Predictions

By Espinho Santos · World Cup 2026 Analyst Of the four fixtures in Group L, this is the one both sides can genuinely win. England and Croatia await in the matches ahead for both Ghana and Panama — and with those two opponents representing formidable obstacles, the Group L opener at BMO Field in Toronto on Wednesday, June 17 carries enormous practical weight. Lose here, and the path to the...
Read more »

By Espinho Santos · World Cup 2026 Analyst No other fixture in the first round carries quite this much baggage. England and Croatia met in the 2018 World Cup semi-final, where Modrić's side broke English hearts with a 2-1 extra-time win. They met again at Euro 2020, England winning 1-0. And now, on Wednesday, June 17, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, they meet a third time in a major...
Read more »

By Espinho Santos · World Cup 2026 Analyst Making your World Cup debut at the Estadio Azteca, one of football's most iconic venues, against a Colombia side led by James Rodríguez and Luis Díaz is about as daunting an introduction as the draw could have produced. But Uzbekistan are here on merit. The White Wolves qualified ahead of Australia and China in the AFC third round, finishing second...
Read more »

By Espinho Santos · World Cup 2026 Analyst Fifty-two years. That is how long DR Congo have waited for this moment. Their return to the World Cup — they last appeared as Zaire in 1974 — begins on Wednesday, June 17 at NRG Stadium in Houston against Portugal, the reigning Nations League champions and one of the tournament's leading contenders. For Cristiano Ronaldo, it is a record sixth World...
Read more »

By Espinho Santos · World Cup 2026 Analyst Austria vs Jordan closes out the first round of Group J games at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday, June 17 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Austria walk in as strong favourites. Naturally, they will see this as a game they have to take. Jordan, meanwhile, are making their World Cup bow. As a result, they arrive free of any pressure....
Read more »

By Espinho Santos · World Cup 2026 Analyst Argentina vs Algeria opens Group J at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday, June 17 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The holders are heavy favourites, and rightly so. But openers have a habit of being tense. Argentina are chasing back-to-back titles. Algeria are back at a World Cup for the first time since 2014 and arrive with genuine...
Read more »

By Espinho Santos · World Cup 2026 Analyst Iraq vs Norway gets Group I going at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday, June 17 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The odds scream Norway. The occasion tells a different story. Iraq are at a World Cup for the first time in 40 years. Norway have waited 28 years to get back. Both turn up with a tale to tell, but only one of them has...
Read more »

By Espinho Santos · World Cup 2026 Analyst France vs Senegal opens Group I at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, June 16 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The bookies have France as comfortable favourites. The history says be careful. Senegal dumped France out on day one back in 2002. They turn up now as the strongest team Africa has to offer. France have a knock or two, but...
Read more »

By Espinho Santos · World Cup 2026 Analyst Four years ago, Saudi Arabia beat Argentina. It remains one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history, and it is the shadow that hangs over every conversation about the Green Falcons entering this tournament. Can they do it again? Uruguay at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Monday, June 15 is a very different proposition to Messi's side — tighter,...
Read more »

By Espinho Santos · World Cup 2026 Analyst Cape Verde have never played at a World Cup. On Monday, June 15 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, their first ever match is against Spain — the reigning European champions, ranked number one in the world, and among the leading favourites to lift the trophy in July. It is about as brutal a debut fixture as the draw could have produced. And yet, the...
Read more »