The remarkable prediction engine is four out of four. There is every likelihood they get it right a fifth time
EA Sports have predicted that Spain will win the 2026 World Cup and it is hard to argue with their prediction.
First of all, they are on a streak, having got each of the past four winners correct. They predicted in 2010 that Spain would win the tournament and were proved correct. They also correctly predicted Germany and France as winner in 2014 and 2018, respectively. And in 2022, they predicted that Argentina would win the World Cup. Again, they were proved correct.
How do EA Sports do it? Using the World Cup mode in the game, they simulate the entire competition, including all 104 matches in the expanded 48-team format.
But beyond the technical details, Spain do appear better equipped than nearly all other teams. They are the best Spanish side since the generation that dominated international football between 2008 and 2012, winning the World Cup once and the Euros twice in that time.
This Spain team won Euro 2024, defeating France in the semi-finals and England in the final. Lamine Yamal won the best goal of the tournament and finished with the highest assists. Dani Olmo was one of the winners of the golden boot.
There is quality throughout Luis de la Fuente’s squad. In goal, Unai Simon may be the preferred choice, but that will be some decision given that his competition is Arsenal’s David Raya and Barcelona’s Joan Garcia, both performing at an incredibly high level. The fact that a Premier League-winning goalkeeper and Champions League finalist could begin the tournament on the bench says a lot about the quality in the squad.
But Spain’s midfield is even stronger. Rodri, Pedri and Fabian Ruiz have been called up, with enough technical quality to match Portugal’s genius-level trio, although injuries have limited Rodri and Ruiz. If those two are not at their best, Martin Zubimendi and Gavi are waiting on the sidelines, to say nothing of Olmo.
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Spain will dominate possession against any team but their hot flanks prevents their game from becoming sterile. Lamine Yamal on the right will be one of the most closely watched footballers at the tournament. The Barcelona winger could be found near the epicentre of attraction in Euro 2024, his first senior international tournament. Look for him around the same area in his first World Cup.
On the left Nico Williams also provides pace and direct running. If Williams is rested, one of the more intriguing names in the squad is Víctor Munoz. The 22-year-old earned a surprise call-up after a breakthrough season with Osasuna and is now wanted by Barcelona and Real Madrid. He also has the speed and willingness to run behind defences.
Then there is Mikel Oyarzabal, Spain’s reliable central player and goalscorer whose movement and finishing have repeatedly delivered in major matches. He is in fact one of the best players in Spain’s squad, even if he is underrated.
Can EA Sports get their prediction correct for a fifth time. That remains to be seen, but Spain certainly have the quality to deliver.
“Do we think we’re favourites? Yes,” said coach De la Fuente. “Can we win the World Cup? Yes. But that doesn’t guarantee anything.”
