Joachim Klement Predicts Winner of Portugal vs. Argentina Quarter‑Final in 2026 World Cup, Plus Other Match Outcomes

German economist Joachim Klement, who has accurately predicted the winners of the last three World Cups, has released his forecasts for the 2026 tournament.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will begin in a week, with football icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo set to make their unprecedented sixth appearances.

Argentina, the champions of the 2022 edition in Qatar, will compete in Group J against Algeria, Austria and Jordan. Portugal, led by Ronaldo, will be in Group K alongside DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia.

If both Argentina and Portugal win their groups and progress through the first two knockout rounds, the two sides are expected to meet in the quarter‑finals.

Klement’s algorithm projects that Argentina and Portugal will finish as group leaders and advance. In the round of 32, Portugal is slated to face Ivory Coast, while Argentina is set to play Uruguay; both teams are predicted to win those matches.

In the round of 16, the economist forecasts that Argentina will defeat Turkey, with a goal from Messi. He adds that Portugal will only overcome Switzerland in that round if Ronaldo is omitted from the starting lineup.

With a quarter‑final clash expected, Klement predicts Portugal will beat Argentina in extra time, securing a place in the semi‑finals.

The model further suggests that Portugal will defeat England in the semi‑finals but will ultimately lose to the Netherlands, the tournament’s surprise champions, in the final.

Klement’s 20‑page report contains many other intriguing predictions. Unlike other forecasts that rely solely on athletic performance, his model incorporates statistical, economic and demographic factors to evaluate the probabilities of success.