2026 World Cup: England fail as AI predicts knockout rounds and tournament winner - buts it glory for legendary coach

All 48 teams for the 2026 World Cup have been confirmed following a dramatic round of playoff action.

Turkey, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Bosnia & Herzegovina sealed the final four UEFA spots, while DR Congo and Iraq prevailed in the inter-confederation playoffs.

The expanded tournament will see 48 nations compete across 12 groups with the aim of being one of 32 teams in the knockout phase.

The teams will then be whittled down until there are only two left for the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19.

Argentina will enter as defending champions, while Spain, France and England will be among a host of teams who will have aspirations of going the distance in North America.

With the tournament less than three months away, Sports Mole asked AI to predict the 2026 World Cup winner, including key knockout round results.

England to experience more World Cup disappointment

Thomas Tuchel has been tasked with ending England's 70-year wait for World Cup glory after being appointed as Gareth Southgate's successor in 2024.

However, according to the AI simulation, Tuchel will fall short of the ultimate objective despite overseeing predicted wins over Senegal and Mexico in the knockout stage.

The prediction is that the Three Lions will suffer quarter-final heartbreak at the hands of record world champions Brazil.

Such a scenario would spark unwanted memories of the 2002 World Cup, when Ronaldinho lobbed David Seaman from distance in Brazil's 2-1 success in the quarter-final clash in Shizuoka.

Another last-eight exit would represent the fourth time in seven World Cups that England have fallen at that stage.

The simulation also predicts that Morocco will enjoy another promising World Cup campaign before losing to France in the last eight.

Didier Deschamps's side are expected to face reigning European champions Spain in the semi-finals, which would be a rematch from the same stage of Euro 2024.

The prediction is that France would get revenge for that 2-1 defeat and advance to a third consecutive final.

AI predicts sixth World Cup for Brazil

In the other semi-final, Brazil would face Argentina in the World Cup for the first time since 1990, when Claudio Caniggia scored the decisive goal to fire La Albiceleste to a 1-0 success in Turin.

In contrast to that result, Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil are expected to triumph to set up a mouthwatering final against 2018 winners France.

The simulation culminates with the South American giants lifting their fifth World Cup and their first since Ronaldo netted a brace in the 2002 final against Germany.

Such a result would represent one of the best, if not the best, achievements in Ancelotti's glittering managerial career.

It would certainly be an amazing story for Ancelotti to win the World Cup with Brazil on US soil after being part of Arrigo Sacchi's coaching staff when Roberto Baggio infamously blazed his spot-kick over the bar as Italy lost on penalties to the Selecao in the 1994 final in Pasadena.

Regarding the third-place playoff, Spain would finally face Argentina after the cancellation of the Finalissima earlier this month.

La Roja are expected to triumph in what would likely be Messi's final game for his country if he decides to play in the tournament.