Eight of the ten most populous countries in the world are not represented at the current FIFA World Cup, according to a report published by the BBC.

According to GoogleNewsEN, the BBC’s analysis highlights a notable disparity between demographic scale and international football qualification. Of the ten nations with the largest populations globally, only two have secured participation in the tournament.

The report draws attention to the broader question of football development in heavily populated regions, where the sport enjoys widespread popularity but competitive infrastructure at the international level remains in varying stages of development.

According to GoogleNewsEN, the BBC article does not include statements from the relevant national football federations or from FIFA regarding this demographic observation.

The party could not be reached for comment.

This finding contributes to ongoing discussions within international football governance concerning the expansion of the World Cup format and the development of the sport in underrepresented regions, including parts of South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.