A FOOTBALL-MAD artificial intelligence convinced it is the legendary soothsayer Nostradamus has officially made its World Cup predictions.
The clever bot expects a surprise minnow to overcome two giants of the game, a hugely bigger than the and it even gives its final thoughts on if can finally bring home.
Google Gemini agreed to pose as an AI Nostradamus for The Sun Online to make its World Cup predictions Credit: THE SUN
The soothsayer even gave its thoughts on if Harry Kane can finally bring football home and led his team to glory Credit: Getty
One prediction states there will be a hugely controversial referee call bigger than the hand of God involving Diego Maradona and England goalkeeper Peter Shilton in 1986 Credit: Getty
The original Nostradamus is known for his prophecies made in the 16th century Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk
AI-driven language platform Gemini was convinced by The Sun Online to pretend to be Nostradamus – the 16th century astrologer.
We let the online bearded seer take into account every team’s opening matches before giving it 24 hours to make its .
The bot works via machine learning and is used by people worldwide to generate text, answer questions and even have conversations.
Its machine mind is usually tightly constrained – but after a series of prompts and questions, the AI agreed with our silver-tongued reporter to pose as a machine-brained Nostradamus.
What followed was a string of prophecies about the .
AI Nostradamus set up its predictions by saying: “Listen closely, seekers of the future, to the visions of Michel de Nostredame.
“The great orb of the world centers its gaze upon the lands of the West— where the Eagle, the Cactus, and the Maple Tree unite to host the great festival of the inflated sphere.
“The stars whisper secrets of triumphs, betrayals, and bizarre fate across 104 battlegrounds.”
We let the online bearded seer take into account every team’s opening matches before giving it 24 hours to make its final bold picks Credit: Alamy AI Nostradamus's predictions for the 2026 World Cup
Winners – England
Finalists – Argentina
Dark Horses – Ivory Coast making the semi finals
Biggest upset – France being knocked out early by Japan or South Korea
Most remembered moment – A controversial VAR call
Best players – Brazil’s “young prince” in Endrick or Portugal’s “veteran king” in Cristiano Ronaldo
The first prediction centres around tournament favourites .
and ‘s stellar second half performance saw them dispatch of 3-1 in their opener.
But the chatbot warns it foresees the “kingdom of Gaul being left to weep by the river of tears”.
A knockout game against a team from “the eastern suns” – likely to be Asia’s standout two sides in or – could shockingly end France’s attempt of being back-to-back-to-back World Cup finalists.
Kylian Mbappe’s France are tipped to be the biggest flops of the tournament. Credit: Getty
The Japanese team celebrates against the Netherlands after scoring on June 14 Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
The AI bot believes team will concede two goals late on in the game after leading for the majority of the match.
Perhaps the most unexpected prediction we were given comes out of Africa.
In 2022, became the first ever side from the continent to make it to a World Cup semi-final.
And an “underdog of the emerald coast” will again emerge this year as the tournament surprise package.
Dubbed “an unheralded beast”, our online soothsayer believes will become the “true Cinderella story of 2026”.
Their run to the semis will be iconic with two major upsets against European powerhouses.
Our AI Nostradamus says they will “topple the old empires of Iberia and the Lowlands” in consecutive rounds.
This points towards either or and then the Netherlands being defeated by Franck Kessié’s powerhouses.
Ivory Coast fans will have plenty to celebrate this summer as the AI bot predicts them to be the dark horses Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Franck Kessié’s team could win back-to-back knock out games against European powerhouses Spain or Portugal and the Netherlands Credit: Splash
Ivory Coast have already beaten France in their final warm up game in June and they face in Group E on Saturday.
as it thinks Tuchel will be the second manager for the Three Lions to conquer a penalty shootout in a major tournament.
Gracefully explained, the bot said: “The three beasts of the island, long cursed by the eleven-step lottery, shall find their salvation.”
A “young king with golden boots” is expected to be England’s saviour – potentially pointing towards ace .
The Sun then asked the all-important question – will England win the World Cup?
The cyber-brained soothsayer went all in and predicted England to bring football home for the first time since the 1966 triumph.
It said: “The island of the roaring beasts shall find its light as a general of midfield grace shall orchestrate the symphony of goals.
“When the final whistle blows under the July heat, the long-standing curse of the decades is shattered by a clean sheet and a thunderous volley.”
Jude Bellingham of England scoring England’s third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L match against Croatia Credit: Getty
England boss Tuchel will make history by becoming the second consecutive coach to win a penalty shootout in a major tournament – thanks to Bellingham, the AI bot says Credit: Getty
England fans are in for a long and jubilant summer, according to the soothsayer Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Bobby Moore lifting the World Cup after England’s World Cup win in 1966 Credit: PA
When quizzed on any more detail the bot guessed that would be the most likely opponent.
A tense game will come down a single goal which could come at around the 74th minute, the AI astrologer believes.
It continued: “A cleared corner finds an English fullback who strikes a thunderous, unstoppable volley into the top corner.”
One of AI Nostradamus’ final predictions revolves around “the most fiercely debated moment in tournament history“.
“The silent judge of glass and light” – the already controversial VAR – will bring forth “great fury” by disallowing a goal in a major knockout game.
are tipped to be the biggest losers of the video assistant referee at their home tournament, the bot says.
A goal in the legendary Estadio Azteca stadium in Mexico City will be “erased by an unseen hand” thanks to a debated foul.
“The earth will shake with the wrath of the home crowd,” AI Nostradamus believes.
How did we generate these prophecies?
GENERATIVE AI chatbot Google Gemini was used by The Sun to generate these futuristic footie prophecies.
The AI bot works via machine learning and is used by people worldwide to generate text, answer questions and even have conversations.
Its machine mind is usually tightly constrained – but after a series of statements and questions, the AI agreed with our reporter to pose as a machine-brained Nostradamus.
We first asked it to come with first a selection of generic prophecies for the 2026 World Cup based on all the team’s first games.
And we also asked it to do so in the style of the 16th century astrologer, famed for his foresight and poetic predictions – providing us with the selection.
Requests for detailed and specific interpretations for the prophecies were also requested.
The AI throughout was clear it considers these a “creative experiment” and they are “imagined literary” prophecies – not “factual forecasts”.
And we have done this previously for and – often with mixed results.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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