A Reuters survey of economists released ahead of the World Cup forecasts that France will narrowly beat Spain to win the trophy on July 19. The poll includes 160 respondents from nearly every continent and is conducted once every four years. While participants’ overall predictions favour a close contest between France and Spain, the survey also identifies Brazil as the most likely underperformer, described as the biggest flop in the economists’ collective outlook.
The Reuters report also notes that, despite the widespread interest in predicting sporting outcomes, football remains harder to call than other economic indicators such as inflation, according to the respondents. The survey reflects broad expectations rather than betting odds, and it does not cite specific methodological details beyond the use of an economist panel and the four-year cadence of the questionnaire.
Overall, the results point to a France-Spain final decided by a small margin and expectations that traditional powerhouses can still defy predictions, with Brazil most associated with disappointing results in the economists’ view.
