Have the Simpsons predicted the 2018 World Cup semi-final?

The Simpsons may have predicted a World Cup final of Mexico against Portugal. Photo / Supplied

Mexico and Portugal fans are starting to wonder if they are destined to reach the World Cup semi-finals in Russia - because of a Simpsons episode from 1997.

The animated sitcom has a knack for predicting the future, most notably featuring Donald Trump as US President in an episode 18 years ago and also foreseeing Disney buying 21st Century Fox, the Daily Mail reports.

And people are now wondering if The Simpsons have predicted the World Cup semi-finals this year after social media users stumbled across the 1997 episode 'The Cartridge Family'.

A Simpsons episode shows Mexico vs Portugal in a game to decide 'the best nation on earth'.

In the episode, the residents of Springfield are told to 'open wide for some soccer' and go see the match to decide 'which nation is the greatest on earth: Mexico or Portugal'.

Unfortunately, Mexico lost against Sweden on Wednesday, dashing fans' dreams of a Portugal/Mexico final - but Mexico may yet face off against Potugal in the semi-final.

There also appears to be a link to the Mexico team from earlier this year. On the TV advert in the episode, a Mexico player is seen in a hot tub with bikini-clad girls, which is allegedly what happened at the team's pre-World Cup party.

Portuguese newspaper Eco reported: "Although there is no clear indication of what year the match takes place in, one detail has led viewers to believe that it's the 2018 World Cup.

Many people are starting to believe The Simpsons have predicted this year's World Cup final.

"There seems to be a reference to the scandal that recently plagued the Mexican team who allegedly partied with several women before the beginning of the tournament."

If Portugal had have won Group B it would have meant the teams could have met earlier in the tournament, but Cristiano Ronaldo first missed a penalty before a late contentious VAR call saw Iran equalise to help Spain finish top.

Apparently there’s an episode of The Simpsons that’s predicted a #WorldCup final for Mexico...

...anyone know where we can find the episode predicting a Bayer 04 Leverkusen Bundesliga title in 2018/19? pic.twitter.com/bVPxqDki7V

— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) June 27, 2018

Apparently the Simpsons predicted that Mexico and Portugal would go to the final of the World Cup, and we all know what happens when they predict stuff 👀

— Kofi 💫 (@KofiFromGH) June 27, 2018

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

— nes (@saturnnes) June 22, 2018

The simpsons predicted that Mexico would make it to the World Cup final. I trust this outcome.

— Jules ✨ (@bibidibobidyboo) June 26, 2018

The reaction to the episode on social media has been crazy with even Bayer Leverkusen cottoning on to it.

The German club Tweeted on Tuesday: 'Apparently there's an episode of The Simpsons that's predicted a World Cup final for Mexico... ... anyone know where we can find the episode predicting a Bayer 04 Leverkusen Bundesliga title in 2018/19?'

One Twitter user promised to get the Simpsons shaved into his hair if Portugal and Mexico reach the final while another said: "I get it now. Ronaldo missed the penalty so we could end in second place and fulfil the Simpsons' prediction."