The Athletic Publishes 6 Matchday 15 World Cup Picks as Algorithm Leads at 67%
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 25
The Athletic Publishes 6 Matchday 15 World Cup Picks as Algorithm Leads at 67%
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 25
Summary
Six Matchday 15 games headline The Athletic’s latest World Cup prediction slate, with its experts backing Turkey over an already-qualified USMNT and Germany over must-win Ecuador.
Group stakes drive the picks: Ivory Coast need only a draw to advance, Ecuador must win to keep knockout hopes alive, and the U.S. are expected to rotate after already clinching Group D.
Japan-Sweden and Paraguay-Australia carry the most tactical tension because draws would send both teams through, though Paraguay would need a win to avoid Germany in the round of 32.
The prediction contest’s running subplot also tightened after Matchday 14, when the algorithm improved its lead to four points with 67% accuracy and 36 correct picks.
Matchday 14 results set that backdrop: Brazil, Mexico, Morocco, Switzerland, Bosnia and South Africa all won, with South Africa reaching the knockout stage for the first time.