Economist Joachim Klement, a reluctant "guru" at Panmure Liberum, correctly predicted the last three World Cup winners. His model maintained a perfect record since 2014, picking Germany, France, and Argentina. Now the self-professed pessimist forecasts the Netherlands will triumph in 2026, despite his original intention to expose the hubris of economic forecasting.

Klement's model considers systemic factors like population, wealth, climate, and FIFA rankings. He emphasizes that 100% record is misleading, as "The other 50% is luck." Match outcomes often depend on "the form of the day, a ref call, a piece of luck," he explains. Despite urging caution, his growing popularity means people increasingly treat his forecasts as definitive.

With colleagues betting money on his Netherlands prediction, Klement faces mounting pressure. The Dutch squad lost Xavi Simons to an ACL injury, raising questions about his model's accuracy. "If the Netherlands get eliminated from the World Cup, I think the next day I have to work from home," he admitted, showing the real-world consequences of his successful predictions.