New Delhi, June 11 -- Defending European champions Spain have emerged as the favourites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to a new artificial intelligence-driven statistical model that simulated the tournament 100,000 times.
The study, led by statistician Achim Zeileis, gives Spain a 14.5 per cent probability of lifting football's biggest prize next year.
England and France are joint second favourites with a 12.4 per cent chance each, while Germany follow closely at 11.2 per cent. Portugal, led by veteran star Cristiano Ronaldo, have been assigned an 8.9 per cent chance, while reigning world champions Argentina, captained by Lionel Messi, stand at 8.2 per cent.
The researchers developed the forecast using a machine-learning model...