An old post on X has drawn renewed attention after predicting that Argentina would meet Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. The post’s apparent accuracy has also prompted a debate over whether such predictions can be manufactured through volume and selective deletion.
The account @actuallyimthe wrote that Argentina had just beaten Spain 3-2 in the 2026 World Cup final. The post was dated July 12, 2021, years before the event it described.
| Event | Time | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Post published | July 12, 2021 | It described an Argentina vs Spain final and a 3-2 result |
| Post checked | Thursday, July 16, 2026, 11:23 a.m. WIB | The post was still available on X |
When inet.detik.com checked the post on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 11:23 a.m. WIB, it remained online. It had received more than 246,000 likes, over 49,600 reposts, and more than 17,500 comments.
Many commenters focused on the prediction of an Argentina vs Spain matchup. Some expressed surprise at the post, while noting that the final score could not be established from the old message itself.
Questions over prediction methods
Other users argued that the post’s precision did not necessarily prove an extraordinary prediction. The account @Timodenb said a person could create a large number of different outcome forecasts and later remove those that proved incorrect.
He described a scenario in which 1,000 different results could be prepared through Excel, leaving only the successful prediction visible. He compared the method to a broken clock that still shows the correct time twice a day.
Another user, Akanne Chigozie, challenged the idea and suggested trying it. @Timodenb responded that someone could create a new account, automatically publish 1,000 different forecasts for the 2030 World Cup, and delete the incorrect ones afterward.
Under that scenario, one surviving post could appear unusually accurate and eventually spread widely. The exchange illustrates why high engagement alone cannot verify how a prediction was created.
Football predictions have long attracted attention
Predictions about match winners and tournament progress have long been popular in football. One well-known example is Paul the octopus from the Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen, Germany, which correctly predicted eight matches during the 2010 World Cup, including the final.
Forecasts remain compelling because they combine uncertainty with the possibility of surprise. When they are tied to an event as large as the World Cup, old posts such as this 2021 Tweet can regain wide attention years later.
