Over time, European teams have gradually put aside the South American sides from the limelight, and established their dominance in the greatest show on earth.
The European nations have won 12 of the 21 World Cup editions, including the last four where France, Germany, Spain and Italy emerged champions.
The Latin American teams pale so much in comparison that there have been only three South American semi-finalists – Uruguay in 2010 and Brazil and Argentina in 2014 – in the last 16 years.
The gradual decline of the South American teams in the World Cup in the last 20 years has coincided with the focus of the football world shifting primarily to Europe, due to the influx of the best of players the sport has to offer.
Lionel Messi's love for the Albiceleste jersey is second to none, but he has played his entire professional career in Europe, while Neymar left Brazil for Barcelona when he was 21.
These are just two examples among many.
The European clubs, comprising the world's best footballers, get to strut their stuff in the closely fought continental competitions, not to mention the highly competitive domestic leagues and cup competitions.
It is no wonder to see that the last four world champions come from four of the major European domestic leagues.
Heavy European presence in Qatar
Thirteen European teams will participate in the Middle East – making up 40% of the total teams – and of the 830 footballers at the World Cup, almost three-quarters – 73% - play in Europe.
Bayern Munich have the highest 17 players playing in the World Cup, while Barca and Manchester City each have 16.
The Albiceleste have included highest 23 booters who play in Europe, while Italian clubs have provided 70 footballers to World Cup squads, although the four-time winners are not taking part having failed to qualify.
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The breakdown
Legendary Italian manager Vittorio Pozzo gave Europe its first title in 1934 when the Azzurri, under captain Gianpiero Combi, won the tournament as hosts, beating Czechoslovakia 2-1 after extra time in the final.
Pozzo's Italy repeated the feat four years later in France, this time with the iconic Giuseppe Meazza as skipper, as Hungary were defeated 4-2 in the final.
The San Siro stadium in Milan is named after Inter legend Meazza, who also appeared in the 1934 final.
After the 12-year hiatus due to World War II from 1938-50, an European team again lifted the World Cup in 1954 in Switzerland.
Sepp Herberger's Germany, with Fritz Walter as captain, edged past Hungary's “Magical Magyars” 3-2 in the final.
Then came Europe's longest gap without winning the World Cup (with the exception of the time during World War II), but hosts England ended it in 1966 when they beat Germany 4-2 after extra time in the final.
A triumph for Sir Alf Ramsey's wingless wonders, Bobby Moore and Co remain the last batch of Englishmen to clinch the World Cup.
Following an eight-year gap, an European team won the new version of the World Cup trophy, which was designed by Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga, as Fifa did away with the Jules Rimet trophy – awarded to winners from 1930-70.
Helmut Schon had lost the 1966 final as Germany manager, but atoned for it eight years later by guiding his charges – led by a certain Franz “Kaiser” Beckenbauer - to a 2-1 victory in the final at home to the Netherlands.
Germany joined Italy on two world titles.
After another eight-year gap, Italy nudged ahead with their third world crown in Spain, under the captaincy of the experienced goalkeeper Dino Zoff.
Enzo Bearzot's Italy beat Germany 3-1 in the final.
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Beckenbauer's Germany, skippered by Lothar Matthaus, soon joined Italy on three world titles after pipping Diego Maradona's Argentina 1-0 in the final.
Mexican referee Edgardo Codesal gave a hotly-disputed penalty, and Andreas Brehme converted from the spot to make the Kaiser the first of two Europeans who won the World Cup both as player and manager.
Following another eight years, hosts France, under manager Aime Jacquet, won the World Cup for the first time, after outclassing Brazil 3-0 in the final.
Didier Deschamps captained Les Bleus to glory, and later repeated the trick as manager 20 years later, joining Beckenbauer in the elite list.
In 2006, Italy bagged fourth world title in Germany after their preparation was marred by the Calciopoli scandal.
Marcello Lippi's Italy, captained by Fabio Cannavaro, beat France 5-3 on penalties after the score was locked at 1-1 following extra time.
This was only the second time – after 1994 – that a World Cup final was decided by spotkicks.
Spain's golden generation then won the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 as Vicente del Bosque's charges defeated the Dutch 1-0 after extra time in the final.
Captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas only conceded two goals, while his teammates scored eight in seven games.
Joachim Low's Germany in 2014 became the second European team with four world titles after Philipp Lahm and Co beat Lionel Messi's Argentina 1-0 in the final.
Brazil became the fifth country to host the World Cup twice after Mexico (1970, 1986), Italy (1934, 1990), France (1938, 1998) and Germany (1974, 2006).
And finally, in 2018, coach Deschamps steered his disciples to victory in Russia as skipper Hugo Lloris and his teammates prevailed 4-2 in the final against Croatia.
