Thread: Since the 1990 World Cup, only 6 of 64 teams making the Round of 8 (QF) did not have a starting XI consisting mostly of players from top European leagues/clubs. 1990 Czechoslovakia, 1994 Romania, 1994 Bulgaria, 2002 USA, 2006 Ukraine, 2014 Costa Rica are the exceptions.

The first four exceptions had lineups split (6:5 or 5:6) between top-Euro-league and domestic players. '06 Ukraine and '14 Costa Rica had mostly non-top-league starters although had a world-class striker and GK respectively. Of these six, only '94 Bulgaria made the semi-final.

Otherwise, 58 of 64 quarterfinal teams had starters mostly, and usually entirely, from top Euro leagues/clubs. Teams with players competing professionally at the highest levels in Europe are far more likely to make World Cup quarterfinals and beyond, with a few lucky exceptions.

This is what makes the new US group so exciting. Long way before making a WC QF, but there is potential. A generation of young players either already doing well in Europe or will be moving to Europe. Other nations without this are betting against history. https://twitter.com/ChuckMe92Soccer/status/1277341523923918854

Somehow missed South Korea from 2002, so it's 57 of 64 quarterfinalists.