The big one: quarter-finals are just around the corner at the 2026 World Cup, and football legend Chris Sutton has cranked up his crystal ball for more spot-on predictions. Having nailed seven out of eight results in the last-16 stage – with only a Swiss penalty shootout win over Colombia escaping his gaze – Sutton's reputation as one of the most astute pundits in the business is continuing to grow.
He believes England will face a stern test from Norway, but ultimately prevail. The fine details of this encounter are keeping fans on tenterhooks across the UK, with many eager to see how the Three Lions will get past their Norwegian opponents. Sutton's impressive record suggests his insights carry significant weight, outperforming both the BBC's AI predictor and the general public in the last round.
Other standout predictions from Sutton include France easing past Morocco – a team he believes has 'lethargic' tendencies, particularly evident in their first half against Canada. He also thinks they'll struggle without key forward Ismael Saibari, who's suffered an injury that will undoubtedly weaken Morocco's attacking threat. That said, Sutton predicts a 2-1 win for Les Bleus.
In another crucial quarter-final clash, Sutton is backing Spain to overcome Belgium – despite their struggles in the final third against Portugal. He believes they'll learn from past mistakes and dominate possession, making it difficult for Belgium to score, ultimately leading to a Spanish victory.
The BBC's AI predictor has largely aligned with Sutton's picks, but has still shown some vulnerabilities – notably failing to predict Brazil's defeat by Norway and the USA's elimination by Belgium. Meanwhile, the public continues to lead the way in this predictor game, having correctly called 68 out of 96 matches (71%) so far.