​The expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams has broadened opportunities for continents that previously had limited presence in the tournament, yet a look at the quarter-final lineup reveals a recognizable pattern. Six of the eight finalists remain European, with the two non-European nations being Lionel Messi’s Argentina, the current champions, and Morocco. With France, Spain, Belgium, England, Norway and Switzerland still alive, there is a potential for an all-European semi-final, reminiscent of 2018.
Over the years, Europe’s share of World Cup berths has shrunk from 14 of 24 spots in Italy 1990 to 16 of 48 in the current format. Consequently, the global distribution has shifted, allowing more representation from other regions, including Africa, which has ten teams this year compared with five in Qatar 2022. Yet now that the tournament has entered the knockout phase, Europe is asserting itself again—six quarter-finalists is higher than four years ago, when five European sides remained at this stage. Only the 2002 World Cup stands out as an exception, with merely four European teams reaching the quarter-finals.
In football, Europe remains the hub of wealth and top talent, with most of the world’s elite leagues concentrated on the continent. Western European academies continually yield top coaches and gifted youngsters, a pipeline that benefits teams across the globe. Morocco has emerged as a leading force in African football, building on its historic 2022 breakthrough as the continent’s first World Cup semi-finalist. Their rise has a dual origin: a significant number of their players were developed in European academies, while a portion of the squad emerged from Moroccan programs such as the Mohammed VI Academy near Rabat. Players like Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz, who grew up in Spain, and Noussair Mazraoui in the Netherlands, exemplify this blend. Yet the majority of Morocco’s squad were born and trained in Western Europe and later represented Moroccan national colors, including Bouaddi in France. In the opening match of the tournament, a 1-1 draw with Brazil marked Morocco as the first team in World Cup history to field an entirely foreign-born starting XI at one point.
Looking ahead, Morocco have the opportunity to at least emulate their memorable semifinal run from 2022. “Morocco are evolving all the time, as are France,” said coach Mohamed Ouahbi, speaking ahead of the forthcoming clash between the two nations. “These two teams are even better than they were four years ago, which is to be expected given the excellent work being done by both federations.”
A notable trend at this World Cup is the prevalence of players representing nations other than their birthplace. Roughly a quarter of all players selected for this tournament were born outside the country for which they play, a reflection of the globalization of football. Often, those players were born in Europe but chose to don the colors of a nation elsewhere. Argentina stands out as somewhat different; most of their squad were born in Argentina, yet many were identified and developed at European clubs early in their careers. Messi is a quintessential example of this pattern, underscoring the tight link between European development and national team opportunity.
As the tournament progresses toward its later stages, the balance of power continues to evolve. Europe remains a dominant force, but the spread of talent and opportunity across continents has created a more competitive and interconnected global scene, one that continues to shape the identity and expectations of the World Cup.