Computer reveals winner of 2026 FIFA World Cup

As the world gets set for this year’s mundial, an Opta’s supercomputer had made its early predictions on how the 2026 FIFA World Cup would pan out after all the 48 participants were confirmed.

Spain and France are among the early favourites for the 2026 World Cup. Photo by David Aliaga/Michael Owens. Source: Getty Images

Spain and France are among the early favourites for the 2026 World Cup. Photo by David Aliaga/Michael Owens. Source: Getty Images

It will be the first expanded tournament, four years after Lionel Messi ‘completed football’ by winning the cup with Argentina in Qatar.

The world is now bracing for another month-long competition where the top nations will battle it out for the biggest prize in football.

There will be no shortage of talent at the tournament after all the big hitters, save for the likes of Italy and Nigeria, qualified for the tournament.

Opta ran its first simulation last year, shortly before the group stage draw was done and backed Spain to win the title with a 17% chance. Spain head to North America as the European champions and possess the most exciting teenager in Lamine Yamal.

La Roja, who haven’t lost a game in three years, will be in group H alongside Uruguay, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia.

“Everyone likes to be spoken of positively, but we must perform at an almost perfect level to win. We appreciate the recognition, while understanding there are other equally strong teams,” said head coach Luis De La Fuente before the stalemate against Egypt on March 31 via the federation’s website.

Second on Opta’s list is France, who boast of the most potent attack at the tournament, led by Kylian Mbappe. The 2018 champions have been given a 14.1% chance and were grouped alongside the disputed AFCON champions, Senegal, Erling Haaland’s Norway and Iraq.

France have one of the most talented squads in the world. Photo credit: Equipdefrance. Source: Instagram

France have one of the most talented squads in the world. Photo credit: Equipdefrance. Source: Instagram

England are third with 11.8% while defending champions Argentina are fourth with 8.7%. Argentina and Spain were supposed to meet in the Finalissima last month, but it was rescheduled. Record champions Brazil are only seventh on the list behind Germany and Portugal.

Recently awarded AFCON champions Morocco are the top-ranked African nation with a 1.1% chance. The Atlas Lions reached the semi-finals last time out but have since replaced their manager, Walid Regragui.

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Full list of teams that have qualified for World Cup 2026

Meanwhile, we have created the whole list of the teams that have qualified for the 2026 World Cup.

All the 48 teams were confirmed after DR Cogo beat Jamaica in extra-time and Iraq beat Bolivia in the last play-off matches to seal their places.

The 48 teams were drawn into 12 groups of four teams each, where the top two in each group and the next best eight-placed teams will advance to the Round of 32.