Brazil 2014: 76.5% of World Cup players belong to European clubs (ECA study)

Out of the 736 players (32 teams of 23 players) in the 2014 World Cup (06/12/2014 to 13/07/2014), 563 players (76.5%) play in European clubs, according to the "ECA Player Release Analysis" published by the European Club Association (ECA) on 10/06/2014.

"The clubs are the roots of football and invest a lot of time, effort and money into players' development -- both on and off the pitch. With more than 75% of these players being registered with European clubs, the figures highlight the great contribution European club football makes to the success of the World Cup," wrote Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the president of ECA, in the document's introduction.

The study analyses the number and origin of the clubs who have players involved in the competition. It also provides an analysis by club, federation and confederation, and a comparison with the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Bayern Munich and Manchester United are the most represented clubs

• Bayern Munich (Bundesliga) and Manchester United (Premier League) have the largest number of players involved in the competition, with 14 players…