Starting from this post, I am making an exercise on my own, with huge amount of subjectivism, to determine who can win World Cup 2026. As said, Joachim Klement, the guy who predicted corrected the last three winners (Germany, France and Argentina), shocked and mentioned Netherlands. It seems strange, but not impossible. It would be a beautiful tribute to the best supporters at the World Cup. Sure, “Viking row” of Norway become as catchy, but the Dutch have already a deep legacy from some tournaments back.
Klement’s model is easy, but efficient:
- Population size –> selection pool.
- GDP / capita –> infrastructure for developing football quality.
- Climate: what chances are to play in proper conditions football all year round.
- FIFA ranking –> momentum.
Norway, World Cup 2026 winners!
Lying also on his prediction that Japan will eliminate Brazil in the last 32, a very possible output, considering the level of them, I am going bolder, and, again, subjective, to my prediction (and hope!): Norway world champion! Of course, the Norwegians, apart from no. 3, don’t have too much arguments to be challengers, but they might have the panel half advantage. An advantage they for sure acknowledged when they chose to align 10 new men in the starting line up, against France, risking a severe defeat, which did happen in the end: 1-4. Even if, Norway missed some good chances, including a penalty, and received the fourth in the last moment. When Dembele does the best career game against you, it is obvious that a huge does of relaxation is present.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
Cote d’Ivoire and… Japan, next opponents for Norway
Norway didn’t played great against Iraq and Senegal, but they won six points and now they will be facing Cote d’Ivoire in the last 32. An adversary which, in normal circumstances shouldn’t be a problem for the pragmatic Norwegians, and after, if Klement’s prognostic is correct, then Norway will paly against Japan. This won’t be easy, of course, but it is, again, better than to have played Germany, if they won the group with France, and put out Sweden after.
Norway – England in the quarter finals
If Norway goes up to the quarter finals, as they should, things might get a bit complicated. England is the logical opponent, and these guys have so much thirst of winning a tournament, after many lost semifinals and finals. Still, this is not an impossible adversary also for the likes of Ødegaard and Haaland, who are, themselves power horses in the English top league. What next, if this goes well and the Norwegians will reach the semifinal? – something I did optimistically predicted from December!
Argentina – Norway, a really cool semifinal
Norway, logically, will play Argentina. The World Champions have no real match up to the semifinals, only Switzerland and Colombia are potential tougher opponents, but since it is more likely to get a red card if you put your hand in front of your mouth, than if you break someone’s foot, especially if your name is Lionel Messi, Argentina should have no problem. Most likely, he will already have scored around 15 goals, breaking even more records, and the Argentinians will consider themselves already qualified in the final.
The Netherlands – Norway, World Cup 2026 final!
Sure, it won’t be easy for the Norwegians, but they have what is needed to take advantage of a potential relaxation of Argentina. Normally, they won’t make it, but I hope they do. Linking this to my previous premonition, when I’ve mentioned both that Argentina will be put out by England in the semis, and also that Norway will be put out only by The Netherlands. Now, if they will knock out the World Champions, the final should match the premonition: the Dutch! All odds will be for the Orange to become World Champions after three lost finals in the history, and most likely this will happen.
This could be the only real victory of World Cup 2026
However, if this final will become reality, The Netherlands – Norway, this will be the only big real victory of World Cup 2026 – to have a final between the teams with the best supporters is the real essence. Maybe the Dutch are more, have a longer history, but the “Viking row” conquered all the world. I mean, when you see Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Dolph Lundgren, and even France fans doing it after Due’s goal, this needs to be acknowledged properly. If this final will come to fruition, and even if The Netherlands will be victorious, Norway will become as well World Champion.
“Row! Row! Row!” Norway!
It seems a paradox, but it is not. For a nation with 5.5 million, with harsh winters, which qualified only to four final tournaments in total (!) a World Cup final is like Argentina, for example, winning five World titles. Let’s see how far of a stretch will this be. My hopes will be for Norway to become World Cup winners. If this will happen, the result will match only Denmark’s achievement in 1992, and Greece’s in 2004, both at European Championships. The good part, if the final will present itself as such, is that a defeat of Norway will mean a first victory for The Netherlands, and Klement will have 100% correct predictions. “Row! Row! Row!”
Photo source: vg.no