Simulation has just predicted who'll win the World Cup and it may upset fans

 The 2026 World Cup is nearly upon us, and millions will be hoping for England to finally bring football home or for Scotland to pull off the mother of all shocks. But one simulation might leave them all unhappy.

The summer's festival of football gets underway on Thursday (11 June) when co-hosts Mexico take on South Africa but, with kick-off just a day away, excitement seems surprisingly subdued

Extortionate ticket and travel costs have angered supporters, while the US have caused controversy with their treatment of fans, players and even banned Somalian referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan.

Yet, the mood will almost certainly improve once the football gets under way.

England are aiming to end 60 years of hurt and Thomas Tuchel's side face old foes Croatia in their opening game on June 17, while Scotland play their first World Cup match since 1998 against Haiti on June 14.

Millions of Brits will be dreaming of a miracle this summer, but an in-depth tournament simulation from the University of Reading has thrown cold water on those aspirations.

England and Scotland not predicted to win the 2026 World Cup

We don't have Paul the Octopus anymore (RIP to a legend) but we do have economist professor James Reade, who has modelled every match from the newly-expanded 48-team tournament 10,000 times to determine the most likely outcome.