The last major match of the tournament will decide whether Spain or Argentina lift the 2026 World Cup, and BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton has offered a cautious assessment of the two sides ahead of the final.
Argentina’s temperament and Spain’s threat
Sutton told BBC Sport he does not regard this Argentina side as one of their most outstanding in history, but emphasised the team’s combative qualities and the influence of Lionel Messi. He suggested Argentina will rely on a compact defensive approach and seize selective attacking moments rather than playing expansively.
"I've seen Argentina numerous times at this tournament and, compared to their teams of the past, this is not an outstanding Argentina side ... They will throw everything they can at Spain - and of course they have Lionel Messi too."
He added that Argentina’s hallmark is a ferocious, aggressive approach that allows them to stay in tight games and find ways to win.
Predictions: pundit, AI and the public
The BBC has been running a prediction exercise through its World Cup game, comparing the forecasts of experts, a Microsoft Copilot Chat AI prompt and the public. The contest has run through the knockout phase and now stands with only the final and the bronze match remaining.
- Chris Sutton has been correct on 65 occasions (64%).
- AI has so far matched 66 correct picks (65%) and was the only predictor to get one semi-final right, selecting Argentina to beat England.
- The public or users remain in front with 72 correct predictions (71%) after 102 of 104 games.
The BBC described the AI’s input as produced by Microsoft Copilot Chat using the prompt to "predict the results of the World Cup final and bronze final." The site also invites readers to make their own choices in the World Cup predictor game.
What to expect in the final and bronze match
Sutton expects Argentina to adopt a deep defensive shape and attempt to pick their moments to attack, similar to the way they operated in the first half of their semi-final with England. He said Argentina might be tempted to press Spain more ambitiously — and he would welcome that — but warned such a strategy risks leaving them exposed to Spain’s qualities in possession.
As for the bronze final, the fixture pits France against England for third place in what Sutton called "the game no-one wanted to be part of" but which still carries pride and a final opportunity for both nations to finish the tournament on a high.
| Predictor | Correct picks | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|
| Users | 72 | 71% |
| AI (Copilot) | 66 | 65% |
| Chris Sutton | 65 | 64% |
The final will be decided between two contrasting blueprints: Spain’s technical, possession-focused game and Argentina’s resilient, aggressive style. For neutral observers and those taking part in the BBC’s prediction game, the tournament comes down to whether craft or grit will prevail.
Readers are invited to join the BBC World Cup predictor to register their own forecasts ahead of the final and the bronze decider.
