Club World Cup: a supercomputer predicted a surprising champion

The revamped Club World Cup, which for the first time will bring together 32 teams in the United States between June 15 and July 13, 2025, has an unexpected favorite according to the calculations of a supercomputer. Based on the simulation of 10,000 scenarios, an artificial intelligence developed by the firm BoyleSports predicts that Benfica will be the champion.

As reported by The Sun, the method used consisted of simulating each match thousands of times, using updated betting market odds and various statistical variables to project possible outcomes as a basis.

According to the simulations, the Portuguese team will finish first in Group C, relegating Bayern to second place and leaving Boca and Auckland City without a chance.

Another surprise would occur in Group D, where ES Tunis from Tunisia would take first place, ahead of the powerful Chelsea, which would finish second, eliminating Flamengo and LAFC. With these results, the London team would face Benfica in the round of 16, where the Portuguese would prevail 3-1.

The prediction also includes a notable performance by River, which shares Group E with Inter Milan, Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan, and Monterrey from Mexico. According to the simulation, the Millonario would advance along with Inter, leaving the Japanese and Mexican teams behind. In the round of 16, the Núñez team would pull off a shock by defeating Borussia Dortmund, but its campaign would end in the quarterfinals after losing to Juventus.

Meanwhile, for the rest of the South American teams, Botafogo would be eliminated in the round of 16 after losing 2-1 to Porto, and Palmeiras would eliminate Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16, despite its recent Champions League triumph, but would fall in the quarterfinals to Bayern Munich.

In the European field, the supercomputer projects that Manchester City will finish second in its group, behind Juventus, but will have a notable performance in the knockout stage. Pep Guardiola's team would overcome Real Madrid in the round of 16, then Inter Milan, and subsequently Juventus to reach the final.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid, one of the favorites along with PSG, City, and Bayern Munich according to the bookmakers, would be eliminated in the round of 16, a prediction that contradicts its record in international competitions.

For the grand final, the simulation indicates that on July 13 in New Jersey, Manchester City and Benfica will face each other. In that decisive match, the Portuguese team would win 2-1 and claim its first title in the revamped Club World Cup format.