World Cup quarterfinal field is dominated by European clubs
AP News • • sports
Key Points:
- The 2022 World Cup, expanded to 48 teams, has reached the quarterfinals with six European teams, one South American, and one African team, maintaining the historical dominance of Europe and South America in the tournament.
- North American hosts—the U.S., Mexico, and Canada—failed to advance past the round of 16 despite strong performances in earlier rounds, highlighting the region's ongoing struggle to compete with top global teams.
- Africa’s Morocco is the only African team in the quarterfinals, carrying the continent’s hopes after several African teams were eliminated late in knockout matches, often conceding late goals.
- The tournament continues a long-standing trend with no champions emerging from outside Europe or South America in the 22 previous World Cups, and Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, remains a consistent quarterfinal contender.
- Analysts and players acknowledge the challenges faced by non-European and non-South American teams, emphasizing the need for regions like CONCACAF to overcome the competitive gap to advance further in future tournaments.
