German economist Joachim Clement has revealed his prediction for the winner of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to Oxu.Az, citing Der Spiegel, the expert believes the Netherlands national team will succeed in the upcoming World Cup. His forecast suggests the Dutch will defeat Portugal in the final.
Clement previously correctly predicted the winners of the 2014 World Cup (Germany), 2018 (France), and 2022 (Argentina).
"When Germany became world champions in Brazil, I was shocked for the first time. Because all experts said no European team had ever won a World Cup in South America... It's completely irrational. It's like playing the lottery. I always say that if someone bets based on my prediction for the next world champion, they can no longer be helped," Clement said.
The economist's model considers several key indicators: GDP per capita (as a factor affecting sports infrastructure), population size, the status of football in society, the national team's world ranking position, as well as indicators representing the "success" factor.
