There's a viral conspiracy that 2026 World Cup winner has already been decided
Grab your tin foil hats folks, as a conspiracy theory claiming that the World Cup is scripted is currently doing the rounds online.
We're just a few days away from the first World Cup knockout games, meaning the competition is about to get a whole lot more brutal.
Bookies are currently favouring France, Spain or Argentina to win the whole tournament, sorry England, you've dropped into fourth. Meanwhile, a German mathematician is touting the Netherlands to come home victorious, while a university lecturer believes Argentina will retain the title.
The internet's 'New Nostradamus' has even thrown out a prediction, saying he believes the winning team will be wearing the 'colour of the flame'.
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But what if the winner was not only decided before a ball had even been kicked but also foreshadowed in the tournament's colour scheme?
Sounds absolutely crazy, I know, but one viral theory claims this is not only real but has been happening for the last couple of tournaments.
Here's what you need to know.
World Cup colour scheme 'predicts' winner
The unorthodox theory currently doing the rounds on TikTok is focused on the colour schemes assigned to each World Cup, yes, each competition has its very own colour palette, which mirrors the winning team's jersey.
Qatar 2022
When Lionel Messi's Argentina took home the glory in Qatar, the colour scheme was two shades of blue, a golden yellow and burgundy.
The lighter blue is a good match for the Argentinian kit and flag, while the golden yellow fits with the sun emblem. Look closely enough at the flag you'll even find burgundy, which outlines the sun.
Fair enough, but what about the other years?
Russia 2018
The Russian World Cup ended with France emerging victorious over Croatia in Moscow.
Like Qatar, Russia had its own colour palette for the tournament, which included two darker shades of blue, black, red and creamy yellows – all said to reference the Russian flag, heritage and culture.
The French team's main jersey colour is navy, which matches, while their away kit is often white, cream or another pale colour. The third country in the French tricolour is also red, meaning the team is well represented.
However, I'm not as convinced by this one, as the colours appear to more closely represent Belgium, who ultimately placed third in the tournament.
Brazil 2014
Perhaps the biggest stretch of the three examples, Brazil's World Cup palette featured vibrant yellows, greens, reds and oranges.
The yellow and red do match up to the German flag, while the team's away kit is usually a shade of green, meaning the theory works – if you're willing to stretch it enough.
Who will win the 2026 World Cup?
Curious about what the 2026 World Cup colour palette is? Take a look below:
Now, the first team that springs to mind when looking at the above colours is co-hosts USA, but the theory concludes that the above colours are foreshadowing Portugal.
The red, white and green certainly match up, and if you zoom in close enough on the flag, you'll notice the five shields in the middle of the crest are blue.
This prediction isn't the only one to favour Portugal either, as many people believe a meme from The Simpsons has predicted a win between Portugal and Mexico – both of which will be music to Ronaldo's ears, as this is his final chance of winning a World Cup.
As for the theory itself, I guess we check back in on 19 July.
2026 World Cup results so far
Wednesday, 24 June
Group L: Panama vs Croatia, 1-0
Group L: Colombia vs DR Congo, 1-0
Tuesday, 23 June
Group I: Norway vs Senegal, 3-2
Group J: Algeria vs Jordan, 2-1
Group K: Portugal vs Uzbekistan, 5-0
Group L: England vs Ghana, 0-0
Monday, 22 June
Group G: New Zealand vs Egypt, 1-3
Group J: Argentina vs Austria, 2-0
Group I: France vs Iraq, 3-0
Sunday, 21 June
Group E: Ecuador vs Curaçao, 0-0
Group F: Tunisia vs Japan, 0-4
Group G: Belgium vs Iran, 0-0
Group H: Spain vs Saudi Arabia, 4-0
Group H: Uruguay vs Cape Verde, 2-2
Saturday, 20 June
Group C: Brazil vs Haiti, 3-0
Group D: Turkey vs Paraguay, 0-1
Group E: Germany vs Ivory Coast, 2-1
Group F: Netherlands vs Sweden, 5-1
Friday, 19 June
Group A: Mexico vs South Korea, 1-0
Group C: Scotland vs Morocco, 0-1
Group D: USA vs Australia, 2-0
Thursday 18 June
Group L: Ghana vs Panama, 1-0
Group K: Uzbekistan vs Colombia, 1-3
Group A: Czech Republic vs South Africa, 1-1
Group B: Switzerland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, 4-1
Group B: Canada vs Qatar, 6-0
Wednesday 17 June
Group K: Portugal vs DR Congo, 1-1
Group L: England vs Croatia, 4-2
Group J: Argentina vs Algeria, 3-0
Group J: Austria vs Jordan, 3-1
Tuesday 16 June
Group G: Iran vs New Zealand, 2-2
Group I: France vs Senegal, 3-1
Group I: Iraq vs Norway, 1-4
Monday, 15 June
Group E: Ivory Coast vs Ecuador, 1-0
Group F: Sweden vs Tunisia, 5-1
Sunday, 14 June
Group C: Haiti vs Scotland, 0-1
Group D: Australia vs Turkey, 2-0
Group E: Germany vs Curaçao, 7-1
Group F: Netherlands vs Japan, 2-2
Saturday, 13 June
Group D: USA vs Paraguay, 4-1
Group B: Qatar vs Switzerland, 1-1
Group C: Brazil vs Morocco, 1-1
Friday, 12 June
Group A: South Korea vs Czech Republic, 2-1
Group B: Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, 1-1
Thursday, 11 June
Group A: Mexico vs South Africa, 2-0
Topics: World Cup, Conspiracy Theory
Brenna Cooper