EA Sports FC simulations correctly predicted the FIFA World Cup winner would be Spain, and it’s not the first time it has happened

Eurogamer ·

Spain Spain 1
FIFA WC26 1-0 Finished
Argentina Argentina 0
Key moments
  1. 41'
    Yellow card Lisandro MARTINEZ (Argentina) is booked by
  2. 52'
    Yellow card Leandro PAREDES (Argentina) is booked by
  3. 82'
    Yellow card Enzo FERNANDEZ (Argentina) is booked by
  4. 90'+2'
    Yellow card Cristian ROMERO (Argentina) is booked by
  5. 90'+3'
    Red card Enzo FERNANDEZ (Argentina) is booked for
  6. 105'
    Yellow card Lionel SCALONI (Argentina) is booked by
  7. 106'
    Goal Ferran TORRES (Spain) scores!!
  8. 111'
    Yellow card Alexis MAC ALLISTER (Argentina) is booked
Squads
Spain squad
  • Selected
  • 8 Fabian RUIZ Midfielder
  • 10 Dani OLMO Forward
  • 12 Pedro PORRO Defender
  • 14 Aymeric LAPORTE Defender
  • 15 Alex BAENA Midfielder
  • 16 RODRI C Midfielder
  • 19 Lamine YAMAL Forward
  • 21 Mikel OYARZABAL Forward
  • 22 Pau CUBARSI Defender
  • 23 Unai SIMON Goalkeeper
  • 24 Marc CUCURELLA Defender
  • 1 David RAYA Goalkeeper
  • 2 Marc PUBILL Defender
  • 3 Alex GRIMALDO Defender
  • 4 Eric GARCIA Defender
  • 5 Marcos LLORENTE Defender
  • 6 Mikel MERINO Midfielder
  • 7 Ferran TORRES Forward
  • 9 GAVI Midfielder
  • 11 Yeremy PINO Forward
  • 13 Joan GARCIA Goalkeeper
  • 17 Nico WILLIAMS Forward
  • 18 Martin ZUBIMENDI Midfielder
  • 20 PEDRI Midfielder
  • 25 Victor MUNOZ Forward
  • 26 Borja IGLESIAS Forward
Argentina squad
  • Selected
  • 3 Nicolas TAGLIAFICO Defender
  • 4 Gonzalo MONTIEL Defender
  • 6 Lisandro MARTINEZ Defender
  • 7 Rodrigo DE PAUL Midfielder
  • 9 Julian ALVAREZ Forward
  • 10 Lionel MESSI C Forward
  • 13 Cristian ROMERO Defender
  • 15 Nico GONZALEZ Midfielder
  • 20 Alexis MAC ALLISTER Midfielder
  • 23 Emiliano MARTINEZ Goalkeeper
  • 24 Enzo FERNANDEZ Midfielder
  • 1 Juan MUSSO Goalkeeper
  • 2 Marcos SENESI Defender
  • 5 Leandro PAREDES Midfielder
  • 8 Valentin BARCO Midfielder
  • 11 Giovani Lo Celso Midfielder
  • 12 Geronimo RULLI Goalkeeper
  • 14 Exequiel PALACIOS Midfielder
  • 16 Thiago ALMADA Forward
  • 17 Giuliano SIMEONE Forward
  • 18 Nico PAZ Forward
  • 19 Nicolas OTAMENDI Defender
  • 21 Jose Manuel LOPEZ Forward
  • 22 Lautaro MARTINEZ Forward
  • 25 Facundo MEDINA Defender
  • 26 Nahuel MOLINA Defender

Spain claimed the FIFA World Cup title with a 1-0 victory over Argentina, a result that matched predictions from EA Sports FC's simulation models released in early June. The game developer had modelled every group stage and knockout round match before the tournament, successfully forecasting Spain as the ultimate winner.

This marks the fifth consecutive accurate World Cup prediction for EA Sports FC, following correct forecasts for Argentina in 2022, France in 2018, Germany in 2014, and Spain in 2010. Despite losing its official FIFA license years earlier due to licensing fee disagreements, EA maintains tournament simulation features within EA Sports FC 26 and mobile versions, where Spain's championship run has been simulated over 11 million times by players.

In short

  • Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup 1-0 against Argentina, correctly predicted by EA Sports FC's tournament simulations
  • EA's forecasting system has now accurately selected five consecutive World Cup champions since 2010
  • EA continues tournament simulations despite losing official FIFA licensing over fee disputes

Europe

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