World Cup 2026: Why have so few European teams won it yet?

Of the 10 European teams that have played so far, only three have won, but only two have lost.

Meanwhile, no South American team has yet won.

Brazil – the most successful team at the World Cup with five titles – played in Morocco, where opening winners Uruguay drew with Saudi Arabia. Paraguay, on the other hand, lost 4-1 to fellow tournament participants, the United States. Argentina and Colombia are still to play.

Asia’s representatives are still unbeaten and African nations have taken points from several of their top-ranked rivals, underlining just how tough the World Cup is for traditional powers.

“I’m sad (for Brazil),” former Uruguay international Gus Poyet told BBC One.

“I was surprised how bad they were technically, I don’t know if it was the pitch, maybe the pitch didn’t help but the balls were missing, the simple passes you expect Brazilian players to do well.”

Fortunately for everyone who made a slow start to this World Cup, it was all over after the first game.

With two more group games to come, they have plenty of time to improve and secure their place in the playoffs.