The FIFA World Cup remains the pinnacle of international football, awarded once every four years to the best national team on the planet. Its rarity and prestige make it the ultimate prize for players, coaches, and fans alike. Since its inception in 1930, only a handful of nations have lifted the trophy, with England, for example, having celebrated their only victory back in 1966.
Now, an AI-powered supercomputer has predicted the winners of the next 19 World Cups up until the end of the century. The predictions suggest both familiar champions and surprising first-time victors, including an African nation claiming the trophy for the first time.
According to the supercomputer, the 2026 World Cup will see Spain triumph over Argentina in a 2-1 final. Argentina, winners of the 2022 World Cup, are predicted to fall just short of back-to-back glory. Brazil is expected to bounce back in 2030, defeating France 3-1, while France themselves are tipped to claim the 2034 title with a 2-0 victory over Germany. England is projected to win their second World Cup in 2038, edging past Brazil 1-0, finally bringing football “home.” The 2042 tournament sees Nigeria making history, upsetting Argentina 2-1 to become the first African nation to lift the trophy.
The following decade of tournaments brings more surprises. Germany is forecast to claim the 2046 title with a 3-2 win over Spain, followed by Argentina winning again in 2050 against Portugal. The 2054 edition is predicted to see hosts USA triumph over Mexico 2-1, and Japan is set to become the first Asian nation to win in 2058, narrowly defeating France 1-0. Italy rounds out this period in 2062 with a 2-1 victory over Brazil, earning a fifth star for the Azzurri.
Later predictions suggest Morocco will claim glory in 2066, beating England 3-2 on home soil, while Brazil returns to dominance in 2070 with a 4-2 win over Germany. Australia is tipped to upset Spain 2-1 in 2074, Portugal is projected to finally win in 2078 with a 3-2 victory over France, and Senegal is expected to lift the trophy for the first time in 2082, defeating Argentina 1-0.
The final two decades of the century continue the trend of first-time winners and traditional powerhouses. The Netherlands are predicted to win in 2086, beating Italy 3-1. Mexico is forecast to overcome the USA 2-1 in 2090, followed by India winning their first World Cup in 2094 after a penalty shootout against Brazil. Germany closes out the century in 2098 with a 2-0 victory over Portugal, claiming their sixth title.