The Khon Kaen Zoo in Khon Kaen city hosted an event on 17/7 where male lion Chao Boy predicted the 2026 World Cup final. Chao Boy selected Spain to win against Argentina, with the match scheduled for 3 PM ET on 19/7 (2 AM on 20/7 Hanoi time) at MetLife Stadium in the United States, according to Thai television channel CH 3+.
Chao Boy made his predictions by jumping and grabbing meat hung beneath flags representing each team. This process was repeated three times, with the flag positions swapped after each attempt.
The lion grabbed the meat under Spain's flag two times, indicating his belief that the European team will be the World Cup champion.
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Chao Boy jumps to grab meat under Spain's flag during a prediction round on 17/7. *Bangkok Post*. |
For the third-place playoff between England and France, set for 5 PM ET on 18/7 (4 AM on 19/7 Hanoi time), Chao Boy chose France in two out of three attempts.
Tipawadee Kittikun, director of Khon Kaen Zoo, explained that these football prediction activities are part of the zoo's regular animal behavioral enrichment program. She stated that such activities, involving food seeking and movement, allow the animals to express their natural instincts, contributing to their physical and mental health.
Tipawadee emphasized that these are not official match predictions and are not intended to encourage, promote, or serve any form of betting. She added that the activity is purely for educational purposes, raising awareness about animal welfare and attracting visitors.
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Chao Boy chooses France for third place at the 2026 World Cup. *Thai TV5*. |
Chao Boy has gained attention for accurately predicting the results of many matches in major football tournaments. This year, the lion correctly predicted the outcomes of both World Cup semi-finals: Argentina defeating England and Spain overcoming France.
In 2020, Chao Boy accurately predicted six out of eight matches at the Euro tournament and correctly chose Italy as the champion. During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the 'prophet' lion predicted 19 out of 22 matches correctly, achieving an accuracy rate of over 86%. However, Chao Boy's prediction that France would defeat Argentina in the 2022 final proved incorrect, with Argentina ultimately winning.
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Chao Boy predicts the Argentina - England match. *MGR Online*.
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Chao Boy predicts the Spain - France match. *MGR Online*.
By Nhu Tam (Based on Bangkok Post, CH 3+)
