Sports
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.
A Somali referee, Omar Artan, prevented from entering the United States of America to officiate at the world cup, will not get any help from the world football governing body, FIFA.
FIFA said it could not intervene, stressing that visa and entry decisions rest solely with host governments.
“In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country,” a FIFA spokesperson said.
A spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Artan was denied entry after routine inspection, citing “vetting concerns.”
The Somali government expressed “deep regret” over his exclusion, saying Artan “represents the very best of Somali talent.”
The controversy comes as the expanded FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup prepares to begin under heightened political tensions.
said the “biggest dream of my life” was taken away after he was denied entry into the United States to officiate at the FIFA World Cup, following what authorities described as vetting concerns.
Artan, who was named Referee of the Year in 2025 by the Confederation of African Football, has since been removed from FIFA’s list of tournament officials after he was refused entry on arrival in Miami on Saturday.
The decision comes amid broader immigration restrictions linked to travel bans introduced under the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump, which include Somalia among several affected countries.
A U.S. State Department United States Department of State official told AFP that Artan was considered “associated with suspected members of terrorist organizations,” a claim that rendered him “inadmissible” under U.S. entry rules.
Following an 11-hour interview with border officials in Miami ,Miami, Artan said he was moved to a holding facility before being placed on a flight back to Istanbul.
“I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream… to come to the World Cup,” he told The New York Times The New York Times in a phone interview, adding that he had valid documen
tation and a visa.
A Somali referee, Omar Artan, has said the “biggest dream of my life” was taken away after he was denied entry into the United States to officiate at the FIFA World Cup, following what authorities described as vetting concerns.
Artan, who was named Referee of the Year in 2025 by the Confederation of African Football Confederation of African Football, has since been removed from FIFA’s list of tournament officials after he was refused entry on arrival in Miami on Saturday.
The decision comes amid broader immigration restrictions linked to travel bans introduced under the administration of the U.S. President Donald Trump Donald Trump, which include Somalia among several affected countries.
A U.S. State Department United States Department of State official told AFP that Artan was considered “associated with suspected members of terrorist organizations,” a claim that rendered him “inadmissible” under U.S. entry rules.
Following an 11-hour interview with border officials in Miami Miami, Artan said he was moved to a holding facility before being placed on a flight back to Istanbul.
“I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream… to come to the World Cup,” he told The New York Times The New York Times in a phone interview, adding that he had valid documentation and a visa.
FIFA said it could not intervene, stressing that visa and entry decisions rest solely with host governments.
“In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country,” a FIFA spokesperson said.
A spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Artan was denied entry after routine inspection, citing “vetting concerns.”
The Somali government expressed “deep regret” over his exclusion, saying Artan “represents the very best of Somali talent.”
The controversy comes as the expanded FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup prepares to begin under heightened political tensions.
Iran, one of the participating teams, has reportedly faced logistical disruptions, including changes to training arrangements and visa issues affecting staff and supporters, according
to football authorities.
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