Quarterfinals full of usual suspects in FIFA World Cup

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, July 9, 2026

Six European teams, one South American team, one African team (Morocco), and no North American teams have reached the quarterfinals of the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup. Morocco’s historic advancement challenges traditional dominance by Europe and South America, while the early exit of all three host nations highlights ongoing hurdles for North American soccer on the global stage.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals have reaffirmed a familiar pattern of dominance by European and South American teams, with six of the eight remaining squads hailing from Europe. Alongside them are one team from South America and one from Africa. This distribution continues a nearly century-long trend in which all 22 previous World Cup champions have come from these two continents.

The tournament, expanded to 48 teams this year and co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, saw all three host nations advance past the group stage and round of 32. Together, they compiled a 9-2-1 record before the knockout rounds. However, none managed to progress beyond the round of 16, collectively losing all three matches and being outscored by seven goals. The United States fell 4-1 to Belgium, Mexico narrowly lost 3-2 to England, and Canada was defeated 3-0 by Morocco.

This outcome has sparked reflection on the persistent challenges facing North American teams on soccer’s biggest stage. The region has not seen a team reach the quarterfinals since Costa Rica in 2014. Canada, despite qualifying for multiple recent tournaments, has never advanced past the round of 16, while Mexico has repeatedly reached the round of 16 without progressing further.

U.S. midfielder Christian Pulisic acknowledged the need for North American teams to "get over that next hurdle" to compete consistently with the world’s elite. French soccer legend and analyst Thierry Henry highlighted the demanding nature of this World Cup format, which introduced a round of 32 and increased competition. He noted the frustration of having all three co-host nations eliminated before the quarterfinals, emphasizing how difficult it remains to break through at this level.

In contrast, Morocco has emerged as the standout team from Africa, carrying the continent’s hopes into the quarterfinals. African teams have historically struggled to advance beyond early rounds of the tournament. Morocco’s achievement marks a significant milestone, reaching a stage rarely attained by African nations. Morocco’s manager, Walid Regragui, expressed both surprise and pride in the team’s historic run, underscoring its potential to challenge traditional powerhouses.

European players themselves have expressed some surprise at their teams’ performances, with Norway’s Erling Haaland commenting on his nation’s unexpected breakthrough after scoring twice against Brazil to reach the quarterfinals—the furthest Norway has advanced in tournament history.

As the World Cup enters its final stages, the quarterfinal lineup continues to reflect longstanding continental hierarchies, with Europe and South America positioned as favorites to claim another title. Meanwhile, Morocco’s progress offers a compelling narrative as a possible disruption to these patterns, while the North American hosts and other regions seek to overcome recurring obstacles in future tournaments.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.