World Cup Semi-Finalists by Region

I think it's interesting that the 2009 U20 World Cup has a representative from four different regions in the semi-finals (it happened at the '89, '93, '99 U20's also). It gave me the idea for this post, where I've broken down the regions of the semi-finalists in all of the knockout stage format World Cups and all of the U20 World Cups since that tournament began in 1977.


WORLD CUP SEMI-FINALISTS

2006
4 - Europe (Germany, Italy, Portugal, France)

2002
2 - Europe (Germany, Turkey)
1 - Asia (Korea Republic)
1 - South America (Brazil)

1998
3 - Europe (Croatia, Netherlands, France)
1 - South America (Brazil)

1994
3 - Europe (Sweden, Bulgaria, Italy)
1 - South America (Brazil)

1990
3 - Europe (Italy, Germany, England)
1 - South America (Argentina)

1986
3 - Europe (France, Germany, Belgium)
1 - South America (Argentina)

1982
4 - Europe (Poland, Italy, Germany, France)

1970
2 - Europe (Italy, West Germany)
2 - South America (Brazil, Uruguay)

1966
4 - Europe (England, Portugal, USSR, West Germany)

1962
2 - Europe (Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia)
2 - South America (Brazil, Chile)

1958
3 - Europe (France, Sweden, West Germany)
1 - South America (Brazil)

1954
3 - Europe (Austria, Hungary, West Germany)
1 - South America (Uruguay)

1938
3 - Europe (Hungary, Italy, Sweden)
1 - South America (Brazil)

1934
4 - Europe (Austria, Czechoslovakia, Italy, Germany)

1930
2 - South America (Argentina, Uruguay)
1 - CONCACAF (USA)
1 - Europe (Yugoslavia)




U20 WORLD CUP SEMI-FINALISTS

2009
1 - Africa (Ghana)
1 - Europe (Hungary)
1 - South America (Brazil)
1 - CONCACAF (Costa Rica)

2007
2 - Europe (Austria, Czech Republic)
2 - South America (Chile, Argentina)

2005
2 - Africa (Morocco, Nigeria)
2 - South America (Argentina, Brazil)

2003
3 - South America (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia)
1 - Europe (Spain)

2001
2 - Africa (Egypt, Ghana)
2 - South America (Argentina, Paraguay)

1999
1 - Africa (Mali)
1 - Europe (Spain)
1 - South America (Uruguay)
1 - Asia (Japan)

1997
2 - South America (Argentina, Uruguay)
1 - Africa (Ghana)
1 - Europe (Republic of Ireland)

1995
2 - Europe (Portugal, Spain)
2 - South America (Argentina, Brazil)

1993
1 - Africa (Ghana)
1 - Europe (England)
1 - Oceania (Australia)
1 - South America (Brazil)

1991
2 - Europe (Portugal, USSR)
1 - Oceania (Australia)
1 - South America (Brazil)

1989
1 - Africa (Nigeria)
1 - CONCACAF (USA)
1 - Europe (Portugal)
1 - South America (Brazil)

1987
3 - Europe (East Germany, West Germany, Yugoslavia)
1 - South America (Chile)

1985
2 - Europe (Spain, USSR)
1 - Africa (Nigeria)
1 - South America (Brazil)

1983
2 - South America (Argentina, Brazil)
1 - Asia (South Korea)
1 - Europe (Poland)

1981
3 - Europe (England, Romania, West Germany)
1 - Asia (Qatar)

1979
2 - Europe (Poland, USSR)
2 - South America (Argentina, Uruguay)

1977
2 - South America (Brazil, Uruguay)
1 - CONCACAF (Mexico)
1 - Europe (USSR)



Africa has obviously had much more success at the youth level with 7 different semi-finalists in the last 7 U20's.

South Korea's semi-final appearance in Korea/Japan '02 broke the 72 year European/South American stranglehold on the final four of the World Cup.

Argentina and Brazil have been semi-finalists together in the same year 4 different times at the U20's ('83, '95, '03, '05)



I'd like to see a CONCACAF or African (more likely) team sneak into the semis in 2010! The final draw on December 4 will have much to say about that possibility.