from supporter groups over the cost of attending matches.
That context matters because stadium atmosphere depends on more than global demand. It depends on who can get tickets, where they are seated and whether local supporters feel the tournament is accessible to them.
That is the real test of Richards’ prediction.
If the stadiums are full, loud and representative of the host cities, his point about North American fans not getting enough credit will be difficult to dispute.
American soccer fans, in particular, have often had to deal with scepticism from outside the country. The 2026 World Cup gives them a chance to answer that in a straightforward way, by helping create the kind of atmosphere Richards expects.
The same applies across Mexico and Canada. This tournament is not just a logistical expansion of the World Cup. It is also a chance for three host nations to shape how the football world views their supporters.
Richards has already made his prediction. Now the tournament will show whether North American fans can turn that backing into one of the defining features of the World Cup.
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