7 teams predicted by AI to win the World Cup

Predictions based on artificial intelligence models have revealed that the Spanish national team tops the list of favourites to win the 2026 World Cup, according to a report in Marca citing data from Opta, a website specialising in sports statistics.

The calculations show that the Spanish national team tops the list of favourites with a probability of around 17%, ahead of the world’s leading footballing powers, in an indicator that reflects the development of the technical project led by a young generation that has been performing impressively in recent times.

According to the same predictions, the French national team came second with 14.1%, despite being considered one of the traditional favourites for the title, given their technical stability and a squad of stars capable of making a difference. England came third with 11.8%, ahead of the 2022 World Cup holders Argentina, who received 8.7% of the vote.

Germany came fifth with 7.1%, ahead of Portugal (6.6%) and Brazil (5.6%), in a ranking that reflects the closeness of the competition among the top teams.

This prediction is based on a number of factors, most notably the great balance in the Spanish squad, the strength of the midfield, and the technical stability the team enjoys, all of which enhance its readiness to tackle the tournament with great confidence.

Nevertheless, these predictions remain merely statistical projections, given the nature of World Cup tournaments, which do not always adhere to theoretical standards, where small details and decisive moments play a major role in determining the identity of the champion, amidst anticipation of fierce competition in the 2026 edition, with rising ambitions and the narrowing gap in capabilities between the major teams.

Featured image via the Canary