Did The Simpsons Really Predict the 2026 World Cup Final?

A viral social media claim suggesting that The Simpsons predicted a Mexico vs Portugal final at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been dismissed as misinformation, despite widespread online speculation.

The claim is based on a scene from the long-running animated series’ 1997 episode The Cartridge Family, which shows a fictional football match between Mexico and Portugal being promoted in Springfield. The clip has resurfaced online and is being shared as supposed evidence that the show foresaw the 2026 World Cup final.

However, there is no reference in the episode to the FIFA World Cup, the year 2026, or any actual tournament structure. The scene simply depicts a satirical advertisement for a football match between two nations, with no outcome shown.

The renewed attention appears to be part of a broader internet trend that has long credited The Simpsons with “predicting the future.” Over the years, fans have pointed to alleged predictions including Donald Trump’s presidency, Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox, and the FIFA corruption scandal in 2015. More recently, viral posts have even attempted to link the show to unrelated global events.

But fact-checkers and media analysts say the Mexico vs Portugal World Cup theory is not supported by the source material. The same claim has circulated during previous tournaments, including the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, often resurfacing when global football interest peaks.