AI predicts France will win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, defeating Argentina in the final on July 19, with England reaching the semi-finals and Portugal exiting in the quarter-finals. Picture: Google Gemini
Image: Google Gemini
If you have faith in the predictive ability of Artificial Intelligence (AI), you might want to put your money on France to win the FIFA World Cup.
According to ActionNetwork.com, which used a sophisticated AI model to simulate the tournament, France are the favourites to lift the trophy at the 2026 edition.
The tournament begins on June 11, with Bafana Bafana taking on co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca in a 9pm SA time kick-off.
It’s a rematch of the 2010 FIFA World Cup opener when South Africa were the hosts. On that occasion, Bafana took a spectacular lead through a Siphiwe Tshabalala wonder strike, only to be forced to settle for a draw after Mexico equalised 11 minutes from time. Bafana, however, won’t feature in the business end of the competition according to Action Network’s predictions, as they will presumably exit the tournament either in the group stage or Round of 32.
AI predicts France will win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, defeating Argentina in the final on July 19, with England reaching the semi-finals and Portugal exiting in the quarter-finals. Picture: Action Network
Image: Action Network
Instead, the AI model forecasts that France will beat Argentina in the final on July 19.
Argentina, of course, are the defending champions, while France lifted the trophy in 2018.
Perennial underachievers England are also predicted to reach the semi-finals, but will bow out to Argentina.
Meanwhile, Portugal, who many consider among the favourites, are tipped to crash out in the quarter-finals when they come up against Argentina.
The defending champions are also forecast to see off tournament co-hosts USA in the Round of 16.
On the other side of the draw, Germany will be stopped in their tracks by France in the Round of 16. France will then overcome the Netherlands in the quarter-finals before ousting Spain in the semi-finals on their way to the final.