World Cup quarterfinals: It's Messi, Morocco, and 6 teams from Europe. And that's not unusual

AI Summary

The World Cup quarterfinals feature Lionel Messi, Morocco, and six European teams, continuing the historical pattern dominated by European and South American clubs. No teams outside these regions have secured a championship in the tournament's history since 1930.

A tournament that has been around for nearly a century — the first World Cup was in 1930 — has been contested on 22 previous occasions. The champions: 12 from Europe, 10 from South America, zero from the rest of the globe combined.