Supercomputer Predicts 2026 World Cup in Full

The most prestigious tournament in the football calendar is almost upon us once again, as the United States, Canada and Mexico prepare to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and we’re now closer to finding out which teams will be involved.

The draw for the playoff rounds in March has now been made, which will see the final spots claimed ahead of the summer tournament, with the official World Cup group stage draw taking place on December 5th in Washington.

But Jeffbet have run the numbers through their supercomputer ahead of that to predict the tournament in its entirety, and some stunning results are awaiting us if it turns out to be accurate.

Group Stages

The group stages in the 2026 edition of the World Cup will see 12 groups rather than the traditional eight, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the knockout rounds, alongside the eight best third-placed teams also.

According to the Supercomputer, the 12 group winners will be Senegal, Paraguay, Spain, Switzerland, Croatia, Brazil, Argentina, England, France, Germany, Norway, and Portugal, with Erling Haaland’s side tipped to be the top scorers of this stage with 12 goals in their three games.

They will be joined by Belgium, Morocco, Italy, Mexico, Canada, Iran, United States, Colombia, Uruguay, newcomers Jordan, Netherlands, and Austria as the runners-up, making for an exciting round of 32 stage. It’s also predicted that South Korea, Turkey, Scotland, Panama, Australia, Ivory Coast, Denmark, South Africa, and Egypt will be the sides progressing as the best third-placed teams.

Round of 32

The knockout stages will see a new round on this occasion as a result of the extra teams, and the opening game of the round of 32 will see Croatia take on Turkey, in a game that has been predicted to go to penalties with Zlatko Dalic’s side tipped to get the win.

Kylian Mbappe will be looking to reach a third consecutive final after winning it in 2018 and scoring a hat-trick in the 2022 final defeat to Argentina, and they will get one step closer when they take on Scotland in the first knockout round and claim a 2-0 win. Next, two of the hosts will go head-to-head as Mexico take on Canada, and it’s Jesse Marsch’s team who are being tipped to claim a 2-0 win in this fixture. Fellow hosts the United States are set to crash out though, with Italy tipped to defeat them 2-1.

Five-time champions Brazil are predicted to take on Iran and claim a narrow 1-0 win to progress, before the Netherlands take on fellow Europeans Austria in their round of 32 clash, with Ronald Koeman’s side being tipped for a 2-0 win.

Thomas Tuchel’s England side didn’t concede a goal in qualifying and have been tipped not to concede in the group stages of this tournament too, which will set them up for a game against World Cup newcomers Jordan, where they are expected to claim a dominant 4-0 win.

Denmark and Argentina are also predicted to progress while keeping clean sheets, with the Danes tipped to beat South Korea 1-0, while Lionel Messi’s side will continue their defence of the trophy with a big 3-0 win over Switzerland. Spain will also push on, as the European champions look to become world champions, and they’re tipped to beat Morocco 2-0.

Kevin De Bruyne is likely to be taking part in his final World Cup, and Belgium are tipped to defeat two-time champions Uruguay 2-1 in the last 32, before Senegal and Australia battle to a 1-1 draw, before the Socceroos claim a penalty shootout victory to progress.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s final tournament will see Portugal take on South Africa in their first knockout game, with the Supercomputer predicting a 3-0 win for the Europeans, before Germany claim a hard-fought 2-1 win over South American’s Colombia. The final two games of the stage are expected to see Paraguay defeat Panama 2-0, before Erling Haaland’s Norway dispatch of Mohamed Salah’s Egypt 3-1.

Last 16

The last 16 round is set up to be a very exciting set of fixtures, and we’ll see a rematch from the 2018 World Cup final as Croatia are predicted to take on France. Once again, Les Bleus are tipped to claim the victory on the night, and they will be joined by Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil team, who are predicted to defeat hosts Canada 3-0 in their clash.

The tie of the round looks to be the Netherlands taking on England, and the Three Lions’ impenetrable defence is set to finally be breached with a 2-2 draw in regular time predicted between the sides, before Tuchel’s side claim the win in the penalty shootout.

Reigning champions Argentina are also set to continue as they look to make it back-to-back wins, defeating Denmark 4-2 in what looks to be an exciting match-up, while Spain will continue their dominant form with a 2-0 win over Belgium to reach the quarter-finals. Roberto Martinez’s new side will be in the quarter-finals, however, defeating Australia 3-1 in their match, while Germany are tipped to defeat Italy 2-1 in an exciting game between two heavyweights.

Norway’s first World Cup since 1998 will continue into the quarter-finals, as they are tipped to defeat Paraguay 2-1.

Quarter-Finals

The last eight is expected to feature some of the very best teams in the world, and that should make for some thrilling games.

A repeat of the 1998 final will see France take on Brazil in the first quarter-final, and it’s Didier Deschamps’ outfit who are once again expected to come out on top in a 2-1 win. That would be followed by a crunch clash between England and Argentina, and the computer is predicting a surprise with the current champions expected to crash out of the tournament at the hands of Harry Kane and co. in a 2-0 defeat.

Spain and Portugal will renew their rivalry too, and an exciting 2-2 draw has been predicted to take place, with Bruno Fernandes and co tipped to claim victory in the penalty shootout, while Norway’s fairytale will continue with a stunning penalty shootout win over Germany, to reach their first-ever World Cup semi-final.

Semi-Finals

The semi-finals will see England seek revenge from their 2022 World Cup exit against France, and the supercomputer predicts that they will be successful in that chase, claiming a narrow 1-0 win and reaching the final for the first time since 1966.

In the other semi-final, Portugal will take on Norway, whose stunning story will unfortunately come to an end at the hands of Cristiano Ronaldo’s side, who are predicted to claim a 2-0 win and reach their first-ever World Cup final, in what will be their legendary captain’s final tournament game.

Final

The final has been tipped to once again be a renewal of an old rivalry for England, as they take on Portugal in New York’s Hard Rock Stadium on July 19th.

Both sides will be looking for a historic victory on the day, but according to the numbercrunchers, it’s England who will come out victorious with a 1-0 win on the night, finally breaking their curse in finals after suffering defeat in the last two European Championship finals.

It would be their first World Cup win since 1966 and first major trophy since then too, while manager Tuchel would potentially be signing out as a winner – something Sir Gareth Southgate could never do.

Should this come to fruition, then fans are clearly in for a stunning World Cup tournament, and football could well be coming home in the summer of 2026.

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