World Cup
2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 Preview: Bracket 1
by Chike Nwoye
28 Jun 2026
The group stage of the World Cup gave us everything we could have hoped for: memorable storylines, shocking upsets, and goals... plenty of goals. A record-breaking 215 of them, in fact.
The first half of the knockout bracket is headlined by a mouthwatering clash between the Netherlands and Morocco, while the Round of 16 could potentially deliver heavyweight meetings between Germany and France, as well as Spain against either Croatia or Portugal. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. First, here are our World Cup betting tips for the Round of 32, with the picks we believe offer the best value for your betting stake.
- Total Odds: 97.60
- Booking Code: 681TJJ
- Acca Bonus: 5%
The group stage of the World Cup gave us everything we could have hoped for: memorable storylines, shocking upsets, and goals... plenty of goals. A record-breaking 215 of them, in fact.
The first half of the knockout bracket is headlined by a mouthwatering clash between the Netherlands and Morocco, while the Round of 16 could potentially deliver heavyweight meetings between Germany and France, as well as Spain against either Croatia or Portugal. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. First, here are our World Cup betting tips for the Round of 32, with the picks we believe offer the best value for your betting stake.
- Total Odds: 97.60
- Booking Code: 681TJJ
- Acca Bonus: 5%
South Africa vs. Canada - Betting Tips
South Africa head into their first-ever World Cup knockout match on the back of consecutive clean sheets, with Teboho Mokoena returning from suspension to strengthen Hugo Broos' disciplined side. Bafana Bafana will once again look to frustrate opponents with a compact defensive setup before breaking quickly through Evidence Makgopa, Thapelo Maseko and Oswin Appollis.
Canada are slight favourites but have injury concerns. Ismaël Koné has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament, Alphonso Davies is unlikely to start as he’s still recovering from injuries, while Stephen Eustáquio faces a late fitness test. Despite those setbacks, Jesse Marsch is expected to stick with his attacking 4-4-2, led by Jonathan David and Cyle Larin.
This looks like a classic clash of styles with Canada creating more chances. It must be said, though, that South Africa have shown they can stay in games making this a potential low scoring game. Also, with Canada finishing second in their group, they lost their home advantage and this game will be played in the United States. It does make things slightly trickier for them, but they should eventually get the job done.
Betting Tips:
Netherlands vs. Morocco - Betting Tips
The Netherlands head into this Round of 32 clash as slight favourites. Ronald Koeman's side topped Group F with seven points after a draw with Japan and convincing wins over Sweden and Tunisia, scoring 10 goals in the process, the joint-highest tally at the tournament alongside Germany and France. Even more impressive, they've scored those 10 goals from just 5.24 expected goals, highlighting their clinical finishing.
Morocco, meanwhile, has been one of the tournament's dependable teams. After drawing with Brazil, they beat Scotland and Haiti to reach consecutive World Cup knockout stages, becoming only the third African nation to achieve that feat. Their 4-2 win over Haiti also made them the highest-scoring African nation in World Cup history.
Back to the Dutch. They are unbeaten in six World Cup matches against African opposition (five wins, one draw), including a 2-1 victory over Morocco in their only previous World Cup meeting in 1994. However, the Atlas Lions have already shown they can compete with elite teams and possess a major threat in Ismael Saibari, who has scored in all three group games. With Brian Brobbey also on three goals, both sides boast in-form forwards, making the goals markets attractive for our online betting community, and we have the best odds for that.
Betting Tips:
Germany vs. Paraguay - Betting Tips
Germany is the clear favourite here despite ending the group stage with a surprise 2-1 defeat to Ecuador. Julian Nagelsmann's side had already secured top spot after beating Curaçao 7-1 and Ivory Coast 2-1, scoring 10 goals overall through seven different players. Deniz Undav has been the standout finisher with three goals, all from the bench, while Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz continue to lead one of the tournament's most dangerous attacks.
Paraguay squeezed into the knockout rounds as one of the best third-placed teams after recovering from a 4-1 loss to the USA. A 1-0 win over Türkiye and a goalless draw with Australia were enough to progress, with Gustavo Alfaro's side relying on a disciplined defensive shape that has produced back-to-back clean sheets. The South Americans will hope their compact 4-5-1 can frustrate another attacking heavyweight, while their attack will be boosted by the return of Miguel Almirón, although Diego Gómez is suspended.
Germany should dominate possession and chances, making goals and Germany win markets attractive. However, Paraguay's defensive approach could keep the game tighter than many expect, especially in the opening stages.
Betting Tips:
France vs. Sweden - Betting Tips
Three wins from three and 10 goals scored underlined just how dangerous this France side is. In their 4-1 win over a heavily rotated Norway team, Ousmane Dembele reminded everyone why he is the reigning Ballon d'Or winner with a stunning first-half hat-trick. Kylian Mbappe, who set up two of those goals, also showed he can hurt teams as a creator just as much as a finisher, having already found the net four times in the opening two matches. Beating this French side almost feels impossible unless you can match their firepower going forward, but if there's one team capable of doing that, it's Sweden.
Sweden booked their place in the knockout stages after finishing as one of the best third-placed teams. Their attack has clicked into gear, producing seven goals, with star forwards Viktor Gyökeres (one goal, two assists) and Alexander Isak (one goal, three assists) both hitting top form. Then there's Anthony Elanga, who may not be the best at maths (after collapsing to the ground at full-time on Matchday 3 thinking Sweden were out, only to discover they had actually qualified), but his two well-taken goals against the Netherlands and Japan highlighted the quality he brings. The real concern for Sweden, though, is at the back.
While Sweden scored an impressive seven goals during the group stage, they also shipped seven at the other end. Even more worrying, their last clean sheet came 15 matches ago against Hungary in June last year. Those are hardly encouraging numbers when you're about to face an attack as ruthless as France's and I believe this will be a straightforward win for the 2-time champions.
Betting Tips:
Belgium vs. Senegal - Betting Tips
These two sides needed huge wins on Matchday 3 to make it to the knockout stage and they delivered just that. Belgium, who had drawn their opening two games, hammered New Zealand 5-1 to top their group while Senegal, who had lost to France and Norway grabbed a much needed 5-0 win over 10-man Iraq to qualify as one of the best third place sides.
Belgium may not have looked at it before Matchday 3, but they are in fine form. The Red Devils are now 16 matches unbeaten across all competitions (10 wins, six draws) and have averaged an impressive 3.1 goals per game over their last 10 outings. Speaking of goals, that should be on the cards. Five of Belgium's last 10 matches and six of Senegal's last 10 have averaged over 2.5 goals.
Belgium will start as deserved favourites given their unbeaten run and attacking quality, but Senegal have already shown they can bounce back from adversity, making this a potentially entertaining knockout contest with goals at both ends. My bet of the day is for the Lions of Teranga to go through but, to play it safe, I’ll go with the HTUP feature.
Betting Tips:
United States of America vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina - Betting Tips
The United States begin their knockout campaign on home soil against Bosnia and Herzegovina after topping Group D with wins over Paraguay and Australia before a largely inconsequential 3-2 defeat to Türkiye, a match in which Mauricio Pochettino heavily rotated his squad. With home support once again behind them, the Americans will expect a much stronger performance.
Bosnia reached the Round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams after collecting four points from three matches, finishing with a 3-1 win over Qatar. Sergej Barbarez's side have shown they can defend in numbers and are comfortable sitting deep before looking to strike on the counter.
The United States have been one of the tournament's better attacking sides, scoring eight goals in the group stage while keeping one clean sheet. Folarin Balogun has been particularly clinical, scoring twice from an expected goals (xG) total of just 0.88, making him a worthy candidate in the “anytime goalscorer” market. I expect the visitors to adopt a low block in a bid to frustrate the hosts, but the United States’ quality, depth and home advantage should be enough to secure the win.
Betting Tips:
Spain vs. Austria - Betting Tips
Spain topped their group as many expected, but their performances were far from convincing. They kicked off their campaign with a disappointing goalless draw against World Cup debutants Cabo Verde, while their 1-0 win over Uruguay on Matchday 3 came largely thanks to a Fernando Muslera howler so costly that the veteran goalkeeper asked to be substituted at half-time. Their only truly convincing display came against Saudi Arabia and, with all due respect, it was Saudi Arabia.
There are also concerns over Lamine Yamal's fitness, while Nico Williams has been ruled out indefinitely through injury. It's worth remembering that those two youngsters were instrumental in Spain's European Championship triumph two years ago. The biggest positive for La Roja has been their defense, which has been rock solid and is one of only two, alongside Mexico, yet to concede a goal at this tournament.
Austria played a risky game on Matchday 3 against Algeria. With a draw enough to send both teams into the knockout rounds, both sides looked content at 2-2, and the final 30 minutes were uneventful. But Riyad Mahrez's stoppage-time strike for Algeria in the 93rd minute suddenly left Austria staring at possible elimination. Then Saša Kalajdžić came off the bench in the 94th minute and rescued them with an equaliser two minutes later to secure qualification. It made for great drama, but it was a gamble that almost backfired.
This promises to be a fascinating clash of styles, with Ralf Rangnick's Austria among the world's best pressing teams, while Spain remain arguably the best at controlling possession. I haven't been fully convinced by Spain so far, but I think their defensive solidity could be what separates them from an Austrian team that has given up 6 goals.
Betting Tips:
Portugal vs. Croatia - Betting Tips
One of my favourite scenes in television history is a dialogue between Tywin Lannister and Arya Stark at Harrenhal in Game of Thrones. Tywin had no idea he was speaking to a Stark, so the two shared an honest conversation that he found remarkably insightful for a girl her age. When he asked how her father died, he expected the usual answers: old age, illness, maybe a battle. Instead, Arya looked him dead in the eye and replied, "Loyalty."
Portugal's loyalty to Cristiano Ronaldo could be the death of them. A few years ago, saying that would have been considered blasphemy worthy of jail time, but in 2026, it is a fair assessment. Their commanding 5-0 win over a poor Uzbekistan side remains their only convincing performance at this World Cup, and it came in between draws against DR Congo and Colombia. In those two matches, Portugal struggled to break down organized defences, while Ronaldo - who has played every single minute of the tournament - barely influenced the game. It's easy to criticise a 41-year-old, but the Al Nassr forward has looked more like a liability than an asset whenever Portugal have faced decent opposition.
Croatia, meanwhile, endured a nightmare start, thoroughly outplayed in a 4-2 defeat to England. But they responded like a team that knows how to survive at major tournaments, edging past Panama 1-0 before beating Ghana 2-1 to finish second in Group L. Petar Sučić, Nikola Vlašić, Ante Budimir, Martin Baturina, and Petar Musa all got on the scoresheet during the group stage, while midfield maestro Luka Modrić was instrumental in Croatia's two victories.
These sides look evenly matched, even if Portugal boast more talent on paper. The difference is Croatia have built a reputation for squeezing every ounce out of the squad they have, and they always raise their level when the World Cup comes around. They've also improved with every game at this tournament. If Portugal doesn't make the big call before this one, loyalty may well be the death of them.
Betting Tips:
Get in on all the World Cup action with BetKing, and tap into our daily odds boosts from the rest of the group stage into the knockout rounds. Sign up on the best betting app today, and book a bet with the code above to profit from these great tips. Remember to bet responsibly and join our Telegram community for daily updates and free bets.
South Africa vs. Canada - Betting Tips
South Africa head into their first-ever World Cup knockout match on the back of consecutive clean sheets, with Teboho Mokoena returning from suspension to strengthen Hugo Broos' disciplined side. Bafana Bafana will once again look to frustrate opponents with a compact defensive setup before breaking quickly through Evidence Makgopa, Thapelo Maseko and Oswin Appollis.
Canada are slight favourites but have injury concerns. Ismaël Koné has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament, Alphonso Davies is unlikely to start as he’s still recovering from injuries, while Stephen Eustáquio faces a late fitness test. Despite those setbacks, Jesse Marsch is expected to stick with his attacking 4-4-2, led by Jonathan David and Cyle Larin.
This looks like a classic clash of styles with Canada creating more chances. It must be said, though, that South Africa have shown they can stay in games making this a potential low scoring game. Also, with Canada finishing second in their group, they lost their home advantage and this game will be played in the United States. It does make things slightly trickier for them, but they should eventually get the job done.
Betting Tips:
Netherlands vs. Morocco - Betting Tips
The Netherlands head into this Round of 32 clash as slight favourites. Ronald Koeman's side topped Group F with seven points after a draw with Japan and convincing wins over Sweden and Tunisia, scoring 10 goals in the process, the joint-highest tally at the tournament alongside Germany and France. Even more impressive, they've scored those 10 goals from just 5.24 expected goals, highlighting their clinical finishing.
Morocco, meanwhile, has been one of the tournament's dependable teams. After drawing with Brazil, they beat Scotland and Haiti to reach consecutive World Cup knockout stages, becoming only the third African nation to achieve that feat. Their 4-2 win over Haiti also made them the highest-scoring African nation in World Cup history.
Back to the Dutch. They are unbeaten in six World Cup matches against African opposition (five wins, one draw), including a 2-1 victory over Morocco in their only previous World Cup meeting in 1994. However, the Atlas Lions have already shown they can compete with elite teams and possess a major threat in Ismael Saibari, who has scored in all three group games. With Brian Brobbey also on three goals, both sides boast in-form forwards, making the goals markets attractive for our online betting community, and we have the best odds for that.
Betting Tips:
Germany vs. Paraguay - Betting Tips
Germany is the clear favourite here despite ending the group stage with a surprise 2-1 defeat to Ecuador. Julian Nagelsmann's side had already secured top spot after beating Curaçao 7-1 and Ivory Coast 2-1, scoring 10 goals overall through seven different players. Deniz Undav has been the standout finisher with three goals, all from the bench, while Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz continue to lead one of the tournament's most dangerous attacks.
Paraguay squeezed into the knockout rounds as one of the best third-placed teams after recovering from a 4-1 loss to the USA. A 1-0 win over Türkiye and a goalless draw with Australia were enough to progress, with Gustavo Alfaro's side relying on a disciplined defensive shape that has produced back-to-back clean sheets. The South Americans will hope their compact 4-5-1 can frustrate another attacking heavyweight, while their attack will be boosted by the return of Miguel Almirón, although Diego Gómez is suspended.
Germany should dominate possession and chances, making goals and Germany win markets attractive. However, Paraguay's defensive approach could keep the game tighter than many expect, especially in the opening stages.
Betting Tips:
France vs. Sweden - Betting Tips
Three wins from three and 10 goals scored underlined just how dangerous this France side is. In their 4-1 win over a heavily rotated Norway team, Ousmane Dembele reminded everyone why he is the reigning Ballon d'Or winner with a stunning first-half hat-trick. Kylian Mbappe, who set up two of those goals, also showed he can hurt teams as a creator just as much as a finisher, having already found the net four times in the opening two matches. Beating this French side almost feels impossible unless you can match their firepower going forward, but if there's one team capable of doing that, it's Sweden.
Sweden booked their place in the knockout stages after finishing as one of the best third-placed teams. Their attack has clicked into gear, producing seven goals, with star forwards Viktor Gyökeres (one goal, two assists) and Alexander Isak (one goal, three assists) both hitting top form. Then there's Anthony Elanga, who may not be the best at maths (after collapsing to the ground at full-time on Matchday 3 thinking Sweden were out, only to discover they had actually qualified), but his two well-taken goals against the Netherlands and Japan highlighted the quality he brings. The real concern for Sweden, though, is at the back.
While Sweden scored an impressive seven goals during the group stage, they also shipped seven at the other end. Even more worrying, their last clean sheet came 15 matches ago against Hungary in June last year. Those are hardly encouraging numbers when you're about to face an attack as ruthless as France's and I believe this will be a straightforward win for the 2-time champions.
Betting Tips:
Belgium vs. Senegal - Betting Tips
These two sides needed huge wins on Matchday 3 to make it to the knockout stage and they delivered just that. Belgium, who had drawn their opening two games, hammered New Zealand 5-1 to top their group while Senegal, who had lost to France and Norway grabbed a much needed 5-0 win over 10-man Iraq to qualify as one of the best third place sides.
Belgium may not have looked at it before Matchday 3, but they are in fine form. The Red Devils are now 16 matches unbeaten across all competitions (10 wins, six draws) and have averaged an impressive 3.1 goals per game over their last 10 outings. Speaking of goals, that should be on the cards. Five of Belgium's last 10 matches and six of Senegal's last 10 have averaged over 2.5 goals.
Belgium will start as deserved favourites given their unbeaten run and attacking quality, but Senegal have already shown they can bounce back from adversity, making this a potentially entertaining knockout contest with goals at both ends. My bet of the day is for the Lions of Teranga to go through but, to play it safe, I’ll go with the HTUP feature.
Betting Tips:
United States of America vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina - Betting Tips
The United States begin their knockout campaign on home soil against Bosnia and Herzegovina after topping Group D with wins over Paraguay and Australia before a largely inconsequential 3-2 defeat to Türkiye, a match in which Mauricio Pochettino heavily rotated his squad. With home support once again behind them, the Americans will expect a much stronger performance.
Bosnia reached the Round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams after collecting four points from three matches, finishing with a 3-1 win over Qatar. Sergej Barbarez's side have shown they can defend in numbers and are comfortable sitting deep before looking to strike on the counter.
The United States have been one of the tournament's better attacking sides, scoring eight goals in the group stage while keeping one clean sheet. Folarin Balogun has been particularly clinical, scoring twice from an expected goals (xG) total of just 0.88, making him a worthy candidate in the “anytime goalscorer” market. I expect the visitors to adopt a low block in a bid to frustrate the hosts, but the United States’ quality, depth and home advantage should be enough to secure the win.
Betting Tips:
Spain vs. Austria - Betting Tips
Spain topped their group as many expected, but their performances were far from convincing. They kicked off their campaign with a disappointing goalless draw against World Cup debutants Cabo Verde, while their 1-0 win over Uruguay on Matchday 3 came largely thanks to a Fernando Muslera howler so costly that the veteran goalkeeper asked to be substituted at half-time. Their only truly convincing display came against Saudi Arabia and, with all due respect, it was Saudi Arabia.
There are also concerns over Lamine Yamal's fitness, while Nico Williams has been ruled out indefinitely through injury. It's worth remembering that those two youngsters were instrumental in Spain's European Championship triumph two years ago. The biggest positive for La Roja has been their defense, which has been rock solid and is one of only two, alongside Mexico, yet to concede a goal at this tournament.
Austria played a risky game on Matchday 3 against Algeria. With a draw enough to send both teams into the knockout rounds, both sides looked content at 2-2, and the final 30 minutes were uneventful. But Riyad Mahrez's stoppage-time strike for Algeria in the 93rd minute suddenly left Austria staring at possible elimination. Then Saša Kalajdžić came off the bench in the 94th minute and rescued them with an equaliser two minutes later to secure qualification. It made for great drama, but it was a gamble that almost backfired.
This promises to be a fascinating clash of styles, with Ralf Rangnick's Austria among the world's best pressing teams, while Spain remain arguably the best at controlling possession. I haven't been fully convinced by Spain so far, but I think their defensive solidity could be what separates them from an Austrian team that has given up 6 goals.
Betting Tips:
Portugal vs. Croatia - Betting Tips
One of my favourite scenes in television history is a dialogue between Tywin Lannister and Arya Stark at Harrenhal in Game of Thrones. Tywin had no idea he was speaking to a Stark, so the two shared an honest conversation that he found remarkably insightful for a girl her age. When he asked how her father died, he expected the usual answers: old age, illness, maybe a battle. Instead, Arya looked him dead in the eye and replied, "Loyalty."
Portugal's loyalty to Cristiano Ronaldo could be the death of them. A few years ago, saying that would have been considered blasphemy worthy of jail time, but in 2026, it is a fair assessment. Their commanding 5-0 win over a poor Uzbekistan side remains their only convincing performance at this World Cup, and it came in between draws against DR Congo and Colombia. In those two matches, Portugal struggled to break down organized defences, while Ronaldo - who has played every single minute of the tournament - barely influenced the game. It's easy to criticise a 41-year-old, but the Al Nassr forward has looked more like a liability than an asset whenever Portugal have faced decent opposition.
Croatia, meanwhile, endured a nightmare start, thoroughly outplayed in a 4-2 defeat to England. But they responded like a team that knows how to survive at major tournaments, edging past Panama 1-0 before beating Ghana 2-1 to finish second in Group L. Petar Sučić, Nikola Vlašić, Ante Budimir, Martin Baturina, and Petar Musa all got on the scoresheet during the group stage, while midfield maestro Luka Modrić was instrumental in Croatia's two victories.
These sides look evenly matched, even if Portugal boast more talent on paper. The difference is Croatia have built a reputation for squeezing every ounce out of the squad they have, and they always raise their level when the World Cup comes around. They've also improved with every game at this tournament. If Portugal doesn't make the big call before this one, loyalty may well be the death of them.
Betting Tips:
Get in on all the World Cup action with BetKing, and tap into our daily odds boosts from the rest of the group stage into the knockout rounds. Sign up on the best betting app today, and book a bet with the code above to profit from these great tips. Remember to bet responsibly and join our Telegram community for daily updates and free bets.