India, July 13 -- The 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup is now in its final week. It is also the most inclusive edition in the tournament's history in terms of number of participating teams. But does greater inclusion also mean greater competitiveness? The data suggests otherwise. To be sure, national flags are only one part of football's global story. Players are as mobile as the ball is in the field, representing countries different from where they were born or trained. This is what the second part of this analysis will examine.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Hindustan Times....