The opening round of the 2026 World Cup produced more upsets than most pundits expected. BBC Sport’s Chris Sutton and the new BBC predictor game both saw Spain beaten by Cape Verde, a result only 61 of 37,000 participants foresaw, while 67 backed a Cape Verde win. Sutton correctly called 12 of the 24 first‑group matches, edging out the AI’s 13 correct picks and the public’s 14.

In Group C, Sutton projected Switzerland to finish as group winners and forecast a 1‑1 draw with Bosnia‑Herzegovina, citing the Swiss’s missed chances against Qatar. The AI, however, gave Switzerland a 2‑1 advantage. Sutton also predicted Canada to secure a 1‑0 victory over co‑hosts Qatar after a hard‑working display against Bosnia, a result that would give the North Americans their first World Cup win since 1986.

For the Scotland‑Morocco encounter, Sutton backs a 1‑1 stalemate, arguing Steve Clarke will add a midfielder or a centre‑half and likely start Che Adams for his versatility. The AI favors a 2‑1 Moroccan win, noting Morocco’s stronger tactical balance. With eight of the twelve third‑placed teams progressing, Scotland must avoid a heavy loss to preserve a chance of advancing to the round of 32.