Europe dominates, Asia exits: World Cup confederation analysis before the Round of 16
The 16 teams for the World Cup Round of 16 are set. Europe holds nearly half the remaining spots, while Asian representation has been completely eliminated.
Sorti par le Brésil, le Japon était l'un des derniers représentants de la zone Asie. (F. Faugère/L'Équipe) (L'Équipe)
Following the conclusion of the latest round, the 16 teams advancing to the World Cup Round of 16 have been confirmed. Out of the 48 nations that began the tournament, only 16 remain in the hunt for the title.
UEFA continues to assert its dominance, with seven European nations securing their places in the Round of 16, accounting for nearly half of the remaining field. South America's CONMEBOL also remains strong, with four teams left in the competition following Ecuador's exit in the previous round.
Conversely, the tournament has come to an end for Asian confederation teams. The final two Asian representatives, Japan and Australia, were eliminated by Brazil and Egypt, respectively. Seven other Asian nations had already departed during the group stages.
Africa’s representation now consists of two teams—Morocco and Egypt. Meanwhile, CONCACAF maintains three teams in contention, all of which are tournament hosts: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.