Did "The Simpsons" Already Predict the 2018 World Cup? An Examination

Do we already know who's going to be in the 2018 World Cup Final?

The writers behind The Simpsons have sort-of fallen, unwittingly, into the realm of clairvoyance after some of the show's storylines have come true in real-life.

In 2000, The Simpsons showed a President Trump, which at the time was a hilarious joke.

In 1997, they had a laugh suggesting that the NSA was tapping peoples' phones.

They also correctly predicted that the U.S. would win curling at the 2018 Winter Olympics, which brings us to the latest potential version of life imitating art.

The Simpsons has now predicted the US curling gold over Sweden, President Trump, Disney buying parts of Fox & the FIFA scandal pic.twitter.com/MEckskFDSW

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) February 25, 2018

In episode five of the ninth season (which aired in 1997), The Simspons brutally takes on the sport of football, poking fun at some players' tendencies to over-pass, the commercialisation of star players and even the similar sounding names of some players (in a very lowbrow fashion).

But it's the two teams in this match that caught the interest some sporting sleuths.

The teams in this match are Portugal and Mexico and while there is no reference to the 2018 World Cup or Russia, they believe that the future-telling writers may have predicted this outcome for the Cup's final. This is because the announcer says that this match will "determine once and for all which nation is the greatest on earth: México or Portugal." 

Sounds pretty World Cup-like to me.

The simpsons predicted that Mexico would make it to the World Cup final. I trust this outcome.

— 𝒥𝓊𝓁𝑒𝓈 🙄 (@xMmePresidentx) June 26, 2018

So, is this outcome really possible?

Sure, it's possible just like winning that competition you just entered but, ultimately, the odds are pretty low.

According to the New York Times, Mexico has a 33 to one chance of winning the World Cup while Portugal has a 25 to one chance. While it doesn't sound too bad, there are about eight other teams with better odds to get there.

To meet each other in the final, Portugal will need to beat Uruguay in the Round of 16. They'll then need to defeat either France or Argentina, then whoever makes it to the Quarter Finals.

When will know if this prophecy is even possible by?

At midnight on 28 June (tonight), Mexico will need to win to keep the dream alive of The Simpsons' writers being from the future. This is because a finish at the top of Group F will mean they don't meet Portugal in a potential Quarter Finals showdown.

After that, they'll too need to defeat all the other teams until they reach the final as well, which is a tough ask with Belgium, England, Croatia, Spain and Brazil all potentially among the mix.

While it's not entirely possible, a lot of cards need to fall into place to make this a reality.

Still, sorry, Achilles and the million other 'predicting' animals out there this World Cup. My bet's on The Simpsons over you.

Photo: 20th Century Fox