The excitement for the World Cup 2026 is building as only eight teams remain in the tournament. A supercomputer from Opta has provided insights into the potential outcomes of the quarterfinal matches, updating its predictions after the completion of the Round of 16.

According to the latest simulations, France emerges as the top contender for the championship, boasting a 27.3% chance of winning and a 44.3% likelihood of reaching the final. Following closely is Spain, which has a 21.3% chance of securing the title. Despite not conceding any goals so far in the tournament, Spain's odds are slightly lower than France's due to the potential of facing each other in the semifinals if both teams advance past the quarterfinals.

In the other bracket, Argentina is given a 17.3% chance of defending its title. Coach Lionel Scaloni's team has faced tough matches in the knockout stage, but their impressive unbeaten streak of 11 matches in World Cup history and Lionel Messi's consistent performance keep them in the running as a top contender.

England follows Argentina with a 16.5% chance of winning. Although they have successfully progressed past Croatia and Mexico in the knockout rounds, their performances have not been entirely convincing in the simulations provided by Opta.

Among the dark horses, Norway stands out with a 6.6% chance of winning and a 37.7% likelihood of overcoming England to reach the semifinals. In contrast, Switzerland, Morocco, and Belgium are all projected to have less than a 4% chance of lifting the trophy.

In addition to Opta's predictions, other international models suggest closely contested matches in the quarterfinals. For instance, T.S. predicts a 2-1 victory for France over Morocco, while SBD's AI model favors Spain over Belgium. Argentina is also expected to defeat Switzerland by a two-goal margin.

**Predicted Scores:**

• France 2 - 1 Morocco
• Spain 2 - 1 Belgium
• England 2 - 1 Norway
• Argentina 2 - 0 Switzerland