The 2026-27 Wise Men Say Predictions for Sunderland AFC!

Our annual tradition of predicting how Sunderland's season will go is back!

We’re back with our predictions for Sunderland AFC’s upcoming 2026-27 season!

Disclaimer: We do these predictions before a ball is kicked, and we’ve done this every year for some time. Sure, it would be fairer to predict once we’ve done all of our transfer business and played a couple of games, but that’s not how it works. We go in blind and that’s usually why we’ve been hugely wrong in the past. Here’s our predictions from years gone by to prove just that.

MICHAEL LOUGH

This season, I would very much take a real world representation of the classic pub question, “would you take finishing 17th and winning the Europa League?” However, I think this team is far too good to finish in such a lowly league position, but not quite good enough to win the Europa League.

People are rightly getting twitchy about a lack of incoming transfers, but I think the value of continuity is an underrated one. Chris Rigg has looked terrific in pre-season and after a season of continued development and first team exposure for all our young talent, I believe we will line up against Ipswich in good shape.

We absolutely need another three players or so through the door, but so far our biggest victory has been to retain all the lads who got us to this point in the first place.

Predicted league finish: 11th
Predicted Europa League finish: Quarter Finals
Predicted FA Cup finish: Fifth Round
Predicted League Cup finish: Third Round
Player to watch: Chris Rigg

JON ELLENOR

This will be a tough season, and I want it that way. European football stretches a squad that was already stretched. But last season laid a foundation, and I believe we can build on it.

The Stadium of Light was a hard place to come last year. It will be harder this time. Add European nights under the lights and it becomes a fortress in the proper sense of the word.

We also avoid the Africa Cup of Nations this time, so the squad stays together through the winter. Small margins like that decide seasons.

I think this is our breakthrough year. Not survival, not consolidation. A real push towards the top of the league.

Predicted league position: 6th
Europa League progress: Quarter Finals
FA Cup progress: 5th Round
League Cup progress: Semi Finals
Player to watch: Enzo Le Fee

STEPHEN GOLDSMITH

Last season was the one where we needed the complete rebuild, and because this year I’m hoping some of these great young players improve even more, I’m relatively relaxed about the squad going into the season. That said, remembering how Forest started last season makes me a bit nervous when it comes to juggling the league with Europe. But I mean… That sentence? Europe? Let’s enjoy it.

We’ve had a really fun few years and have been blessed with some really likeable players and going to the matches feels like the ultimate peak at the moment. It’s the most I’ve looked forward to the start of a season in decades, and that includes last year because the idea we could’ve finished on like 20 points felt real. Being a boringly mid-table side with a run in Europe would suit me fine.

Predicted league position: 11th
Europa League progress: Semi Finals
FA Cup progress: 5th Round
League Cup progress: Third round
Player to watch: Chemsdine Talbi

JORDAN HERRINGTON

This season has the potential to be a special one. A season that could even eclipse last year’s which was a lot of people’s best ever.

I think success this year would be a solid league finish where we are never in any real danger of relegation but we give Europe a good go.

Slow transfer business has made some fans cautious however it’s fair to say KLD and Flo have more than gained our trust that they’ll get it right. With a few more arrivals to be added to our talented and still improving squad, I believe this will be enough to achieve our goals for the season.

Here’s hoping for some famous nights “under the lights” at the SOL and many memorable away trips across the continent.

Predicted league position: 13th
Europa League progress: Semi Final
FA Cup progress: 4th round
League Cup progress: 3rd round
Player to watch: Habib Diarra

STEPHEN KENNEDY

No one (other than Jim) saw anything like what happened last season as being remotely possible, yet here we are, about to set off on a European adventure. Slow transfer business is the only thing niggling for me at the moment, as we have a squad that finished strong last year and, barring any departures, should be stronger than they were back then.

Europe will undoubtedly take a toll, so I wonder if we’ll do a more sensible version of Ange’s Spurs, and look to ensure nothing too daft happens in the league whilst focusing on having a great time abroad.

A strong showing with some wobbles, but a lot of fun on the way. A season to enjoy as it unfolds.

Predicted league position: 12th
Europa League progress: Quarters
FA Cup progress: 4th round
League Cup progress: 4th round
Player to watch: Chemsdine Talbi

JIMMY REAY

Sadly I was too conservative in my predictions last season. Aiming to rectify that this time around.
The recent trend for English sides getting to the latter stages of European competitions (and winning them in some cases) gives us serious reason for optimism here. We are competing for players with sides in and around the top end of the other ‘Top 5’ leagues, and we know we can compete on the pitch with sides from the top end of the Premier League too.

‘Second Season Syndrome’ is an overblown concept as it is, and the clear ambition of those in charge gives me no reason to think that further strengthening of the squad won’t take place. Not to mention the experienced campaigners and winners we already possess (including numerous players who have gone deep in various tournaments and leagues in recent seasons).

It’s good we’re being written off again as well, this side thrives on defying the odds – everything we get told we can’t do we achieve. Let’s do that again this season, and above all else let’s just enjoy it. HAWAY.

Predicted league position: 7th
Europa League progress: Winner
FA Cup progress: Semi Final
League Cup progress: 4th Round
Player to watch: Chris Rigg

MATT WILSON

The summer has been a curious one. Yes, we’ve signed practically no one at the time of writing (apart from free agent Thomas Meunier and a half crocked Dayann Methalie whose transfer hangs in the balance) but at the same time we’re not desperate for new blood.

The squad lacks some depth, which will surely be addressed before deadline day, but we have a really strong team, young players who are only getting better and we’ve not lost any key players either… how many other clubs can say that?

Perhaps most crucially in a Premier League sporting so many new managers, we’ve kept ours and he’s a good’un. Things will be harder due to the Europa League of course… but we’re in the bloody Europa League!

We’ve got to enjoy it and I think we’ll have another positive season.

Predicted league position: 10th
Europa League progress: Final
FA Cup progress: Don’t care
League Cup progress: Don’t care
Player to watch: Noah Sadiki

JON LAMBERT

Well, last season I predicted 17th, so clearly underestimated what RLB was able to get out of such a newly formed group of players. That being said, I wasn’t alone in that assertion.

Recruitment has been dry to say the least, but I see this season as more of a top-up rather than an overhaul. Yes the squad needs more depth, yes, we need to maintain homegrown talent, and yes, we do need to retain our best assets.

Well there’s truth in the latter, as despite the insulting Chelsea bids, and worrying social media likes from family members… Granit Xhaka remained.

A useful acquisition of Belgium right back Thomas Meunier should bring vital experience to the squad. I expect a few more over the line, likely before the first home game.

League: 10th
Europa: Semi Finals
FA Cup: 4th Rnd
League Cup: 3rd Rnd
Player to Watch: Chemsdine Talbi

RICHARD EASTERBROOK

I haven’t been this excited about a season for some time. Sure, there was excitement and anticipation last season but there was a tiny voice in the back of my mind reminding me the previous Premier League campaign didn’t go so well, and it could happen again.

If there is a tiny voice, then they’ve shut up this time round.

The excitement is less around the Premier League, though, and more to do with our first qualification for European competition for 53 years, and all of the razzamatazz that will bring.

To that end, I’d not be too fussed if we finished lower this season – if you consider how bunched up the middle pack was last year, 13th wouldn’t be a huge disaster.

I wouldn’t say we should prioritise the Europa League but I’d love for us to give it a proper go. It’s not fanciful to suggest a club of our standing and with the quality at our disposal could get to the final, and I think we can do it.

Of course we need more bodies through the door but this season was always about quality over quantity. We finished seventh last year having started the season with Jenson Seelt in defence – I’m not worried about the slow transfer business this time around. The club hierarchy are clearly targeting the end of the window rather than getting the bulk of it done by the start of the season like they did last year. These two seasons are different beasts.

We should never, ever, take for granted that we’re going into a season with so little to worry about. Enjoy the ride.

Predicted league position: 13th
Europa League progress: Finalists
FA Cup progress: Fourth Round
League Cup progress: Fourth Round
Player to watch: Chris Rigg