European Teams Continue to Excel in World Cup Competitions

WHO:

The New York Times - Six of the eight remaining teams in the World Cup are from Europe.

The New York Times - The United States beat Bosnia and Herzegovina in the knockout stage.

The New York Times - Norway and Belgium are European teams that achieved victories over Brazil and Senegal, respectively.

The New York Times - Morocco is co-hosting the next World Cup with Spain and Portugal.

BBC - England, France, and Belgium are among the European teams performing well in the tournament.

WHAT:

The New York Times - Three European teams were eliminated by non-European teams in the knockout stage.

The New York Times - Nine out of ten African qualifiers progressed to the knockout stage.

The New York Times - 18 of Morocco’s 26 players were born in Europe.

BBC - European teams recorded 17 wins, 12 draws, and seven losses against non-European teams by the end of the group stage.

BBC - England faced Mexico in the last-16 and won, showcasing their capability to win the World Cup.

WHERE:

The New York Times - The World Cup is being held in North America.

BBC - England played against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium.

WHEN:

The New York Times - The next World Cup will be co-hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal.

BBC - Belgium will face Spain in the quarter-finals.

WHY:

The New York Times - The expansion to 48 teams was likely to benefit African nations due to a spread of talent.

BBC - European teams initially struggled due to acclimatization to the heat in North America.

HOW:

BBC - European teams adapted to challenging conditions, such as altitude and hostile crowds, to progress in the tournament.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 13:31 UTC)

In an exciting World Cup, six of the eight remaining teams are from Europe, with England, France, and Belgium among those performing exceptionally well. The United States secured a victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the knockout stage, while Norway and Belgium triumphed over Brazil and Senegal, respectively. Looking ahead, Morocco will co-host the next World Cup with Spain and Portugal, and Belgium is set to face Spain in the quarter-finals.