The first round of World Cup 2026 group stage play ends on Wednesday, June 17 when Group K and L take to the pitch for the first time. Positioned as group favorites and among the top 5 in World Cup futures odds, England and Portugal get their tournament started. Portugal kicks off its Group K campaign against DR Congo at NRG Stadium in Houston.
England and Croatia, the top favored teams in Group L, tangle in a match that will decide the first place finisher in the pool. Ghana and Panama will fight in Toronto for valuable points in the other Group L match. The final first round group stage match takes place at 10 p.m. ET in Mexico with Columbia taking on Uzbekistan.
World Cup 2026 Group Matches Today
Several high-profile matches featuring contending countries close out the first round of group stage matches. England sits third on the World Cup championship odds board and is the World Cup betting odds favorite to win Group L, but faces a stiff test in a Croatian squad that consistently outperforms its market odds.
Ghana and Panama are left to fight for a third-place wild card berth into the round of 32 with valuable points at stake in their matchup. The game will be played in Toronto at 7 p.m. ET.
Group K also boasts substantial favorites at the top of the pool odds with both Portugal and Columbia looking for good starts. Cristiano Ronaldo leads Portugal in his final World Cup as a heavy favorite over DR Congo. Meanwhile Columbia closes out the day’s slate of games against predicted last place finisher Uzbekistan.
| Match | Time | Group | Stadium | Broadcast |
| Portugal vs. DR Congo | 1 p.m. ET | K | NRG Stadium, Houston | FOX, Telemundo, Peacock |
| England vs. Croatia | 4 p.m. ET | L | ATT Stadium, Arlington | FOX, Telemundo, Peacock |
| Ghana vs. Panama | 7 p.m. ET | L | BMO Field, Toronto | FS1, Telemundo, Peacock |
| Uzbekistan vs. Columbia | 10 p.m. ET | K | Estadio Azteca, Mexico | FS1, Telemundo, Peacock |
Today’s World Cup Groups Odds
- Moneyline odds for matches on June 17 favor Portugal, England, Ghana and Columbia in their respective games. The biggest match of the day is between Group L favorites England (-145) and Croatia (+400) with the winner having a path to first place.
- The second Group L match is considered a must win for Ghana (+105) and Panama (+265) if they want to survive. Ghana is a slight positive odds favorite.
- Favored to automatically qualify for the knockout stage as the top two teams in Group K, Portugal and Columbia are big favorites in their openers. Portugal is at -340 against DR Congo (+930) while Columbia is positioned at -255 for its duel with Uzbekistan (+763).
- 3-way moneyline betting offers the “early payout” feature. This means if the team you backed leads by two or more goals at any point during regular time your bet or leg will be settled as a winner, regardless of the final result. All bets that have not triggered the early payout condition will be settled on the full time result.
Match 1 Prediction and Betting Preview
Portugal is one of a handful of teams boasting shorter than 10/1 World Cup odds. They enter the tournament No. 5 in the FIFA Men’s World Rankings and have a deep roster that gives coach Roberto Martinez options few teams in the tournament have. Cristiano Ronaldo is on board for another World Cup, but the squad is loaded with younger stars Bruno Fernandes and Joao Neves.
The last time the Democratic Republic of Congo competed in the World Cup was in 1974 when the country was known as Zaire. They poached talent from top European leagues and have a dangerous attack, but cracking a disciplined Portuguese defense will be a challenge.
Match 2 Prediction and Betting Preview
The match between England and Croatia will likely play a role in deciding the Group L winner. England is the clear favorite in this much-anticipated match. The fast-paced attack is spearheaded by elite talent in the likes of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice. They also recorded a pair of clean sheets in their most recent friendlies showing off the defensive prowess.
With essentially the same roster that reached the final and finished third in the previous two World Cups, Croatia is a club that can cause problems. However, this figures to be the last tournament for several players, including stars Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic. The aging midfield could struggle containing England’s pressure over 90 minutes.
Match 3 Prediction and Betting Preview
With matches against England and Croatia looming, the Group L tilt between Ghana and Panama amounts to an elimination match. On paper Ghana is considered the stronger team due to their athleticism and star power. They will have to overcome difficulties experienced in recent friendlies, though. The club displayed a lack of discipline forcing a coaching change that could disrupt continuity.
They may not win the match but Panama will certainly make Ghana earn the points. This is a highly organized and defensively sound squad that excels at slowing down opponents. Panama lacks the individual game-breaking talent and will instead aim to frustrate Ghana into committing mistakes.
Match 4 Prediction and Betting Preview
Columbia is a heavy favorite in a match it should win against the lowest seeded team in the group. The Columbians have visions of winning the entire tournament with a seasoned core of players led by perhaps the most dangerous player in the group Luis Diaz. Along with James Rodriguez they possess the individual talent to break down Uzbekistan’s rigid defense.
For the first time as an independent country Uzbekistan is in the World Cup. They got here behind a strict defensive structure that chokes opposing attacks. To have success they must frustrate Columbia’s playmakers and slow the pace while waiting for a rapid counter attack or set-piece breakthrough.
Best World Cup Betting Angles for Today
- The best betting angles for World Cup 2026 group stage matches on June 17 involve backing established powers like England, Columbia and Portugal in multi-goal markets. With an inflated moneyline price there is little value backing Portugal and Columbia.
- Every team has shown the ability to lockdown defensively with some doing it better than others. Ghana and Panama will play conservatively with the matchup seen as a must-win for any hope of advancing.
- England has one of the top scorers in the game in Harry Kane and playmaking midfielders to assist him. Cristiano Ronald will add flair to Portugal’s lineup with both a target in the prop market.
- Prime is offering Same Game Parlays for soccer that gives bettors the option of combining multiple selections from one game into a single wager. The choices could include match results, totals, player props and more.
How Group Standings Affect Today’s Predictions
At the completion of matches on June 17 every country will have played their first game with a view of what needs to happen in the next match. With a clear vision of advancing to the knockout stage expect Portugal and Columbia to take care of business with eyes on their group stage final match on June 27.
Daily World Cup Prediction Summary
Though heavily favored, France faces a stiff test against a talented and physical Senegal squad. A scoreless draw with Saudi Arabia and a 3-2 loss to the United States in recent friendlies has Senegal looking less formidable than it actually is.
I’m anxious to see Norway and the dynamic duo of Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard. If those two don’t deliver consequential performances in the group stage, the Norwegians are done since the club relies heavily on them.
| Match | Prediction | Betting Angle |
| Portugal vs. DR Congo | Portugal Total Goals Over 2.5 (+133) | Portugal has a history of running up the score against lesser competition |
| England vs. Croatia | Draw (+289) | Disciplined defense on both sides won’t relent in a close match |
| Ghana vs. Panama | UNDER 2.5 Goals (-115) | A conservative, defensive approach leads to a low-scoring affair |
| Uzbekistan vs. Columbia | Columbia To Win Nil (+105) | Columbia’s defensive structure and possession metrics will limit counters |
Frequently Asked Questions
There are several elements used for World Cup predictions, including analysis of hard data, statistical input and environmental factors.
