Through an unconventional method, a European nation has been tipped to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 23rd edition of the world's biggest football tournament is set to kick off in less than a week.

The event, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will officially begin on 11 June 2026.

A total of 48 teams have prepared their best squads to chase football’s ultimate glory.

But who will emerge as the champion?

Joachim Klement, a mathematician and economist, has made a bold prediction about the winner of the 2026 World Cup.

According to Klement, the Netherlands will lift the trophy.

De Oranje are predicted to defeat Morocco, France, and Spain on their path to the final.

In the decisive match, the Netherlands are forecasted to overcome Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Klement’s prediction model combines various factors, including economic, demographic, climatic, and sporting variables.

His approach takes into account GDP per capita, population size, footballing tradition, average temperature, host nation status, and FIFA ranking.

He also includes one key variable that carries a much higher weight — luck.

Klement has an impressive track record, having correctly predicted the winners of the last three World Cups.

His streak began when he accurately foresaw Germany’s triumph in 2014.

Four years later, his forecast for France to win in 2018 also proved right.

The trend continued when Argentina claimed the 2022 title, once again matching his prediction.

The Netherlands’ Quest for the Crown

Despite their rich footballing history, the Netherlands have never won the World Cup.

Their best achievements have been as runners-up on three occasions.

They fell short in the finals of 1974, 1978, and 2010.

The 2026 World Cup presents a new opportunity for the Dutch to finally capture the elusive crown.

Head coach Ronald Koeman is assembling his strongest possible squad to pursue the title.

One of the key players for the Netherlands is midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, who has Indonesian roots through his Maluku heritage.

Will Klement’s prediction come true, and could a player of Indonesian descent finally become a world champion? That remains to be seen.