EA Sports FC 26 simulation picks Spain to win the 2026 World Cup, extending its historic prediction streak

Over the years, EA Sports has been known for the high level of realism in its video games. Whether through the use of official licenses, constant updates to player statistics, or adjustments made possible by technological advancements, the company has made simulation one of its hallmarks. For years, this approach has been reflected in the traditional Super Bowl simulation within Madden NFL, and now it’s time to do the same with the World Cup, which kicks off this Thursday.

Through its social media accounts, EA Sports FC 26 revealed who will win the tournament to be held in June and July in Mexico, the United States, and Canada. After simulating every match in the group stage, as well as the subsequent knockout rounds, the results suggest that Spain will be the team to lift the trophy for the second time.

EA Sports is currently on a streak of four consecutive World Cups in which it has correctly predicted the champion. Through these simulations, it correctly predicted Spain in 2010, Germany in 2014, France in 2018, and Argentina in 2022. The question now is inevitable: Will they manage to keep up the pace and get it right for the fifth consecutive time?

A simulation without the World Cup license

One of the most striking aspects of this simulation is that it makes no direct reference to the World Cup. This is a result of the split between EA Sports and FIFA in 2022, stemming from financial disagreements between Electronic Arts and world soccer’s governing body.

This split led EA Sports to drop the name starting in 2023, releasing its game under the EA Sports FC brand and losing certain licenses directly tied to the organization. While the initial impact was relatively minor, the absence has become much more noticeable this year. All the paraphernalia associated with the World Cup has completely disappeared, causing the video game’s tradition—such as the special updates seen in the two previous editions—to be lost. For now, with EA Sports FC 26 we have The World’s Game update.

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