England face DR Congo in the World Cup 2026 last 32, and BBC Sport’s football expert Chris Sutton has already called it. Sixteen of the 48 teams are heading home after the first knockout round, while the biggest talking point is whether Brazil are going out. At the end of the road lies one destination: the final at MetLife Stadium near New York City on 19 July.
Chris Sutton’s prediction for England vs DR Congo
Chris Sutton backs England to see off DR Congo in the last 32, pointing to the depth and tournament experience of Thomas Tuchel’s squad. The BBC pundit’s calls drew plenty of attention from the more than 50,000 users now playing the BBC’s new predictor game across the headline knockout ties.
Sutton’s wider message is a warning, though: knockout football turns on fine margins, and an early scare against a fearless DR Congo side cannot be ruled out. A prediction wins nothing, and the Three Lions will have to prove it on the pitch where there is no room for error.
Brazil going out? The shock shaping the bracket
Brazil could be eliminated in the last 32 — the scenario lighting up the entire tournament. Sutton does not dismiss it, and neither does the BBC’s AI. For England fans, it is a strategic detail: a bracket without the five-time winners blows the route to the latter stages wide open.
Elsewhere in the last 32, holders Argentina meet surprise package Cape Verde. The biggest shock of the final group games came from a different team altogether, though. Sutton and the AI both tipped Cape Verde to lose to Saudi Arabia, yet 39% of predictor users correctly went for the draw — proof that upsets are everywhere this summer.
The road to the MetLife Stadium final
To lift the trophy on 19 July at MetLife Stadium, England must win four straight knockout ties without slipping. The 48-team format lengthens the run and scatters traps, but it also opens doors whenever a heavyweight tumbles out early.
Sutton’s verdict for England supporters is blunt: take nothing for granted. The last 32 will send 16 nations home, and every match is decided by details. For the Three Lions, the challenge is turning favourites’ billing into results, round after round, starting with DR Congo.
FAQ
When is the World Cup 2026 final?
The 2026 World Cup final will be played on 19 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium near New York City.
How many teams are eliminated in the first knockout round?
Of the 48 teams in the tournament, 16 are eliminated after the last 32, leaving half the field still standing.
What is Chris Sutton’s prediction for England vs DR Congo?
BBC Sport expert Chris Sutton backs England to beat DR Congo in the last 32, citing the squad’s depth and tournament experience, while warning that knockout games can throw up scares.
Could Brazil really be knocked out?
Yes. Both Chris Sutton and the BBC’s AI openly raise the prospect of Brazil being eliminated in the last 32, which would be one of the biggest shocks of the tournament.
What is the BBC predictor game?
It is a new BBC game with more than 50,000 users predicting results. In the latest match, 39% correctly tipped Cape Verde to draw with Saudi Arabia, going against both Sutton and the AI.
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