Here’s who AI picked to win the 2026 World Cup. It’s not who FIFA fans think

Here’s who AI picked to win the 2026 World Cup. It’s not who FIFA fans think

According to a new Bank of America survey, 40% of soccer fans think France’s Les Bleus will take home the trophy—but AI begs to differ.

[Images: FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images, Adobe Stock]

Artificial intelligence is being touted as the most transformative technology of the 21st century, changing everything from how people work to how they live. But forget all that—what sports fans want to know is, can it predict who is going to win the World Cup?

According to a new Bank of America Global Research study, “The Beautiful Game: BofA’s World Cup 2026 Guide,” that was shared with Fast Company, approximately 40% of the FIFA fans surveyed are betting on France’s Les Bleus (named after the team’s traditional blue jerseys). However, AI, specifically Microsoft’s Copilot, thinks........

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