Henry will work as a pundit during the 2026 World Cup in North America as he joins up with FOX Sports for the tournament. The Frenchman will work closely at next summer's tournament in Canada, Mexico and the USA, where he believes the US can go far.
The furthest the U.S. has ever advanced at the World Cup was at the inaugural 13-team tournament way back in 1930. The US made it to the semifinals but lost to Argentina 6-1.
Since that tournament, the highest finish for the U.S. at the World Cup was the quarterfinals at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan.
Next year, the US have been put up against Paraguay, Australia, and the UEFA Play-Off C winner in what Henry believes is a fair group for the host nation.
“When I was there, I could see that people were happy because it could have been worse. And yes, it is a winnable group. You still have to do it. The last games that I've seen from the U.S. were reassuring, I will be honest, but you have to be good when the World Cup starts. I said it at the beginning when they were not playing well in friendlies, "Don't get too sad and don't get too hyped about anything."
“And I said it obviously when I was there, I said that I do believe that if the U.S. come out of the group stage playing well, carrying momentum, having that, that understanding with the fans, when the fans can relate to the team and what they see.
“I've seen it with South Korea in 2002, I've seen it in Russia when Russia played the World Cup in their country.
“When you get that momentum, anything is possible. But like I said, you still have to go through the group. It won't be easy, but it could have been worse.”
Henry was part of the French side which won the tournament on home soil in 1998, beating Brazil in the final. Across 17 appearances at the World Cup, Henry scored a total of six goals and he knows exactly what a home advantage can bring in the world’s biggest competition.