The expansion of the FIFA World Cup to 48 teams is intended to give more opportunity to countries from regions that were previously underrepresented. However, reporting on the current quarter-final lineup shows a pattern that remains largely unchanged: European teams continue to dominate the later stages of the tournament.
The sources note that the shift toward a larger field has not yet altered the balance of power seen in the quarter-finals. While the broader participation could increase representation from other continents, the quarter-final matchups still reflect strong European presence.
One outlet also points to the 2002 World Cup as a notable exception, when only four European teams reached the quarter-finals. Taken together, the coverage suggests that, despite the expanded format, the tournament’s competitive outcomes at this stage still closely resemble earlier editions dominated by European sides.
