The man who successfully predicted the last three World Cup winners with his complex data model has them exiting in the first round, as does a model from investment bank Goldman Sachs, which also uses extensive data to reach its conclusions.
The good news, however, is that these models are clearly not infallible, as they predict different outcomes for the tournament winner.
Bafana Bafana have exited in the group stage in all three of their previous World Cup appearances in 1998, 2002 and 2010. They managed two points in the first of those tournaments, and then four and four in the next two.
Four points should be enough to advance this time around, with eight of the 12 best third-placed teams progressing to the Round of 32 in the expanded 48-team tournament.
South Africa are ranked 60th in the world and face Mexico (15th) in the tournament opener on June 11. They will then meet the Czech Republic (41st) on June 18 and South Korea (25th) six days later.
So it would be no surprise if they finished bottom of the group based on rankings alone, though coach Hugo Broos will be quietly confident of causing an upset.
German economist Joachim Clement correctly predicted that Germany (2014), France (2018) and Argentina (2022) would lift the trophy in the last three editions.
Clement's model takes into account various factors, including national population, economy, climate and FIFA rankings.
He has Mexico, the Czech Republic and South Korea advancing from the group, with Bafana Bafana finishing bottom.
His predicted tournament winner? The Netherlands beating Portugal in the final.
Goldman Sachs has also put its analytical skills to the test, with many of its conclusions based on Elo ratings, a complex ranking system used across many sports for forecasting outcomes.
The investment bank also has Bafana's three group opponents advancing to the Round of 32, but predicts that Spain will beat Argentina in the final. It has the Netherlands losing to France in the quarter-finals.
Is there a glimmer of hope for Bafana fans?
On The Pitch ran a simulation of the 2026 World Cup 50,000 times and in 28% of those, South Africa advanced from the group stage. In other words, if the tournament were played four times, Bafana would progress once.
But then the model also had Evidence Makgopa as a key player for the team and starting alongside Lyle Foster, with Mbekezeli Mbokazi on the bench, so make of that what you will.