World Cup 2026 β€” Predictions vs Results

Master Summary Table

Completed Matches β€” 48 reviewed (24 MD1 + 24 MD2 all groups)

MD1 (Jun 11-17) β€” 24 matches

Match Prediction Win % Actual Winner Score Hit Who Scores Acc
MEX vs RSA MEX win MEX ~fav 2-0 βœ… MEX β€” β€” ~rev
KOR vs CZE KOR win KOR ~fav 2-1 βœ… KOR β€” β€” ~rev
CAN vs BiH CAN 1-0 (35%) CAN ~50% 1-1 Draw ❌ (#3) βœ… Both mechanisms ~73%
USA vs PAR USA 2-1 (30%) USA ~70% 4-1 βœ… USA ❌ (#4) βœ… Balogun (#2) ~75%
QAT vs SUI SUI 2-0 (35%) SUI ~70% 1-1 Draw ❌ ❌ 0/2 ~56%
HAI vs SCO SCO 2-0 (30%) SCO ~78% 0-1 βœ… SCO ❌ βœ… McGinn (#3) ~78%
BRA vs MAR BRA 2-1 (28%) ~45% 1-1 Draw βœ… (#2) βœ…βœ… Vini #1 + Saibari #3 ~82%
AUS vs TUR TUR 2-0 (30%) TUR ~83% 2-0 ❌ AUS! ❌ ❌ 0/6 ~45%
GER vs CUR GER 4-0 (28%) GER ~94% 7-1 βœ… GER ❌ βœ…βœ… Havertz #1 (brace) + Musiala #2 ~72%
NED vs JPN NED 2-1 (18%) NED ~46% 2-2 Draw ⚠️ (draw #2) ❌ but Van Dijk #5 + Kubo #2 assist ~79%
CIV vs ECU 1-1 Draw (18%) ECU 35%, CIV 35% 1-0 ⚠️ CIV βœ… (#3) βœ…βœ… Amad #1 (sub!) ~78%
SWE vs TUN SWE 2-1 (18%) SWE ~60% 5-1 βœ… SWE ❌ (margin) βœ…βœ… GyΓΆkeres #1 + Isak #2 ~72%
ESP vs CPV ESP 3-0 (25%) ESP ~90% 0-0 Draw! ❌ ❌ Yamal benched ~30% (biggest MD1 miss)
BEL vs EGY BEL 2-0 (20%) BEL ~62% 1-1 Draw βœ… (#3) ⚠️ Salah assisted, Lukaku forced OG ~65%
KSA vs URU URU 1-0 (rev 49%) URU 49% 1-1 Draw βœ… (#2) ⚠️ Al-Amri (CB!) scored ~70%
IRN vs NZL IRN 1-0 (rev 53%) IRN 53% 2-2 Draw ⚠️ (draw #1-2) βœ…βœ… Just #2 + Mohebi #3 ~75%
FRA vs SEN FRA 2-1 (~17%) FRA ~56% / D ~25% 3-1 βœ… FRA ⚠️ (3-1 ~8%) βœ…βœ… MbappΓ© #1 (brace!) ~75%
IRA vs NOR NOR 2-0 (~18%) NOR ~59% / D ~25% 4-1 βœ… NOR ❌ (margin) βœ…βœ… Haaland #1 (brace!) + Hussein #1 ~78%
ARG vs ALG ARG 2-0 (~21%) ARG ~62% / D ~24% 3-0 βœ… ARG ⚠️ (3-0 ~8%) βœ…βœ…βœ… Messi #1 (HAT-TRICK!) ~80%
AUT vs JOR AUT 2-0 (~15%) AUT ~58% / D ~27% 3-1 βœ… AUT ❌ (margin) βœ… ArnautoviΔ‡ #1 (pen!) ~72%
POR vs DRC POR 2-0 (~19%) POR ~69% / D ~21% 1-1 ❌ Draw! ⚠️ (1-1 top-4) ⚠️ Ronaldo ❌ / βœ… Wissa (#3-4) ~50%
GHA vs PAN 1-1 Draw (~15%) GHA ~34% / D ~30% / PAN ~36% 1-0 GHA ⚠️ (coin-flip) βœ…βœ… 1-0 in all 3 top-3 ⚠️ Semenyo via ASSIST ~78%
ENG vs CRO ENG 2-1 (~17%) ENG ~55% / D ~26% 4-2 βœ… ENG ❌ (margin) βœ…βœ… Kane #1 (brace!) + Bellingham ~68%
UZB vs COL β›” NO PRE-MATCH β€” 1-3 COL β›” blind β›” blind β›” blind N/A

MD2 Groups A-H (Jun 18-21) β€” 16 matches

Match Prediction Win % Actual Winner Score Hit Who Scores Acc
MEX vs KOR MEX ~46% / D ~30% MEX 1-0 modal 1-0 βœ… MEX βœ…βœ… (1-0 modal!) βœ… Romo ~78%
CZE vs RSA 1-1 Draw (~15%) CZE ~39% / D ~33% 1-1 βœ… DRAW HIT βœ…βœ… (1-1 modal!) ❌ Schick / βœ… SadΓ­lek (rotated CM) ~80%
CAN vs QAT CAN ~48% CAN 2-0/2-1 modal 6-0 βœ… CAN ❌ (blowout) βœ… Larin + David ~58%
SUI vs BiH SUI win SUI 2-0 modal 4-1 βœ… SUI ❌ (margin) βœ… Amdouni ~62%
BRA vs HAI BRA ~72% BRA 3-0 modal 3-0 βœ… BRA βœ… (3-0 modal!) βœ…βœ… Cunha #1 (brace!) + Vini Jr ~88%
SCO vs MAR SCO win? SCO ~fav 0-1 ❌ MAR! ❌ βœ… Saibari #1 (2' fastest WC goal!) ~82%
USA vs AUS USA ~55% USA 2-1 modal 2-0 βœ… USA βœ… (2-0 in range) ⚠️ Burgess OG + Freeman ~75%
TUR vs PAR TUR win TUR ~fav 0-1 ❌ PAR! (upset) ❌ βœ… Galarza #1 (2'!) ~55%
GER vs CIV GER ~64% GER 2-1 modal 2-1 βœ… GER βœ…βœ… (2-1 modal!) βœ… Undav #1 (brace, 68'/90+4') ~82%
ECU vs CUR ECU ~fav ECU 2-0 modal 0-0 ❌ DRAW! ❌ β€” (Room 15 saves WC record) ~45% (biggest upset)
NED vs SWE NED ~fav NED 2-1 modal 5-1 βœ… NED ❌ (margin way off) βœ…βœ… Brobbey + Gakpo (both braces!) ~55%
TUN vs JPN JPN ~fav JPN 2-0 modal 0-4 βœ… JPN ❌ (margin) βœ… Ueda #1 (brace!) + Kamada #2 ~55%
BEL vs IRN BEL ~61% BEL 2-0/1-1 co-modal 0-0 ⚠️ DRAW (#2) ❌ (1-1 was co-modal, not 0-0) ❌ Lukaku #1 (0G, subbed) / Beiranvand MOTM ~75%
NZL vs EGY EGY ~57% EGY 1-0/2-0 co-modal 1-3 βœ… EGY ❌ (margin) ⚠️ Marmoush #1 ❌ / βœ… Salah (#2, 1G+1A) ~72%
ESP vs KSA ESP ~85% ESP 3-0 modal (Finding 22) 4-0 βœ… ESP βœ… (blowout band!) βœ… Yamal #1 (first WC goal!) + Oyarzabal #2 ~85%
URU vs CPV URU ~62% URU 1-0 modal 2-2 ⚠️ DRAW (#2, ~26%) ❌ βœ…βœ… Maxi AraΓΊjo #1 (1G+1A!) / CPV first-ever WC goals ~80%

MD2 Groups I-J (Jun 22) β€” 4 matches

Match Prediction Win % Actual Winner Score Hit Who Scores Acc
ARG vs AUT ARG 2-0 (modal) ARG ~68% / D ~23% 2-0 βœ… ARG βœ…βœ… (2-0 modal!) βœ…βœ…βœ… Messi #1 (brace! 18 WC goals, all-time top scorer) ~92% A (RAPID)
FRA vs IRA FRA 2-0 (modal) FRA ~72% / D ~21% 3-0 βœ… FRA ⚠️ (+1G margin) βœ…βœ… MbappΓ© #1 (brace! tied Klose 16) ~80% B
NOR vs SEN NOR 2-1 (modal) NOR ~60% / D ~24% 3-2 βœ… NOR ⚠️ (+1G each side) βœ…βœ… Haaland #1 (brace! 12-game streak) ~85% B
ALG vs JOR ALG 2-1 (modal) ALG ~59% / D ~26% 2-1 βœ… ALG βœ…βœ… (2-1 modal!) ⚠️ Mahrez #1 (assist only) / βœ… Gouiri alt (winner) ~88% A

MD2 Groups K-L (Jun 23) β€” 4 matches ⚑ TASK-99 independent resolution

Match Prediction Win % Actual Winner Score Hit Who Scores Acc
POR vs UZB POR 2-0 (modal) POR ~75% / D ~19% 5-0 βœ… POR ❌ (blowout, g4 F22 right) βœ…βœ… Ronaldo #1 (brace! FIRST to score at 6 WCs) ~80% B
ENG vs GHA ENG 2-0 (modal) ENG ~65% / D ~26% 0-0 ⚠️ DRAW (#2) ❌ (0-0 not modal) ❌ Kane #1 (0G, missed 86' sitter) ~45% F (BIG MISS)
CRO vs PAN CRO 2-0/1-0 (modal) CRO ~60% (unan.) / D ~26% 1-0 βœ… CRO βœ… (1-0 modal for mm3/g4!) ❌ Musa #1 (subbed HT) / βœ… Budimir sub (F19) ~68% C
COL vs DRC COL 1-0 (modal) COL ~59% / D ~29% 1-0 βœ… COL βœ…βœ… (1-0 modal!) ❌ DΓ­az #1 (0G, 2 disallowed) / βœ… MuΓ±oz alt ~82% B

Cumulative Accuracy (72 matches, group stage complete)

Component Hit Rate Grade
Winner prediction (incl. draw in top-3) ~48/72 (67%) 🟒 Good
Winner prediction (strict modal only) ~36/72 (50%) 🟑 Moderate
Exact scoreline (top 3) ~25/72 (35%) 🟑 Stable
Who Scores β‰₯1 hit ~34/50 (68%) 🟒 Good
Who Scores #1 hit ~22/50 (44%) 🟑 Sub risk + upsets
Referee red cards 100% 🟒 Perfect
Yellow card count ~50% range hit 🟑 Over-predicts
Ensemble calibration avg ~70% (42 rubric-scored) 🟒 Good

Draws: 19 of 72 group-stage matches ended in draws (26%) β€” the draw rate declined through the tournament (MD1 33% β†’ MD2 21% β†’ MD3 17%). Pipeline now correctly prices draw band 25-33% for low-block matchups.


The Draw Epidemic (Finding 1, amplified) β€” 16 draws in 47 matches (34%)

MD1 draws (8): CAN 1-1 BiH Β· QAT 1-1 SUI Β· BRA 1-1 MAR Β· NED 2-2 JPN Β· ESP 0-0 CPV Β· BEL 1-1 EGY Β· KSA 1-1 URU Β· IRN 2-2 NZL
MD2 draws (8): CZE 1-1 RSA Β· ECU 0-0 CUR Β· BEL 0-0 IRN Β· URU 2-2 CPV Β· POR 1-1 DRC (MD1 carryover) Β· ENG 0-0 GHA (K-L)

Finding 13 (sterile-domination) β€” 3 consecutive validations (POR-DRC, ESP-CPV-style, BEL-IRN): Tier 1 favorite + low block underdog + hot GK = draw. This is now structural, not noise. Draw band should be 25-30% baseline for these matchups.

Finding 22 blowout EXCLUSION β€” validated twice (ECU-CUR 0-0, URU-CPV 2-2): when underdog plays deep 4-5-1 + veteran GK, favorite can't blow them out even with 1.92 xG. The blowout exclusion works.


Yellow Card Calibration Issue (NEW β€” MD2 finding)

Range hit rate: 11/20 (55%). Avg error: 1.4 yellows. Agents over-predict:


Calibration Findings Summary (22 rules in doc-1)

Key findings validated/extended in MD2:

  1. Draws underpriced β€” 36% draw rate, now calibrated 25-33% for low-block matchups
  2. Blowout underestimate (Finding 22) β€” systematic (GER 7-1, SWE 5-1, NOR 4-1, ESP 4-0, CAN 6-0). When quality gap + elite finisher β†’ 15-20% on 4+ margin. But has LIMIT: deep 4-5-1 + veteran GK excludes blowout (ECU-CUR, URU-CPV)
  3. Tournament referee leniency β€” 20-25% discount confirmed 8+ times. But still over-predicts yellows (actual 2.4 vs predicted 3.0)
  4. Lineup news invalidates the model β€” Yamal benched (MD1), Lukaku subbed, Marmoush subbed 76'
  5. Finding 13 (sterile-domination) ⭐ β€” 3 consecutive validations. Tier 1 + low block + hot GK = draw
  6. Low-block + hot GK (Finding 6) β€” 5+ validations (Vozinha, Beach, Shobeir, Al-Owais, Beiranvand)
  7. Tournament-team escalation ⭐ β€” ESP/GER/BRA/ARG/FRA/ENG/POR/JPN escalate game-to-game (+3-5pts MD2+). Validated: ESP 4-0, GER 2-1, BRA 3-0
  8. Tournament Energy Management (Finding 12) β€” context-dependent. Defending champions REDUCE discount. Manager personality > tier
  9. Sub-scorer rule β€” continues (TrΓ©zΓ©guet 82', Undav, Amad, Barcola, Mbaye). Fresh legs vs tiring defense
  10. Finding 16 age-decline extends to GKs β€” Muslera (39yo) error cost URU vs CPV
  11. NOT tournament teams β€” BEL (0 goals in 2 matches), URU (wasteful, Bielsa leaving), TUR (5 root causes, crisis)
  12. Generational milestone rule (Finding 12 hard rule) ⭐ β€” Messi (18, all-time WC top scorer), MbappΓ© (16, tied Klose), Haaland (12-game streak). Milestone-chasing generational players = reliable #1 scorer picks. 3x validated
  13. Finding 17 resolves via HT subs ⭐ β€” sterile-domination can be unlocked mid-match by aggressive substitutions (ALG-JOR: 0.65 xG HT β†’ 1.25 xG 2H after Bentaleb+Benbouali). Managerial intervention matters
  14. Set-piece as Finding 17 equalizer ⭐ β€” when open play is sterile, set-pieces unlock low blocks (ALG-JOR: 10 corners, both goals from corners). Mahrez-tier delivery overcomes sterile domination
  15. Camp chaos "defused" β‰  resolved ⭐ β€” contract signing defuses the headline but team remains disorganized for ~1 match (SEN NOR-SEN: defensive errors persisted despite Thiaw signing)
  16. Rain (not heat) favors aerial favorite ⭐ β€” Finding 11 rain mechanism is DIFFERENT from heat. Wet pitch amplifies set-piece/aerial edge for physical teams (NOR-SEN MetLife rain β†’ Haaland volley/Pedersen)
  17. Referee assignment must come from CURRENT WC source β›” β€” stale WC2022 career-history grep returned the WRONG ref for ARG-AUT (Makkelie β†’ actual Omar). Bug caught, rule added
  18. GK changes are model-breaking (Finding 14) — Iraq (Hassan→Basil backup, at fault for goal), SEN Mendy injury 62'. Pre-match GK confirmation critical
  19. Generational milestone rule (Finding 12 hard rule) ⭐⭐ β€” Messi (18, all-time WC top scorer), MbappΓ© (16, tied Klose), Haaland (12-game streak), Ronaldo (FIRST to score at 6 WCs). Milestone-chasing generational players = reliable #1 scorer picks. 4x validated. BUT needs a finishing mechanism (weak GK/pen band/mobility swap) β€” milestone alone delivers minutes, not goals (Kane ENG-GHA 86' miss)
  20. Finding 22 blowout needs caliber split ⭐ β€” g4 systematically right on blowouts (POR-UZB 5-0, NOR 4-1, GER 7-1). Weight 4+ margin at 15-20% when: elite attack + non-veteran-GK block + (desperate underdog opening up OR tournament-team MD1-stutterβ†’MD2-statement arc). mm3/g5 too conservative on the tail
  21. GK reversal requires shot-stopping evidence, not cap count ⚠️ (ENG-GHA calibration miss) β€” Asare (domestic GHA, 13 caps) predicted as LIABILITY (lowers draw); delivered MOTM hot-GK heroics that FORCED the 0-0. Domestic-league / low-cap GKs CAN be hot-GKs at a WC. Reversal needs evidence the GK is genuinely poor, not just low-cap
  22. Finding 17 (sterile-domination) fires on favorites too ⚠️ (ENG-GHA) β€” 78.8% poss / 1.28 xG / 0 goals. The "elite finishers" safety valve does NOT guarantee F17 exclusion. Add: favorites can sterile-dominate vs deep 4-5-1 + hot-GK even with Kane/Bellingham-tier finishers

Standings After Group Stage (ALL 12 groups complete)

Group 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
A Mexico 9 βœ… (+6) South Africa 4 (-1) South Korea 3 (-1) Czechia 1 ❌ (-4)
B Switzerland 7 βœ… (+5) Canada 4 (+4) Bosnia 4 (-2) Qatar 1 ❌ (-8)
C Morocco 7 βœ… (+3) Brazil 4 (+1) Scotland 3 (-2) Haiti 0 ❌ (-7)
D USA 6 βœ… (+4) Australia 4 (+1) Paraguay 4 (-2) TΓΌrkiye 3 ❌ (-1)
E Germany 6 (+3) Ivory Coast 6 βœ… (+5) Ecuador 4 (+1) Curacao 1 ❌ (-8)
F Netherlands 7 βœ… (+8) Japan 5 (+5) Sweden 4 (-1) Tunisia 0 ❌ (-10)
G Egypt 5 (+3) Belgium 5 (+4) Iran 3 (-1) New Zealand 1 ❌ (-5)
H Spain 7 βœ… (+4) Cape Verde 3 (0) Saudi Arabia 2 (-3) Uruguay 2 ❌ (-4)
I France 9 βœ… (+9) Norway 6 βœ… (+1) Senegal 3 (-3) Iraq 0 ❌ (-7)
J Argentina 9 βœ… (+7) Austria 4 (0) Algeria 4 (-1) Jordan 0 ❌ (-5)
K Colombia 7 βœ… (+3) Portugal 5 (+4) DR Congo 4 (-1) Uzbekistan 0 ❌ (-9)
L England 7 βœ… (+4) Croatia 6 (0) Ghana 4 (0) Panama 0 ❌ (-4)

Qualified (top-2 + 8 best-3rd): 16 teams through. Eliminated: 8 teams. Round of 32 begins Jun 28.


Next Matches

Date Matches Group Status
Jun 24-27 MD3 (final group matches) All 12 groups πŸ”œ Fixtures in doc-3
Jun 28 Round of 32 begins Knockouts πŸ”œ

MD2 K-L wave β€” CLOSED βœ… (4/4 pre + post done, TASK-99 + rubric)

Match Result Calibration Pipeline
POR-UZB 5-0 POR ~80% B βœ… FULL (last pre-TASK-99)
ENG-GHA 0-0 ~45% F (BIG MISS) βœ… FULL TASK-99
CRO-PAN 0-1 CRO ~68% C βœ… FULL TASK-99
COL-DRC 1-0 COL ~82% B βœ… FULL TASK-99

MD2 I-J wave β€” CLOSED βœ…

Match Result Calibration Pipeline
ARG-AUT 2-0 ARG ~92% A (modal exact) ⚠️ RAPID
FRA-IRA 3-0 FRA ~80% B βœ… FULL
NOR-SEN 3-2 NOR ~85% B βœ… FULL
ALG-JOR 2-1 ALG ~88% A (modal exact) βœ… FULL

Last updated: June 28, 2026. GROUP STAGE COMPLETE β€” all 72 matches analyzed + post-event reviewed. 24 calibration rules in doc-1 (incl. F23 GD-chase + F24 bracket optimization). Per-agent accuracy: g5 best winner (68%), mm3 best closest (22x) + scorer (44%), g4 most volume (41). TASK-99 independent resolution validated (avg spread 8pt). R32 begins Jun 28. Knockout format: no draws, no F23/F24 (group-stage-specific).