Have you ever received a message that has been forwarded several times, warning of a danger, announcing breaking news, or sharing a surprising claim? Perhaps it came from a friend, a family member, or a social media post that seemed trustworthy. Before long, the information was being shared by many people—only for someone to later discover that it was inaccurate.

Everyone has the same question on their minds: Who will win the 2026 World Cup?

Today, football (soccer) is at the forefront of global entertainment. Billions of people watch the matches of some teams on television. Football even has an influence on global politics and economics. The interest shown in, or the meaning attributed to, matches between warring countries goes beyond the realm of sport. Some countries' teams can be banned from international tournaments for political reasons. Furthermore, some countries may even boycott certain international tournaments as a form of political protest.

Have you ever come across a message in a group chat or on social media that made you pause and wonder, “Is this really true?” This has become part of everyday life in a connected world. Information moves quickly, and so do we. This raises an important question—can we still trust what we read online?