European dominance persists in World Cup quarter-finals despite expansion

The expanded 48-team World Cup was intended to offer greater opportunities to underrepresented continents, yet the quarter-final lineup presents a familiar picture of European dominance. Six of the eight remaining teams hail from Europe, with Argentina and Morocco being the only exceptions. This concentration of European power, including France, Spain, Belgium, England, and Switzerland, could lead to an all-European semi-final, mirroring the 2018 tournament. Europe's share of World Cup berths has decreased significantly since 1990, but its teams are proving resilient in the knockout stages. Morocco, the continent's sole remaining representative and the first African team to reach the semi-finals in 2022, is looking to repeat its historic achievement. The North African nation's success is attributed to a dual approach: nurturing talent at domestic facilities like the Mohammed VI Academy and benefiting from players developed in Western European academies. Many of their key players, including captain Achraf Hakimi and playmaker Azzedine Ounahi, were born in Europe and honed their skills in European club systems. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi acknowledged the strength of both Morocco and France, stating, "Morocco are evolving all the time, as are France... These two teams are even better than they were four years ago." The article also touches upon Brazil's struggles, noting it's the first World Cup where they haven't fielded a predominantly Brazil-born starting XI, with most players based in Europe.

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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.