European Dominance Continues in World Cup Quarter-finals Despite Expansion

The expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams was intended to give underrepresented continents a greater chance, but the current quarter-final lineup tells a familiar story: Europe's dominance persists. Six of the eight remaining teams are European, joined only by Lionel Messi's Argentina and Morocco.

This concentration of European power is notable, especially as Europe's share of World Cup berths has decreased over decades. Yet, in the crucial knockout stages, European teams often prevail. This is largely attributed to the concentration of wealth and talent within the continent's major leagues, where top coaches nurture promising youngsters.

Morocco stands as a compelling exception, showcasing a successful hybrid model. The team, which made history by reaching the semi-finals in 2022, benefits from both its own state-of-the-art Mohammed VI Academy and players developed within European academy systems. Captain Achraf Hakimi and playmaker Azzedine Ounahi are examples of this dual approach.

While many teams feature players born in Europe who represent other nations, Argentina's squad largely consists of players born in their home country, though many were scouted early by European clubs like Barcelona. Brazil, despite most of its players being based in Europe, is experiencing its first World Cup without reaching the final stages.

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Morocco are evolving all the time, as are France. These two teams are even better than they were four years ago and that was to be expected given the great work being done by both federations.