INTERACTIVE: Readers saw it coming as Spain won the World Cup 2026

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI

PETALING JAYA: The Star readers correctly predicted that Spain would win the FIFA World Cup 2026, with nearly six in 10 backing La Roja to lift football's biggest prize in a reader poll conducted ahead of the final.

The poll, launched on July 17 after the semi-finals, asked readers to choose between Spain and defending champion Argentina.

Of the 1,867 votes cast, Spain emerged as the clear favourite with 1,082 votes, or 58%, while Argentina received 785 votes (42%).

The poll drew responses from readers in Malaysia, Singapore, the United States, and Australia.

Spain went on to justify readers’ confidence by defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final to claim their second FIFA World Cup title.

La Roja's triumph capped a remarkable knockout run in which they eliminated Portugal in the Round of 16, Belgium in the quarter-finals and France in the semi-finals before overcoming Argentina on football's biggest stage.

Argentina, meanwhile, fell short in their bid to retain the title won in Qatar four years ago. 

The defending champion had reached the final after overcoming Egypt, Switzerland and England in the knockout rounds.

It was not the only successful prediction by The Star readers during the tournament.

Earlier in the tournament, The Star readers also correctly identified three of the four eventual semi-finalists — Spain, Argentina and France — in a poll conducted before the quarter-finals.

They missed only England, having backed Brazil to progress instead.

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