World Cup Prediction Challenge

The World Cup often surprises with unexpected outcomes. Unlike other tournaments like March Madness or the College Football Playoffs, it has a history of underdog victories. For example, in 2022, Saudi Arabia surprised everyone by defeating the eventual champions Argentina in a group stage match. Similarly, in 2002, Senegal’s victory over the reigning champions France was significant, especially for Senegal’s fans given the historical context of French colonial rule. In the same tournament, co-host South Korea defeated Italy with a ‘golden goal’ in extra time, propelling them to the semi-finals.

Given these unpredictable results, predicting outcomes at the World Cup can be challenging. Despite this, inspired by our Premier League predictions series, we are excited to bring back predictions for every World Cup matchday. Throughout the tournament, Andy Jones and I, Elias Burke, will share insights to help you grasp who to watch and what to expect. We will predict game results and highlight players to follow, the significance of each game, and the difficulty in making accurate predictions.

During the Premier League season, Andy provides coverage of Liverpool, enriching his knowledge of elite-level winning strategies. I cover Tottenham Hotspur, dealing with more defeats. Together, we have delved into international football. Our combined expertise helps prepare us for this challenge.

Expect fierce competition from The Athletic’s subscribers, who are eager to test their predictions against ours. This year, we add young Wilf, a six-year-old who finished impressively in the Premier League predictions, and ‘Algo’, an algorithm making its debut for the 2026 World Cup. Plus, Stanley, a one-year-old whippet, will make his predictions debut.

The series follows a format similar to the Premier League run by Oli but with a World Cup twist. We predict outcomes for each World Cup matchday from June 11, with Mexico versus South Africa in Mexico City, culminating in the final on July 19. Instead of exact scorelines, we predict the winner or a draw. Our leaderboard ranks predictions by the percentage of correct outcomes, and we track streaks of correct guesses as well.

The Athletic also offers an interactive Soccer Pick’ems feature, allowing you to participate each round. We provide insights from experts representing each of the 48 nations competing, to enhance your understanding of team form and talent. Despite any recent lack of exposure to international football, you will find ample context to enjoy the World Cup.

Remember, the World Cup is renowned for delivering upsets that challenge even the most confident predictions. Our goal, alongside beating our competitors, is to outsmart the algorithm. Enjoy the challenge and good luck!