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Last-Caterpillar-112 t1_iy5xhe0 wrote

So there’s no country in the world that did not at least try to qualify. Cementing soccer’s status as the only universal sport.

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GeerJonezzz t1_iy5zaa6 wrote

I mean, you have to consider that some countries really don’t have much in the way of money, talent, or care for football and they maybe fielding what’s essentially a pick-up squad.

Otherwise, is it really that surprising? It’s been this way for decades bro.

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ThePevster t1_iy69vpv wrote

The Marshall Islands and Nauru do not have FIFA-affiliated national teams, so there are two UN member states that did not attempt to qualify. The only country with no FIBA-affiliated basketball team is Liechtenstein, so basketball is more universal than soccer by your metric. Something like track and field may be even more universal, but I’m not sure.

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