German economist, Joachim Klement, who successfully forecasted the champions of the last three World Cups, has now unveiled his predictions for the 2026 tournament.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to commence in a week, with football legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo preparing for their unprecedented sixth participation in the event.
Argentina emerged as champions in the last edition held in Qatar in 2022 and will compete against Algeria, Austria, and Jordan in Group J this time. Meanwhile, Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, will face DR Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia in Group K.
Should Argentina and Portugal secure victories in their respective groups and advance through the initial two knockout rounds, they are anticipated to meet in the quarter-finals.
Klement’s algorithm indicates that both Argentina and Portugal will qualify for the knockout stages as group leaders. Consequently, in the round of 32, Portugal is projected to confront Ivory Coast, while Argentina is expected to compete against Uruguay, with both teams likely to emerge victorious once again.
In the round of 16, the German economist predicts Argentina will triumph over Turkey, courtesy of a goal from Lionel Messi. However, Klement asserts that Portugal will only prevail against Switzerland in that round if Cristiano Ronaldo is not included in the starting lineup.
With both teams anticipated to clash in the quarter-finals, Klement forecasts that Portugal will defeat Argentina in extra time, allowing them to advance to the semi-finals.
The algorithm further suggests that Portugal will overcome England in the semi-finals but will ultimately fall short against the unexpected champions, the Netherlands, in the final.
Klement’s 20-page report contains numerous intriguing predictions. Unlike other forecasts that depend solely on athletic performance, this model integrates statistical, economic, and demographic factors to assess the probabilities of success.