SPORTS DESK — Economists, whose daily jobs involve solving complex equations of the global economy, have turned their analytical skills to football.
According to a global survey, they predict that France will lift the upcoming World Cup trophy, while five-time world champions Brazil are projected to be the tournament’s biggest disappointment.
The survey, conducted by the international news agency Reuters, included participation from 160 economists worldwide.
The upcoming FIFA World Cup will be the largest in history, featuring 48 teams competing in 104 matches. It marks the first time the tournament will be jointly hosted by three nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
In the survey conducted between May 11 and June 5, France emerged as the top contender for the championship, securing 35 percent of the votes. Spain followed closely in second place with 31 percent. These results align heavily with the current odds offered by popular global betting platforms.
If France secures the title, head coach Didier Deschamps will achieve an extraordinary milestone, becoming the first manager since Italy’s Vittorio Pozzo in 1938 to win the World Cup twice.
Following France and Spain on the list of potential champions are the reigning world champions, Argentina, followed by Portugal and England, respectively.
“After the heartbreak of the 2022 final, France has a brilliant opportunity to go one step further this time,” noted Cathal Kennedy, a London-based senior economist at RBC. “Several players from that final-reaching squad are now entering the prime of their careers.
Combined with the rise of a new generation of players from Paris Saint-Germain and a well-rested Kylian Mbappé, France’s prospects are significantly bolstered.”
The survey also heavily favors Mbappé to sweep the individual accolades, positioning him as the frontrunner for both the Golden Ball (best player) and the Golden Boot (top scorer).
However, England captain Harry Kane is expected to provide a stiff challenge. Kane is coming off a career-best season with Bayern Munich, where he scored 61 goals to secure the European Golden Shoe, placing him just behind Mbappé in the economists’ predictions.