Expanded World Cup; same old story as Europe dominates quarter-finals

The expanded 48-team World Cup was intended to offer greater opportunities to underrepresented continents, but the quarter-final lineup tells a familiar story of European dominance. Six of the eight remaining teams hail from Europe: France, Spain, Belgium, England, Norway, and Switzerland. This concentration of European power mirrors the 2018 tournament and suggests a potential for an all-European semi-final.

While Europe's proportion of World Cup berths has decreased over the decades, the continent remains the epicenter of global football wealth and talent. Western European academies are renowned for developing top young players, and many nations worldwide have benefited from this system. Morocco, the sole African representative and the continent's first-ever World Cup semi-finalist in 2022, exemplifies this trend.

Morocco's success is a blend of homegrown talent, nurtured at facilities like the Mohammed VI Academy, and players developed within European club systems. Key figures such as captain Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz were born in Europe and honed their skills there. This dual approach has allowed Morocco to field competitive teams, even fielding an entirely foreign-born starting eleven in one match.

Argentina, the reigning champions, stand as another exception, with most of their players originating from the country. However, many, like Lionel Messi, were scouted and developed by European clubs from a young age. Brazil, despite having most of its players based in Europe, has faltered in this World Cup, marking a departure from their usual performance.

“

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.