Chris Sutton Predicts Tense World Cup Quarter-Finals

BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton has laid out his predictions for the 2026 World Cup quarter-final ties, offering his insights into which teams will advance to the semi-finals. Sutton, who had a strong record in the previous round, believes the upcoming matches will be closely contested.

France vs. Morocco

Sutton is backing tournament favorites France to overcome Morocco in their quarter-final clash. Despite acknowledging Morocco’s capabilities, he points to their inconsistent performances, particularly their slow start against Canada in the previous round. The injury to key forward Ismael Saibari is also seen as a significant blow for the North African side. Sutton highlights France’s depth and resilience, citing Desire Doue’s impact from the bench in their last match as evidence of their strength. He anticipates France will have too much quality for Morocco, even if the African team finds its form.

Spain vs. Belgium

For the Spain versus Belgium fixture, Sutton predicts a comfortable victory for Spain. He notes Spain’s defensive solidity, having not conceded a goal yet in the tournament, but expresses concern over their attacking struggles against Portugal. However, he believes Spain’s dominance in possession will tire out Belgium, who he feels have exceeded expectations by reaching this stage. The injury to Amadou Onana represents a significant loss for Belgium’s midfield. Sutton doubts Belgium’s ability to break down Spain’s defense or be the first team to score against them.

Norway vs. England

The highly anticipated match between Norway and England is expected to be a tight affair, according to Sutton. He praises England’s resilience in their dramatic win over Mexico, but anticipates a different challenge against Norway. While acknowledging Orjan Nyland’s heroics for Norway against Brazil, Sutton believes the star power of Martin Odegaard and Erling Haaland will pose a significant threat. He particularly highlights Haaland’s exceptional movement and finishing ability. Sutton anticipates plenty of goals in this match and expects England’s attack, including Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, to find a way past Norway’s defense, even if the game opens up.

Argentina vs. Switzerland

Sutton expresses confidence in Argentina’s ability to navigate their quarter-final against Switzerland, despite their struggles in previous knockout rounds. He describes the South American teams, apart from Argentina, as a disappointment in the tournament. Even the holders have made hard work of their knockout ties, facing challenges against Cape Verde and Egypt. Sutton anticipates this match will also be a difficult test for Lionel Messi and his teammates.

Key facts

This analysis by Chris Sutton provides valuable context for football fans following the 2026 World Cup. His expert opinions on the quarter-final matchups offer a deeper understanding of the potential strategies and key player battles that could decide these crucial games.

Source: BBC Sport Football – Chris Sutton’s World Cup quarter-final predictions – https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c15y1j32jxko?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss