Predicting the World Cup winner using ag data – Part II

Nov 16, 2022

Qatar and Ecuador play in the tournament’s first game this weekend

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Soccer fans around the world only have a few more days to wait until the start of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Ecuador will play the host nation in the tournament’s first match on Nov. 20.

The end goal for each of the tournament’s 32 participating countries is to raise the FIFA World Cup trophy after the final whistle blows on Dec. 18.

And while analysts and experts are looking at rosters, formations and other factors to determine their picks for world champions, Farms.com is doing things a little differently.

Using available data, Farms.com will determine the group and knockout stage winners using agriculture as a percentage of a country’s gross domestic product.

The two countries in each group where agriculture accounts for larger portions of their GDPs will advance to the knockout stage.

Today’s predictions focus on Groups E to H.

All figures are from 2021 and in $USD unless otherwise noted.

Group E	Countries	Ag Percentage of GDP	Total GDP in 2021
Advances to knockout stage	Spain	2.73	$1.425 trillion
Winners of Group E	Costa Rica	4.45	$64.28 billion
	Germany	0.8	$4.223 trillion
	Japan	1.03 in 2019	$5.123 trillion

Group F
	Belgium	0.59	$599.9 billion
	Canada	1.6	$1.991 trillion
Winners of Group F	Morocco	12.65	$1.327 billion
Advances to knockout stage	Croatia	3.13	$67.84 billion

Group G
Winners of Group G	Brazil	29	$1.609 trillion
	Serbia	6.53	$63.07 billion
	Switzerland	0.62	$812.9 billion
Advances to knockout stage	Cameroon	17.25	$45.24 billion

Group H
	Portugal	2.19	$249.9 billion
Winners of Group H	Ghana	19.71	$77.59 billion
Advances to knockout stage	Uruguay	6.91	$59.32 billion
	Korea Republic	1.84	$1.799 trillion

Check out the predictions for Groups A to D.

And be sure to visit Farms.com again this week to find out how the knockout stage games will play out.

Video: California Farm Bureau 2025 Farm Dog of the Year Contest Winner - Willy - CAFB 107th Annual Meeting

Meet Willy: California Farm Bureau’s 2025 Farm Dog of the Year!

We’re excited to introduce Willy, a miniature long-haired dachshund with a big heart and even bigger courage, and the Grand Prize winner of this year’s Farm Dog of the Year Contest!

Willy may be small, but he’s become an indispensable partner on owner Marshal Hagedorn’s forestry and cattle operations in Shasta, Tehama, and Siskiyou counties. Adopted in 2023, he quickly found his place on the ranch, helping manage critters, tagging along for long days in the woods, and offering unwavering companionship during demanding logging work.

Willy has even taken naturally to moving cattle, surprising calves (and more than a few full-grown cows!) with his burst of energy from the tall grass. As Marshal put it: “He goes with me everywhere every single day.”

Congratulations to Willy and his family, a perfect example of how every good farm dog, no matter the size, helps keep California agriculture running strong.