Opta Supercomputer Names the Main Favorite for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The Opta statistics platform’s supercomputer has released its latest predictions regarding the chances of national teams winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to calculations conducted by artificial intelligence, the team with the highest probability of winning the tournament is the Spain national football team. The supercomputer estimates its chances of becoming world champion at 16 percent.
The France national football team is also among the top three contenders, with a 12.9 percent chance of winning the title. In third place is the England national football team, whose championship probability is estimated at 10.8 percent.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest tournament in football history. For the first time, 48 national teams will participate in the final stage of the competition. A total of 104 matches will be played throughout the tournament.
The participating teams will be divided into 12 groups of four teams each. The host nations — United States, Canada, and Mexico — automatically qualified for the final tournament without taking part in the qualification process. The remaining 45 teams secured their places through the qualifying competitions.
The group stage will take place from June 11 to June 27. During this phase, teams will compete in a round-robin format, with each national team playing three matches.
The knockout stage will feature the top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, all of whom will continue their quest for the world title.
