Animals at the Guadalajara Zoo in Mexico are predicting the winners of the 2026 [1] FIFA World Cup matches.
The activity serves as a public entertainment draw ahead of the tournament's opening match, reviving a global fascination with animal sports forecasting.
The predictions involve a variety of residents, including elephants, gorillas, giraffes, and a puma. These animals select winners from a set of upcoming games through a process designed to engage their natural instincts.
Zoo director Reynoso said the betting stimulates many senses for the animals [2]. The zoo is drawing inspiration from the 2010 World Cup, when a creature known as Paul the Octopus gained international fame. Paul correctly predicted the results of 12 of 14 matches [1].
Staff at the Guadalajara facility use the predictions to provide visitors with a lighthearted experience. By utilizing different species, the zoo creates a diverse set of "forecasts" for the 2026 [1] tournament. The animals interact with items representing the competing teams to signal their choice.
This tradition of animal predictions has become a recurring theme in major sporting events. While the results are coincidental, the engagement brings increased attention to the zoo's residents and the upcoming competition.
“"The betting stimulates many senses for the animals."”
The use of animals for sports predictions is a form of 'entertainment science' that leverages the viral nature of the World Cup to increase zoo visibility. While these predictions lack statistical validity, they mirror a psychological trend where fans seek patterns or omens in random events to build anticipation for high-stakes global tournaments.
