Enlarged Tournament Yields Familiar Result as European Teams Overwhelm Quarterfinals

The World Cup's expansion to 48 teams has given underrepresented continents a greater chance to participate, yet the quarter-final lineup reveals a familiar story, with six European countries, including France, Spain, Belgium, England, Norway, and Switzerland, still in the running, alongside Lionel Messi's Argentina and Morocco.

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With these eight teams, there is a possibility of an all-European semi-final lineup, similar to the one in 2018, despite Europe's share of World Cup spots decreasing significantly over the years, from 14 out of 24 in 1990 to 16 out of 48 currently.

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The rest of the world has seen its share of World Cup spots increase, with Africa having 10 teams this year, up from five in 2022, but Europe is dominating the tournament's latter stages, with six teams in the quarter-finals, surpassing the five European sides that remained at this stage four years ago.

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The 2002 World Cup remains an exception, with only four European teams making the quarter-finals, highlighting the concentration of wealth and talent in European football, where the majority of the world's top players compete in the continent's top leagues.

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Western European academies, which produce the most talented youngsters under the guidance of top coaches, have benefited many countries, including Morocco, which has become a leading force through a combination of its own state-of-the-art Mohammed VI Academy and the European academy systems that have developed many of its players.

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Several Moroccan players, including Azzedine Ounahi, are products of the Mohammed VI Academy, while others, such as captain Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz, were born in western Europe and came through academy systems in Spain, the Netherlands, and France.

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Morocco made history in their tournament opener against Brazil, fielding a full foreign-born 11 at one point, and now have the chance to match their historic run to the semis in 2022, according to coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who believes that both Morocco and France have evolved and improved since the last World Cup.

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Ouahbi noted that the great work being done by both federations has led to the improvement of the two teams, which are now even better than they were four years ago.

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Nearly a quarter of all players selected for this World Cup represent a country other than their birthplace, often choosing to play for a nation from elsewhere despite being born in Europe, but Argentina is an exception, with most of its players born in the country, although many were picked up by European clubs at a young age, such as Lionel Messi, who joined Barcelona as a teenager.

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Brazil, on the other hand, has failed to make the quarter-finals for the first time since 1990, despite appointing European coach Carlo Ancelotti, and having most of its players based in Europe, and has maintained its record of losing to European opposition in World Cup knockout ties since its last win in 2002.

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The United States had high hopes of reaching at least the quarter-finals, as they did in 2002, but their tournament ended with a 4-1 defeat to Belgium, while Asia had a record nine representatives, but only Australia and Japan progressed beyond the group stage.

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Colombia was defeated on penalties by Switzerland, which is through to its first quarter-final since 1954, and believes it can give Argentina a good game, according to coach Murat Yakin, who sees this as a unique opportunity for his team.

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Yakin noted that Argentina is not unbeatable, giving Switzerland confidence in their upcoming match, and the team's established record of competing against Europe's top sides has prepared them for this challenge.