China is the world’s most populous nation, with 1.38 billion people.

India is second, at 1.28 billion.

The U.S. is third, at 325 million.

Indonesia is fourth, at 260 million.

Further down the list, Pakistan is No. 6 with 203 million and Bangladesh is No. 8 with 158 million.

Q: And what do those six countries have in common, when it comes to soccer?

A: None will play in the 2018 World Cup.

Six of the world’s eight most-populous countries, homes to 3.6 billion people — more than half the planet’s population — and all six are sitting out Russia 2018.

“Mostly as usual,” we could add. India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Bangladesh have never played in a World Cup and, historically, have been ousted quickly in qualifying. China has played in exactly one World Cup, in 2002, and did not score a goal.

The U.S. had made the previous seven World Cups.

The Fifa world rankings, as of September 14, for those six: U.S. 28, China 62, India 107, Indonesia 116, Bangladesh 196, Pakistan 200.

Pakistan and Bangladesh are nearly touching bottom; Fifa has 211 members.

So, what are the problems?

China loves soccer and seems genuinely embarrassed at its difficulties in the sport but it can’t seem to find 11 guys who can play — despite pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into the effort.

India, Pakistan and Bangladesh have varieties of the same issues: Their sports scene is dominated by cricket. Interest in local soccer leagues, which are weak, is highly limited — though some of their people are interested in the big European clubs and will watch them on TV or buy merchandise.

Indonesia? It is a martial arts and badminton country. No, really. Soccer probably comes next, but it’s a long way back.

Soccer is of such limited interest in both Indonesia and Pakistan that their national associations recently have been suspended by Fifa. Indonesia was banned for nearly two years till May 2016; Pakistan was banned this week. In both cases, Fifa cited government interference with the local football associations.

The U.S. certainly has interest in soccer, though American football, basketball and baseball remain far out in front of it.

Since the World Cup-ending defeat of the U.S. at Trinidad & Tobago yesterday, more than a few media outlets have written about what a blow it is to Fifa and Fox, which owns the U.S. broadcast rights to Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, that the U.S. is not going to Russia 2018.

Lots of big advertisers based in the U.S., lots of fans, too, which could hurt ratings and advertising numbers. But it seems unlikely it will damage the growth of the sport to any degree. It got where it is now with very small contributions from the big-population parts of the world.

The exceptions to the world’s top eight most populous countries, when it comes to playing in the World Cup?

That would be No.5 Brazil, with 207 million people and the top ranking in Fifa, and Nigeria, No. 7 in population, at 191 million, and No 44 in the Fifa rankings.

So having lots and lots of people is not necessarily a hurdle to the World Cup. Preferring cricket or badminton to football, however, is.