Clement’s predictions received widespread attention due to his impressive record; His mathematical model succeeded in accurately predicting that Germany would win the 2014 edition in Brazil, France would win the 2018 edition in Russia, and Argentina would win the 2022 edition in Qatar.
According to the website of the Spanish newspaper “Marca”, Clement’s sporting model in the 2026 edition indicates an unprecedented final confrontation between the Netherlands and Portugal, which means the crowning of a new champion for the first time in the history of the World Cup, as neither party has ever won the title.
According to the report, the Netherlands’ path to the podium will not be easy; It includes fiery elimination confrontations against Morocco, then France, then Spain, before clashing with Portugal in the final match.
The forecasting system that Clement invented in 2014 relies on integrating economic, demographic, climatic, and mathematical variables. Such as per capita GDP, population, the country’s football traditions, average temperatures, the advantage of the host country, and the world rankings issued by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).
In addition to these criteria, the model places great weight on the “luck” element, as the report believes that the decision in the knockout rounds depends 45 percent on luck and coincidence.
This expectation comes to restore hope to the Dutch fans after three finals that the “Mills” lost in 1974, 1978 and 2010, despite presenting them to historical generations that included legends such as Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, and Arjen Robben.
