So, seven of the eight finalists in the most recent continental tournaments in North America, South America, Europe and Africa are into the last 16 of the World Cup.
That works if we include the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for Mexico and the United States, rather than their participation in the 2024 Copa America where Argentina beat Colombia in the final.
Euro 2024 finalists Spain and England are both through. Morocco, current winners of the contested AFCON 2025 final, are also through, with Senegal the lone exception after that heartbreaking collapse against Belgium.
