A review of player birthplaces shows 98 World Cup players were born in France, more than any other country. The figure reflects not only France's renowned football development system but also the increasingly international nature of modern football, where players often represent nations linked to their family heritage rather than their place of birth.

The trend has been highlighted in reporting by The New York Times , which has documented how migration, dual nationality and diaspora communities have transformed the composition of national teams across major international tournaments.

The 10 most common birthplaces among players at the 2026 World Cup are:

Europe accounts for nine of the top ten birthplaces, highlighting the continent's continued dominance in player development and elite football infrastructure .

A global game with local roots

Many players born in France represent countries in Africa, the Caribbean and other regions due to FIFA eligibility rules, which allow athletes to play for nations connected through parents, grandparents or citizenship.

France's diverse population and extensive youth academy network have helped make the country one of football's most productive talent exporters. Similar patterns can be seen in the Netherlands, England, Belgium and Germany, where multicultural communities have contributed significantly to the international player pool.

India, the world's most populous country with more than 1.47 billion people, remains the largest nation never to qualify for a FIFA World Cup , highlighting one of international football's most striking contrasts between population size and sporting success.

Data compiled by Seasia Stats , based on global population estimates and FIFA qualification records, shows that several of the world's most populous countries have yet to make an appearance at football's premier tournament despite representing hundreds of millions of people.

India tops the list, followed by Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia and the Philippines, all nations with populations exceeding 100 million.

While countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Germany and France have built rich World Cup traditions, many heavily populated nations continue to struggle to reach the finals.

According to Seasia Stats, the ten most populous countries that have never qualified for a FIFA World Cup are:

Together, these nations account for more than 2.4 billion people , nearly one-third of the world's population.

The United States remains the world's largest travel and tourism economy by a considerable margin, generating an estimated $2.36 trillion in tourism-related economic activity, according to the latest World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Economic Impact Research.

The ranking highlights the growing economic power of global tourism as international travel continues to recover and expand beyond pre-pandemic levels, with China firmly holding second place at $1.3 trillion, followed by Germany at $487.6 billion.

According to the WTTC, travel and tourism contributed a record $11.6 trillion to the global economy in 2025, accounting for 9.8% of global GDP and supporting approximately 366 million jobs worldwide, or roughly one in every nine jobs globally.

America Dominates Global Tourism Economy

The United States' tourism sector is worth nearly twice that of second-placed China and exceeds the combined tourism economies of several major European destinations.

WTTC data shows the world's ten largest tourism economies are:

The rankings reflect tourism's total contribution to national economies, including direct spending by visitors as well as indirect and induced economic effects across industries such as aviation, hospitality, retail, transportation and entertainment.l

Nearly half of all adults in Massachusetts now hold at least a bachelor's degree, cementing the state's position as America's most educated, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data analysed by Business Insider .

Massachusetts led the nation with 48.3% of residents aged 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, narrowly ahead of Colorado at 47.8%. Vermont, Maryland and New Jersey rounded out the top five, highlighting the continued dominance of the Northeast and highly skilled knowledge-economy states.

The findings come as educational attainment across the United States continues to rise, with the Census Bureau reporting growing shares of Americans earning university degrees, particularly among younger adults.

Based on the share of adults aged 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher, the top 10 states are:

Massachusetts' educational advantage is closely tied to its concentration of world-renowned universities, including Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston University and Tufts University. The state also boasts the nation's highest share of adults with graduate or professional degrees at 22.6%.

Experts say highly educated populations often attract technology, healthcare, finance and biotechnology firms, creating a cycle in which talent and economic opportunity reinforce one another. Massachusetts consistently ranks among the strongest U.S. economies and highest-income states.

The Census Bureau's latest educational attainment data show that younger Americans are earning degrees at historically high rates. In 2024, 42.8% of Americans aged 25 to 39 held a bachelor's degree or higher, compared with 34.2% among those aged 55 and older.

Research consistently links higher educational attainment with stronger earnings, lower unemployment and greater economic mobility. States with large concentrations of degree holders also tend to attract high-value industries and investment.

Brazil remains football's biggest talent exporter, with more players competing abroad than any other nation, according to a new report from the CIES Football Observatory , highlighting the country's enduring influence on the global game.

The study found that 3,020 Brazilian footballers played in foreign leagues between 2020 and 2025, comfortably ahead of France (2,293) and Argentina (2,171). Together, the three nations account for a significant share of the world's internationally mobile football talent.

For decades, Brazil has been synonymous with football excellence, producing legends from Pelé and Zico to Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Neymar. The latest figures suggest the country's talent pipeline remains unmatched, with Brazilian players appearing in leagues across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas.

According to CIES, Portugal remains the leading destination for Brazilian footballers, benefiting from shared language and historical ties. At the same time, Japan, the United States and several European leagues also attract large numbers of Brazilian players.

France ranked second, with the report noting the country recorded the largest increase in expatriate players during the period, adding 372 footballers abroad between 2020 and 2025. Argentina finished third, reinforcing South America's status as one of football's most important talent-producing regions.

England, Spain, Germany and Colombia also featured prominently in the top 10, while Nigeria was the highest-ranked African nation with 926 players competing overseas. Serbia and Croatia completed the list.

The CIES study examined player movements across 135 professional leagues worldwide, reflecting the increasingly global nature of modern football. Analysts say clubs are scouting talent more widely than ever, creating international pathways for players from emerging football markets.

The report also found strong growth in football migration from countries such as Nigeria, Colombia and France, underlining the growing demand for talent from Africa and South America .

Speaking publicly, Gharibabadi said Switzerland would be involved in the signing process.

"The official signing of the memorandum will take place on Friday between the main parties, with Switzerland involved," he said.

The Iranian official also outlined what he described as the main elements of the agreement.

"The first point is the immediate and permanent end of the war and military operations, in fact, on various fronts, including in Lebanon," he claimed.

"You saw this in the position announced by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, where it was explicitly stated that a permanent and immediate end to the war has been declared on all fronts, including Lebanon."

His remarks came after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said there had been "the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon".

Gharibabadi also said the agreement addressed maritime restrictions imposed on Iran .

"The second event that occurred, which the US President also announced in his statement, is the lifting and termination of the naval blockade that the US had, in fact, imposed against the Islamic Republic of Iran," he stated.

While both Tehran and Washington have confirmed that an agreement has been reached, neither side has publicly released the full contents of the deal.

Media reports have suggested the agreement could include a 60-day ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the end of the US naval blockade, sanctions relief for Iran and renewed discussions on Iran's nuclear programme.

However, Israel has stated that it is not a party to the agreement.