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RTLzwei Revives Paul as AI 'Paul 2.0' for 2026 World Cup

The channel will run 27 short post-news clips that use quirky team and player facts to issue playful match predictions while driving social engagement.

Overview

  • The Paul 2.0 mini-format launches with its first prediction for the tournament opening match on Thursday, June 11, 2026.
  • RTLzwei has produced 27 short clips that cover the opening game, all German matches, top-favorite encounters and every knockout tie from the round of 16 onward.
  • Clips will air after the RTLzwei News at 16:00 on weekdays and Friday for weekend fixtures, with the broadcaster also pushing the videos across its social channels.
  • Paul 2.0 bases its tips on quirky 'fun facts'—for example tattoos, married players or odd national records—rather than match statistics or expert analysis.
  • The project is framed as light entertainment that trades on nostalgia for the 2010 octopus oracle and is meant to boost audience engagement rather than serve as a serious forecasting tool.