With only 16 nations remaining in the 2026 World Cup, the path to the final at MetLife Stadium becomes clearer. BBC Sport analyst Chris Sutton reflects on his performance, noting that while he correctly predicted 13 of the last 32 matches, Paraguay’s surprise victory over Germany defied most expectations.
Currently, the public leads the overall prediction leaderboard with a 70% success rate, outpacing both Sutton and AI. As the tournament reaches the knockout phase, featuring key fixtures like Mexico versus England and Paraguay against France, the pressure intensifies. Sutton suggests that Canada’s spirited campaign will likely conclude against Morocco, despite the positive influence of manager Jesse Marsch.
Addressing the potential for upsets, Sutton highlights Brazil’s tactical flexibility under Carlo Ancelotti but predicts a difficult encounter against Norway. Citing historical trends, he believes Norway’s goalkeeper, Orjan Nyland, may secure a penalty shootout victory for his team. Elsewhere, Sutton anticipates England will overcome the challenges of altitude to beat Mexico, while expressing doubts regarding Cristiano Ronaldo’s impact on Portugal’s chances against Spain. Finally, he favors Colombia to edge out Switzerland in a tightly contested match.
