SOCCER STRONGHOLDS

The Friday File: Uruguay produces more top soccer players/capita than any nation at 11.3, then Croatia 4.81, Netherlands 4.58, and Argentina 3.82. After accounting for GDP based on PPP, Europe but especially LatAm massively outperforms. Partly it’s because Europe/LatAm have been playing soccer longer than others. LatAm so outperforms because they generally excel at no other team sports, and LatAm was quickly urbanizing when soccer arrived (1910-1920). Climate may help.