In every edition of the World Cup, there are many expectations about the identity of the champion. But a new prediction receives special attention, because it was issued by a German mathematician who succeeded in determining the champion of the last three editions of the tournament.








According to a report on the “UNILAD” website, translated by:Lebanon24Joachim Clement, who previously predicted that Germany would win the World Cup in 2014, then France in 2018, and Argentina in 2022, this time chose the Netherlands to win the 2026 World Cup.

It is noteworthy that the Netherlands is not among the most prominent traditional candidates for the title, nor has it won the World Cup in its history, despite reaching the final 3 times previously.
According to the report, Clement relies on an economic model, not just mathematical impressions, in his predictions. This model takes into account several factors, including the country’s population, climate, level of wealth and infrastructure capable of developing talent, in addition to the team’s classification in FIFA.

The report continued: “Clement says that the rise in population gives the country a wider base for discovering talent, while the appropriate climate helps to practice football throughout the year. As for the economic factor, it is linked to the ability of countries to invest in the sports infrastructure and develop players. Although major teams such as Brazil, Argentina, Germany, France and Spain always remain close to the lead in such models, Clement believes that the Netherlands has enough to surprise. He explained that the Dutch national team, despite the absence of a global star the size of Lionel Messi, for example, does not have clear weaknesses, and has a strong defense. And collective balance, which are elements that may give him the opportunity to go far in the tournament.”

The report added: “But Clement’s prediction is not the only one. Researchers from the University of Innsbruck presented a different reading, based on the results of previous teams, the odds of betting companies, the market value, and player evaluations. According to this model, Spain came out on top with a percentage of 14.5% to win the title, followed by England and France with a percentage of 12.4% each.”

The report concluded: “Between one prediction that puts the Netherlands on the path to the title, and another that gives preference to Spain, the 2026 World Cup remains open to all possibilities, especially in an expanded version that will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and includes 48 teams.”