World Cup 2026: Why are European teams doing so well?

Sides from Europe have really built up a head of steam as this World Cup has gone on, but there were some eyebrows raised at their initial slow start as seven of the first 10 European sides to play their first group stage games failed to win.

The heat in North America had been a talking point before the tournament got under way with a number of sides – including England – basing themselves in hot areas to acclimatise ahead of their opening fixtures.

But few managers pointed their finger at the conditions for their slow starts.

After Belgium kicked off with a draw with Egypt boss Rudi Garcia said: “Whether it is 10 degrees or 30 degrees, we should have done better,” while Switzerland coach Murat Yakin pointed to his side’s wastefulness rather than the conditions after beginning with a 1-1 draw with Qatar.

But eventually European teams really got into their stride and by the end of the group stage there were 17 wins, 12 draws and seven losses for European teams v non-European teams.

In the knockouts, some of the European nations have also impressed when dealing with adversity.

Much was made of England’s difficult trip to the Azteca to face Mexico in the last-16, where they had to handle altitude and a hostile crowd, but they dealt with both to produce one of their most impressive battling displays to progress.

“This has shown we have a team capable of winning the World Cup,” former England striker Wayne Rooney told BBC Sport after that win.

“The belief this will give to these players his huge.”

Meanwhile, France dealt with Paraguay’s ‘dark arts’ to progress to the last eight while Belgium handled an expectant home crowd to brush aside co-hosts USA in their last-16 tie. They will next face European champions Spain for a place in the semi-finals.

“It was encouraging signs from Belgium,” former England defender Matt Upson said on BBC One.

“They are going to need to be good against what is a brilliant Spanish midfield.”