The 2022 FIFA World Cup got underway back on November 20th, when hosts Qatar raised the curtain with a 2-0 defeat against Ecuador. Some 10 days before that, EA Sports released their final ever World Cup DLC, and the content was widely approved by game reviewers the world over. A little-known fact, however, was that five days after the Canadian game producer released their World Cup content, they also gave their prediction for the tournament. OddsChecker, which compares World Cup odds and offers, had made Brazil the favorite for glory prior to the tournament getting underway. EA Sports took a different approach, however.
The producers of the money-spinning FIFA franchise simulated the entire tournament and predicted that Argentina — great rivals of the Selecao — would go all the way on football’s grandest stage. And that prediction didn’t seem too bad at the time. La Albicelestes defeated their greatest rivals just last summer, on enemy territory no less, to lift the Copa America. That was Lionel Messi’s first international trophy, and with the current World Cup being his final foray on the global stage, many thought that he bow out on top. That may still happen, but how are the rest of EA Sports predictions faring?
England and Morocco are both still standing
With EA Sports’ predictions, Morocco didn’t even make it out of their group. And to be fair, their progression has been widely unexpected. The Atlas Lions were drawn against European heavyweights Belgium and Croatia in a difficult-looking Group F. But not only did they progress from that group, but they also topped it, sending Belgium packing. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, they beat 2010 champions Spain on penalties in the last 16, setting up a mouth-watering quarterfinal against Portugal.
EA Sports had also predicted that England would have fallen in the second round. Their prediction had the Three Lions finishing second to the USA in Group B, before being eliminated by the Netherlands in the last 16. Gareth Southgate’s side has confounded their critics, however, and currently has a quarterfinal against reigning champions France on the horizon.
Argentina vs Brazil final is no longer a possibility
EA Sports had also predicted that the final — which takes place at the 80,000-capacity Lusail Iconic Stadium on December 18th — would be contested by South American mega rivals Brazil and Argentina. That is no longer a possibility.
Should the footballing giants both come through their quarter-final matches unscathed, then the pair will face off on December 13th in the semifinals.