Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Morocco. They came, they saw, they lost – sometimes heavily. But what they all have in common, aside from being officially eliminated from the World Cup, is that they are not from Europe or South America.
The last 16 of this World Cup will be dominated by those two continents once again, in a pattern that has repeated itself since the competition began.
In 2014 and 2010, 11 of the last 16 were from those regions. In 2006, that number was 13, and in 2002, it was 11. At the French World Cup in 1998, 14 out of the last 16 were from South America or Europe. What’s more, no team outside those continents has ever lifted the trophy.
This year, the tournament appears much more open, but look at who is beating who. Mexico and Germany. Croatia and Argentina. Japan sprung a surprise on Colombia, but Falcao and friends had to play with 10 men for 87 minutes, skewing that result.
Of the teams already qualified, eight out of eight are from the same two regions.
The World Cup is designed to be inclusive, of course, but it is also meant to pit the best teams in the world against each other.
Spain vs Portugal has been the game of the tournament so far and Egypt’s loss to Saudi Arabia the worst. Last night Iran were magnificent, as were Morocco, but ultimately the story was the same. They didn’t qualify.
South Korea had their fairytale run in 2002, which led them brilliantly to the semi-finals, but they are the last team from outside Europe and South America to get to that stage.
Football, although a global game, still has a long way to go if we are to see another Asian, African, Concacaf or Oceania side charge to the top any time soon.
Today’s trivia
27: Peru have had 27 shots so far at this World Cup, but are yet to score a single goal.
4: Nigeria have faced Argentina in the group stages of the last four World Cups they have played in. (2002, 2020, 2014, 2018).
1974: Australia’s only clean sheet in World Cup games came against Chile in 1974.
