Jake's World Cup 2026 Predictions: Staked 15.50pts | Returned 17.55pts | P/L +2.05pts | ROI 13%
Football betting tips: World Cup
Uzbekistan vs Colombia - Thursday 03:00
1pt Abbosbek Fayzullaev 1+ shot on target at 9/4 (Sky Bet, Paddy Power)
Ghana vs Panama
- ITV1 - Thursday, 00:00 BST
- Venue: Toronto Stadium, Toronto
- Live odds, form and stats
Ghana are narrow favourites in their opener against Panama, with the North Americans a tough side to get a read on. They have impressed on their own continent for a long while now, but that doesn't mean too much given the level of opposition.
For context, in World Cup qualifying they played against sides ranked 179th, 133rd, 136th, 100th and 90th in FIFA's rankings, yet only won five of eight.
The same could be said for Ghana, who are now ranked at a lofty 73rd themselves after consistent poor performances, with the Black Stars edging out Madagascar (116th) to finish top of their qualifying group.
I'm going to sit this one out from a betting perspective as I can't get a read on either side.
Score prediction: Ghana 1-1 Panama (Sky Bet odds: 11/2)
Odds correct at 17:10 BST (16/06/26)
Uzbekistan vs Colombia
- BBC One - Thursday, 03:00 BST
- Venue: Mexico Stadium, Mexico City
- Live odds, form and stats
We've made it. The final game of the first round of group matches. An awful lot has happened in such a short space of time...
Anyway, Uzbekistan take on Colombia to round off matchday one, with the South Americans the strong 2/5 favourites to get the win.
Uzbekistan shouldn't be underestimated though, and they could very well do to Colombia what Saudi Arabia did to Uruguay.
Looking at the market, I think Uzbekistan's forwards are being underestimated, in particular sharp-shooting ABBOSBEK FAYZULLAEV, who top scored for them in qualifying.
He is a prolific shooter for club and country and so often hits the target, so the 9/4 on offer for him 1+ SHOT ON TARGET appeals.
Playing for CSKA Moscow in 23/24 and 24/25, he averaged 2.40 shots and 1.13 shots on target per 90, while this past season playing in Türkiye for Başakşehir he averaged 2.36 shots and 0.97 on target per 90.
For his national team, he averaged 1.14 shots on target per 90 at the Asian Cup and 1.00 per 90 during World Cup qualifying, with this bet landing in five of his last six.
Colombia are far from watertight defensively either, so hopefully Fayzullaev gets half a chance on Thursday morning.
Score prediction: Uzbekistan 1-2 Colombia (Sky Bet odds: 15/2)
Odds correct at 20:15 BST (16/06/26)
Already advised
Mexico vs South Africa - Thursday 20:00
✅ 1pt Teboho Mokoena to be carded at 11/4 (General)
❌ 0.5pt Raúl Jiménez to be carded at 10/1 (bet365)
South Korea vs Czechia - Friday 03:00
❌ 1pt The Draw at 11/5 (Betfred)
Canada vs Bosnia - Friday 20:00
❌ 1pt Derek Cornelius to be carded at 7/2 (General)
❌ 0.75pts Cyle Larin to be carded at 11/2 (bet365)
USA vs Paraguay - Saturday 02:00
✅ 2pts USA to win at evens (General)
Qatar vs Switzerland - Saturday 20:00
❌ 2.5pts Switzerland win to nil at 3/4 (William Hill, BetVictor)
Brazil vs Morocco - Saturday 23:00
✅ 0.5pt Ismael Saibari (Morocco) to score anytime at 5/1 (General)
Haiti vs Scotland - Sunday 02:00
✅ 1.5pts Scotland win to nil at 8/5 (BetVictor)
Australia vs Türkiye - Sunday 05:00
❌ 1pt Türkiye to win and under 2.5 goals at 11/4 (General)
Germany vs Curaçao - Sunday 18:00
✅ 1pt Joshua Kimmich (Germany) 1+ assist at 19/10 (Coral, Ladbrokes)
Netherlands vs Japan - Sunday 21:00
❌ 1pt Ayase Ueda (Japan) to score anytime at 11/4 (Sky Bet)
Côte d'Ivoire vs Ecuador - Monday 00:00
❌ 1pt Moises Caicedo to be carded at 3/1 (Sky Bet)
Sweden vs Tunisia - Monday 03:00
❌ 0.75pts Ismaël Gharbi to be carded at 11/2 (bet365)
Spain vs Cape Verde - Monday 17:00
✋ 1pt Àlex Baena 1+ assist at 5/2 (BOYLESports)
✋ 0.5pt Àlex Baena 2+ assists at 18/1 (BOYLESports)
Belgium vs Egypt - Monday 20:00
❌ 1pt Mohamed Hany to be carded at 15/4 (bet365)
Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay - Monday 23:00
✅ 1.5pts Saudi Arabia +1.25 Asian Handicap at 4/5 (bet365)
✋ 0.5pt Saudi Arabia to win draw no bet at 11/2 (Paddy Power)
❌ 1pt Mohamed Kanno to be carded at 10/3 (Sky Bet, bet365)
France vs Senegal - Tuesday 20:00
❌ 1.5pts Under 2.5 goals at 10/11 (bet365, BetFred)
Iraq vs Norway - Tuesday 23:00
❌ 1pt Hussein Ali to be carded at 4/1 (Sky Bet)
Argentina vs Algeria - Wednesday 02:00
❌ 1.5pts Lautaro Martinez to score anytime at 13/10 (William Hill)
Austria vs Jordan - Wednesday 05:00
✅ 2pts Austria to commit 12+ fouls at 11/10 (BetVictor)
Portugal vs DR Congo - Wednesday 18:00
❌ 1pt Cristiano Ronaldo 1+ shot on target from outside the box at 5/2 (Sky Bet, bet365)
England vs Croatia - Wednesday 21:00
✅ 1.5pts Luka Vušković to commit 2+ fouls at 12/5 (Coral, Ladbrokes)
❌ 0.5pts Luka Vušković to be carded at 6/1 (Sky Bet)
Uzbekistan vs Colombia - Thursday 03:00
✅ 1pt Abbosbek Fayzullaev 1+ shot on target at 9/4 (Sky Bet, Paddy Power)
More World Cup content from Sporting Life
- World Cup Acca
- World Cup betting guide
- Group A: Mexico; South Africa; South Korea; Czechia
- Group B: Canada; Bosnia; Qatar; Switzerland
- Group C: Brazil; Morocco; Haiti; Scotland
- Group D: USA; Paraguay; Australia; Turkiye
- Group E: Germany; Curacao; Ivory Coast; Ecuador
- Group F: Netherlands; Japan; Sweden; Tunisia
- Group G: Belgium; Egypt; Iran; New Zealand
- Group H: Spain; Cape Verde; Saudi Arabia; Uruguay
- Group I: France; Senegal; Iraq; Norway
- Group J: Argentina; Algeria; Austria; Jordan
- Group K: Portugal; DR Congo; Uzbekistan; Colombia
- Group L: England; Croatia; Ghana; Panama
- Outright preview
- Golden Boot preview
- Golden Ball preview
- FREE World Cup wallchart
- FREE World Cup sweepstake kit
- World Cup: All you need to know
- Fixtures, results and live scores
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.
