

Since The Simpsons writers always find a way to predict things many years before it actually happens, fans have dug up an old episode of the show that some think may just predict the outcome of this year’s World Cup.

In the 1997 episode “The Cartridge Family,” Mexico and Portugal play in a soccer match to determine the greatest nation on Earth.

The Simpsons in the season 9 (1997) predicted a football final between Portugal and México!! Wow.. I frankly can't stop myself from believing in this 'cause the cartoon had such an impressive history of valid predictions and connotations. pic.twitter.com/lMyqVVUN7C — Nesrine (@saturnnes) June 22, 2018 The TV announcer on this game said "this game will determine once and for all which nation is the greatest on earth: México or Portugal" LMAO. — Nesrine (@saturnnes) June 22, 2018

yooo lowkey the simpsons predicted Mexico and Portugal in the final, have they ever been wrong about anything they predict? — Reggie 🌐 (@ItzRegBro) June 26, 2018 The Simpson's have previously predicted so much stuff, biggest one being trump becomes president of america.

Could they do it again https://t.co/3XEAAU3A0U — Thomas O Leary (@Thomas1098765) June 26, 2018

Portugal has already clinched its spot in the Round of 16, while Mexico, holding a significant lead in the Group F table, can seal the deal against Sweden on Friday. This could happen! Portugal, of course, has Cristiano Ronaldo leading the way; Mexico has been consistent if unexceptional in recent tournament history, but a rash of young players may just provide the spark they need.

It may seem like a tenuous link, but let’s just remember here, The Simpsons is eternally prescient. The show has made many more predictions than just a soccer final, whether it’s the Stanley Cup in Las Vegas or Olympic gold in curling for the U.S. men’s team.

In 1999, before “The Hangover” and the Golden Knights, Homer Simpson and Ned Flanders had the Stanley Cup in Vegas. pic.twitter.com/dnm1ucNtCt — Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) May 26, 2018 No one could have predicted that the US would win curling gold, right? Actually, the Simpsons did in a February 14, 2010 episode. They beat Sweden, who the US happened to beat to win gold today (H/T @dansnierson) pic.twitter.com/0gkhycQ3xF — Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) February 25, 2018

We’ll see if Portugal and Mexico can pull the thing off. If they do, though, there’s going to be a lot riding on it, because you better believe that fans will buy into this ‘greatest nation on Earth’ bit.