There are 15 consecutive days during this World Cup that feature a player born in Paris. The 57 players from Île-de-France (pop:12.3m) could fill two full squads. Our models show a Paris-born team would be the 7th-best at the tournament, between Brazil (213m) and the Netherlands (18m). 

Among the world’s top-5000 players, Paris and London hold $4.2bn in market value – more than Barcelona, Madrid, São Paulo, Rio and Buenos Aires combined. 

Underappreciated hotspots deserve attention too: Abidjan ranks #13 globally for current market value. Or undervalued: Dakar has produced more players than Abidjan, but with half the market value. 

Footballers have never been so expensive. Clubs are therefore looking further, wider and younger for talent. Understanding the quantity and quality of potential talent in different parts of the world, and executing a talent strategy based on this, could be the competitive edge of the 2030s.