The Economics of Sport
  • Sports Economics
  • About
  • Workshop
  • Media
  • Selected Publications
  • Book Reviews
  • A Primer on Gaelic Games
  • Upcoming Events
  • Education
  • Resources & Links
  • Data

Population & Points Total - 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)

15/11/2017

 
By David Butler

Earlier this week the Economist newspaper told the now quite well-known story behind the rise of Iceland. The article is called “How Iceland (population: 330,000) qualified for the World Cup”. In short, it’s a story of investment and good organisation. Pouring resources into infrastructure such as artificial surfaces for schools and upskilling coaches, coupled with some savvy tactics, has steered Iceland to another major international competition.

The population figure stood out the most for me. With that in mind, I plotted the relationship between male population levels (log) for UEFA entrants and the amount of points earned over the 2018 UEFA World Cup Qualification phase.
​
The graph considers 53 entrants from the UEFA confederation. The population data was accessed from Eurostat and official labour market statistics for the individual UK countries. The population figures represents the male population level for 2016. 
Picture
I've included some flags on the map to give an indication of some of the countries. Germany has the highest possible pool to select from (40,514,123) and has also scored the highest of points this campaign – 30. Having access to a big pool and high levels of investment usually translates to success.

As for ourselves, Ireland totalled 19 points from a population of 2,335,733 males. Northern Ireland, also reached 19 points with just a population of 232,804 – that’s not far behind Iceland.

You’d have to be worried for the minnows that failed to earn a point. San Marino, Liechtenstein and Gibraltar will probably always struggle, saving a significant population growth; they select a squad from a pool of under 20,000 men.  
For Iceland, Eurostat reports a male population figure of 167,270. For a 23-man World Cup squad, approximately one in every 7,000 Icelander has a chance of making it! Population is clearly important but the Iceland story reminds us that this is not an iron relationship. 

Comments are closed.

    Archives

    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    About

    This website was founded in July 2013.

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    American Football
    Athletics
    Baseball
    Basketball
    Behavioural Economics
    Boxing
    Broadcasting
    Competitive Balance
    Cricket
    Cycling
    Darts
    David Butler
    Declan Jordan
    Drugs
    Ed Valentine
    Epl
    Expenditure
    F1
    Fifa World Cup
    Finances
    Funding
    Gaa
    Gaelic Games
    Gambling
    Game Theory
    Gary Burns
    Geography
    Golf
    Greyhound Racing
    Guest Posts
    Horse Racing
    Impact Studies
    John Considine
    John Eakins
    League Of Ireland
    Location
    Media
    Mls
    Mma
    Olympics
    Participation
    Paul O'Sullivan
    Premier League
    Regulation
    Research
    Robbie Butler
    Rugby
    Simpsonomics
    Snooker
    Soccer
    Spatial Analysis
    Sporting Bodies
    Stephen Brosnan
    Swimming
    Taxation
    Teaching
    Technology
    Tennis
    Transfers
    Uefa
    Ufc
    World Cup
    Wwe

Related

The website is not formally affiliated to any institution and all of the entries represent the personal views and opinions of an individual contributor. The website operates on a not-for-profit basis. For this reason we decline all advertisement opportunities. 

Contact

To contact us email sportseconomics2013@gmail.com or find us on Twitter @SportEcon.