World Cup quarterfinals: It’s Messi, Morocco, and 6 teams from Europe. And that’s not unusual
Summary
The 2026 World Cup quarterfinals include six European teams, one South American team, and one African team, reflecting a long-standing pattern where champions come from Europe or South America. The three host nations from North America—U.S., Mexico, and Canada—were eliminated in the round of 16 despite strong performances earlier in the tournament.Key Facts
- The 2026 World Cup began with 48 teams and is now down to 8 in the quarterfinals.
- Six teams in the quarterfinals are from Europe, one from South America, and one from Africa (Morocco).
- Historically, no World Cup champion has come from outside Europe or South America.
- Norway reached the quarterfinals for the first time, beating Brazil in the round of 16.
- The three host countries (U.S., Mexico, Canada) advanced through early rounds but all lost in the round of 16.
- The U.S. lost 4-1 to Belgium, Mexico lost 3-2 to England, and Canada lost 3-0 to Morocco in the round of 16.
- North American teams had good records earlier but struggled against stronger opponents in later rounds.
- Experts note that the World Cup becomes more challenging after the group stages and early knockout rounds.
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