Spain are world champions again, and a video game called it weeks ago. The EA Sports FC World Cup prediction backed Spain to lift the trophy back in early June, before a single ball had been kicked. On July 19, 2026, Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time at MetLife Stadium to make it come true. That is five World Cups in a row where EA’s simulation has named the eventual winner.
What the EA Sports FC World Cup prediction got right
EA ran the tournament through EA Sports FC 26 using its The World’s Game mode. Since EA lost the official FIFA licence in 2023, there is no branded World Cup mode any more, so the studio built its own version of the bracket. The simulation was not a single playthrough either. EA ran the tournament hundreds of times and took the most common outcome, using its own player database and ratings.
It picked Spain to win. More impressively, it also called the exact final, putting Spain against Argentina. That is a much rarer hit than simply naming the champion, because the runner-up is usually where these simulations fall apart. The real final was a grind, too. The game stayed goalless for 90 minutes, Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez was sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow, and substitute Ferran Torres finally settled it in the 106th minute in front of 80,663 fans. It is Spain’s second World Cup after 2010.
What it got wrong
The simulation was not flawless. It tipped Lamine Yamal to win the Golden Boot, and that went to France’s Kylian Mbappe instead, who finished the tournament with 10 goals and became the first player to win the award twice. EA also never published a predicted scoreline, so nobody can claim it nailed the 1-0. History is less kind as well. In 2014 the simulation completely missed Brazil’s 7-1 collapse, and picking the correct runner-up has usually been beyond it.
The streak, and a reality check
The run now covers five tournaments and spans a rebrand. The series correctly called Spain in 2010, Germany in 2014, France in 2018 and Argentina in 2022 under the FIFA name, then Spain again in 2026 as EA Sports FC. The last real miss was 2006, when the simulation backed the Czech Republic, who did not even survive the group stage. Italy won that year.
Before anyone calls it magic, though, a little perspective helps. Spain went into this World Cup as reigning European champions and heavy favourites, so the simulation essentially backed the obvious pick. EA’s other sports predictions are far shakier, too. Its Super Bowl simulation has landed only 8 times in 15 attempts, and its Stanley Cup version has reportedly never once got it right. The football streak looks like the exception rather than the rule. For a very different spin on the sport, our football game coverage is worth a look.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2026 World Cup? Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time on July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium, with Ferran Torres scoring in the 106th minute.
Did EA Sports FC predict it correctly? Yes. EA Sports FC 26 picked Spain in early June and also correctly predicted the Spain against Argentina final.
How many World Cups has EA predicted in a row? Five, covering 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026. Its last miss was 2006.
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