The road tothe final.

South KoreavCzechia

Solid but unspectacular on paper. Highlights territory.

Model: KOR 40 · draw 29 · CZE 31 · o2.5 48%

CanadavBosnia & Herz.

Alphonso Davies at a home World Cup, against a side built to frustrate.

Model: CAN 67 · draw 22 · BIH 11 · o2.5 48%

USAvParaguay

Co-hosts under genuine pressure in front of their own crowd.

Model: USA 45 · draw 28 · PAR 27 · o2.5 48%

QatarvSwitzerland

The undercard. Watchable, forgettable.

Model: QAT 2 · draw 11 · SUI 88 · o2.5 51%

HaitivScotland

Scotland's first World Cup match since 1998.

Model: HAI 14 · draw 24 · SCO 62 · o2.5 48%

AustraliavTürkiye

Arda Güler's tournament debut against a battle-hardened Australia.

Model: AUS 29 · draw 29 · TUR 42 · o2.5 48%

GermanyvCuraçao

Smallest nation ever at a World Cup. A great story that probably ends 4–0.

Model: GER 86 · draw 12 · CUR 2 · o2.5 49%

SwedenvTunisia

Gyökeres is the draw; the fixture isn't.

Model: SWE 55 · draw 26 · TUN 19 · o2.5 48%

SpainvCape Verde

European champions vs debutants. Expect target practice.

Model: ESP 90 · draw 9 · CPV 1 · o2.5 58%

Saudi ArabiavUruguay

Saudi beat Argentina in 2022. Uruguay have been warned.

Model: KSA 13 · draw 23 · URU 64 · o2.5 48%

IranvNew Zealand

The completist's fixture.

Model: IRN 62 · draw 24 · NZL 14 · o2.5 48%

IraqvNorway

Haaland's first World Cup match, 28 years after Norway's last. Iraq are mostly here to witness it.

Model: IRQ 4 · draw 16 · NOR 79 · o2.5 48%

AustriavJordan

Rangnick's pressing machine meets a Jordan side at their first finals. Curiosity value, mostly.

Model: AUT 58 · draw 25 · JOR 17 · o2.5 48%

PortugalvCongo DR

Ronaldo's sixth World Cup starts here, at 41. The opposition is incidental.

Model: POR 69 · draw 21 · COD 9 · o2.5 48%

GhanavPanama

Two qualifiers nobody feared, both eyeing the third-place lifeline already.

Model: GHA 26 · draw 28 · PAN 46 · o2.5 48%

UzbekistanvColombia

Uzbekistan's first World Cup match is against the form side of South American qualifying. Luis Díaz should enjoy himself.

Model: UZB 5 · draw 17 · COL 78 · o2.5 48%

CzechiavSouth Africa

Workmanlike against willing. One for the radio.

Model: CZE 50 · draw 28 · RSA 23 · o2.5 48%

SwitzerlandvBosnia & Herz.

Džeko, at 40, finally gets a second World Cup. Switzerland will not be sentimental about it.

Model: SUI 73 · draw 20 · BIH 8 · o2.5 48%

CanadavQatar

The hosts should win at a canter in Vancouver. Qatar tend to oblige.

Model: CAN 86 · draw 12 · QAT 2 · o2.5 48%

MexicovSouth Korea

A proper night at the Azteca, and probably Son's last World Cup. Group A's decider in disguise.

Model: MEX 79 · draw 16 · KOR 5 · o2.5 55%

USAvAustralia

Pochettino's hosts, an Australia side that refuses to go away, and a group tighter than anyone planned.

Model: USA 47 · draw 28 · AUS 25 · o2.5 48%

ScotlandvMorocco

Scotland meet the 2022 semi-finalists with the group maths already looming. The biggest Scottish match in a generation, at least until Brazil.

Model: SCO 20 · draw 27 · MAR 54 · o2.5 48%

BrazilvHaiti

Haiti's first World Cup since 1974 runs into a Brazil side with goals to spare. Sentiment only stretches so far.

Model: BRA 86 · draw 12 · HAI 2 · o2.5 49%

TürkiyevParaguay

Güler and Çalhanoğlu against the most stubborn defence in South American qualifying. Quietly the game of the day.

Model: TUR 40 · draw 29 · PAR 31 · o2.5 48%

NetherlandsvSweden

Gyökeres against Van Dijk is the contest. The rest may take care of itself for the Dutch.

Model: NED 63 · draw 24 · SWE 13 · o2.5 48%

GermanyvIvory Coast

Germany have made a habit of group-stage scares. The Ivorians have the legs to provide another.

Model: GER 57 · draw 26 · CIV 18 · o2.5 48%

EcuadorvCuraçao

Ecuador to win, comfortably, and probably early.

Model: ECU 84 · draw 14 · CUR 3 · o2.5 48%

TunisiavJapan

Japan expect to top this group. Tunisia exist to complicate expectations.

Model: TUN 7 · draw 20 · JPN 73 · o2.5 48%

SpainvSaudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia toppled Argentina in 2022. Lamine Yamal was 15 then; he isn't now.

Model: ESP 91 · draw 8 · KSA 1 · o2.5 59%

BelgiumvIran

The day's best fixture, which says more about the day. Still, Iran make nobody's life easy.

Model: BEL 57 · draw 26 · IRN 17 · o2.5 48%

UruguayvCape Verde

Cape Verde's debut tournament continues against Uruguay's old hands. Charming, briefly.

Model: URU 61 · draw 24 · CPV 14 · o2.5 48%

New ZealandvEgypt

Salah against a wall of white shirts. Patience required, his and yours.

Model: NZL 15 · draw 25 · EGY 60 · o2.5 48%

FrancevIraq

France with the handbrake off. Iraq's goalkeeper is in for a long one.

Model: FRA 87 · draw 11 · IRQ 2 · o2.5 51%

NorwayvSenegal

Haaland meets the most athletic defence he will see all month, with top spot likely riding on it.

Model: NOR 51 · draw 27 · SEN 22 · o2.5 48%

JordanvAlgeria

Evenly matched, modestly gifted, and quietly important for both. Lower your expectations and enjoy.

Model: JOR 22 · draw 27 · ALG 50 · o2.5 48%

PortugalvUzbekistan

Ronaldo's lot should stroll it. Uzbekistan didn't qualify by accident, mind.

Model: POR 77 · draw 18 · UZB 5 · o2.5 48%

EnglandvGhana

England against the lowest-ranked side in the group. Tuchel will want goals; the country will settle for no drama.

Model: ENG 88 · draw 10 · GHA 1 · o2.5 53%

PanamavCroatia

Croatia's golden generation winding down against Panama's finest hour. A professional win, most likely.

Model: PAN 14 · draw 24 · CRO 62 · o2.5 48%

ColombiavCongo DR

Colombia purring, Congo DR hanging on. One for the highlights reel, probably theirs.

Model: COL 70 · draw 21 · COD 9 · o2.5 48%

SwitzerlandvCanada

Group B's top spot settled in Vancouver, in front of the home crowd. Davies against Swiss machinery.

Model: SUI 41 · draw 29 · CAN 30 · o2.5 48%

Bosnia & Herz.vQatar

The dead rubber of the round, in all probability. Seattle deserves better.

Model: BIH 58 · draw 25 · QAT 16 · o2.5 48%

MoroccovHaiti

Morocco close out the group job in Atlanta. Haiti will run, then tire.

Model: MAR 79 · draw 17 · HAI 5 · o2.5 48%

CzechiavMexico

Top of Group A on the line at the Azteca. Mexico haven't topped a World Cup group since 2002, and the locals know it.

Model: CZE 3 · draw 13 · MEX 83 · o2.5 55%

South AfricavSouth Korea

Simultaneous with the Azteca, and possibly the livelier game if both still need a result.

Model: RSA 19 · draw 26 · KOR 55 · o2.5 48%

CuraçaovIvory Coast

The Ivorians should have too much. Curaçao overachieved just by getting here.

Model: CUR 10 · draw 21 · CIV 69 · o2.5 48%

JapanvSweden

Japan likely need a point, Sweden likely need more. Gyökeres against Asia's best-drilled defence.

Model: JPN 54 · draw 27 · SWE 20 · o2.5 48%

TunisiavNetherlands

The Dutch tidy up the group. Tunisia's fans bring the noise either way.

Model: TUN 3 · draw 15 · NED 81 · o2.5 48%

TürkiyevUSA

The hosts may well need a result against the group's strongest side. SoFi, loud and nervous.

Model: TUR 31 · draw 29 · USA 41 · o2.5 48%

ParaguayvAustralia

Quite possibly a straight shootout for the knockouts. Ugly, tense, and watchable for it.

Model: PAR 38 · draw 29 · AUS 33 · o2.5 48%

SenegalvIraq

Senegal expected to win while watching the other score. Iraq have nothing to lose, which rarely helps.

Model: SEN 65 · draw 23 · IRQ 12 · o2.5 48%

Cape VerdevSaudi Arabia

Two outsiders, one possible knockout place. Strange things happen in the small print.

Model: CPV 38 · draw 29 · KSA 33 · o2.5 48%

EgyptvIran

Salah's side and Iran scrapping for second place, in all likelihood. More needle than quality, and that's fine.

Model: EGY 33 · draw 29 · IRN 38 · o2.5 48%

New ZealandvBelgium

Belgium finish the job against the group's makeweights. Set and forget.

Model: NZL 3 · draw 15 · BEL 82 · o2.5 48%

PanamavEngland

Panama conceded six to England in 2018. The rematch should be gentler, slightly.

Model: PAN 2 · draw 12 · ENG 86 · o2.5 48%

CroatiavGhana

Croatia closing out another group on cruise control. Ghana need a miracle and know it.

Model: CRO 71 · draw 20 · GHA 8 · o2.5 48%

Congo DRvUzbekistan

The other Group K game. Both could yet sneak through, which is the kindest thing to say.

Model: COD 44 · draw 28 · UZB 28 · o2.5 48%

AlgeriavAustria

Second place in Group J probably settled here. Rangnick against Algeria's counterpunch.

Model: ALG 29 · draw 28 · AUT 43 · o2.5 48%