World Cup Betting Tips

Back Czechia to avoid defeat in their Group A opener against South Korea on Friday.

Miroslav Koubek replaced Ivan Hasek in the Czechia hot seat following a shock 2-1 defeat away to the Faroe Islands during qualifying, and the response has been impressive. The Czechs have since gone six matches unbeaten, winning play-off ties against the Republic of Ireland and Denmark to book their place at this summer’s World Cup.

There have been stronger South Korea sides in years gone by, despite them enjoying a relatively straightforward route to qualification. While the Taegeuk Warriors warmed up with wins over Trinidad and El Salvador, they were thumped 4-0 by Ivory Coast in March before losing 1-0 against Austria three days later.

Czechia are of a similar calibre to those two sides, and on current form, they should head into this contest confident of collecting at least a point.

I’m not expecting goals to flow freely in this game, but I would be surprised if we do not see at least two.

Each of Czechia’s last five matches across all competitions have featured a minimum of two goals, including both of their play-off ties against the Republic of Ireland and Denmark. During the group stage of qualifying, all but one of the Czechs’ seven fixtures broke the over 1.5 goal barrier.

The case is strengthened further when you consider that 18 of South Korea’s last 22 matches have also produced two goals or more. Both sides carry an attacking threat, but neither are completely watertight defensively, so goals at both ends are a real possibility.

I think this game has the feel of a 1-1 draw, or a 2-1 win for Czechia.

Vladimir Coufal looks like a strong candidate to commit at least one foul. The Czechia defender was regularly on the referee’s radar when playing away from home during qualifying.

In fact, Coufal committed multiple fouls in each of his three appearances away from home during the group stage. The former West Ham man was also guilty of one foul against the Republic of Ireland in a play-off semi-final earlier this year.

On top of that, Coufal averaged 1.01 fouls per game in the Bundesliga last season, committing at least one foul in seven of his final 10 appearances of the campaign.

He is likely to find himself operating in similar areas of the pitch to South Korea star Heung-min Son, who has drawn an average of 1.78 fouls per game across his four appearances for his country this calendar year.

Patrik Schick looks like the prime candidate to hit the target at least once during this contest.

The Czechia forward is a talismanic figure for his country, with an impressive return of 26 goals in 53 international appearances. Across his eight outings during World Cup qualifying, Schick hit the target a minimum of once in six of those matches, making the net bulge with five of those efforts.

His shots on target numbers were also strong during the recently concluded Bundesliga season, averaging 1.58 shots on target per 90.

Schick is also his side’s designated penalty taker, which only adds to the appeal of siding with this selection.

Look for Tomas Soucek to be fouled at least once against South Korea on Friday. The towering Czech midfielder not only commits plenty of fouls but also wins his side a fair share of free kicks in the midfield battleground.

Soucek was brought down a combined total of eight times across his 10 appearances during qualifying, with six of those free kicks coming away from home. That trend also carried into last season’s Premier League campaign, where Soucek drew an average of 0.90 fouls per game for West Ham, securing his side eight set-pieces across his final seven outings of the campaign.

Soucek is likely to find himself in a midfield battle alongside Hwang In-beom, who has averaged 1.18 fouls per 90 across his last 17 appearances for his country, while also committing an average of 1.00 fouls per 90 for Feyenoord last season.

Bosnia are expected to deploy a strike partnership at the World Cup, with Ermedin Demirovic partnering the experienced Edin Dzeko in the final third. Demirovic is likely to act as the battering ram, looking to utilise his physicality and create space for Dzeko. The Stuttgart man will be the target from long balls forward, as Bosnia are likely to play quite direct and route one football - Demirovic should have plenty of aerial duels to contest. 

The 28-year-old picked up seven yellow cards in 38 appearances across all competitions for his domestic side this season, but he has usually raised his intensity when playing for Bosnia. Demirovic was shown a yellow card in the playoff semi-final against Wales, and he had an average of 2.19 fouls per 90 during the World Cup qualifiers. In the Nations League just before that, Demirovic averaged 2.78 fouls per 90, and he was booked in three of his five appearances.

Although Bosnia’s recent matches have been low-scoring, they have tended strongly towards both teams finding the net.

Of their last seven internationals, six have ended with both teams scoring. Indeed, 1-1 draws have been a speciality in recent outings, with four of their last five finishing in that scoreline.

Canada’s recent friendly matches against UEFA opponents have also tended the same way.

They drew 1-1 with Ireland last week and fought back to draw 2-2 with Iceland at home in March, having been a couple down.

The battle between Tahirovic and Ismael Kone in the heart of the field will be important in the destiny of this match, and it promises to produce fireworks.

Kone has won four fouls in 135 minutes of friendly action leading into this encounter, while the Bosnian has constantly picked up big foul numbers on the international scene.

He has at least one foul in eight of his last 10 competitive international appearances but has committed at least two on six occasions. In qualifying, he committed 2.17 per 90.

With Ivan Sunjic potentially only on the bench, his role as an enforcer will be more pronounced.

When it came to last season’s Gold Cup, Villarreal winger Tajon Buchanan led Canada in goals (3) but also shots on target (3), joint with strikers Jonathan David and Tani Oluwaseyi.

He has started each of the last two friendlies and has managed a shot on target in each. In his Copa America outing, the biggest competition of his international career, he posted 0.91 shots on target per 90, but his importance to the side has grown since then.

Oluwaseyi is a likely substitute for him if he is replaced, offering some insurance in this market. 

Both Bosnia and Canada are sides that habitually have a high card count, and this threat is likely to be magnified by referee Facundo Tello.

The Argentine has shown at least five cards in nine of the 14 games he has officiated this season – a strike rate of 64.3%.

Canada, meanwhile, have seen three or more cards in six of their last 10 friendly matches, and will be even more aggressive given the adrenaline will be pumping in this game.

The Bosnians have seen at least three cards in four of their last five competitive games. This will not be a game for shrinking violets.

The 23-year-old is a player who regularly draws a significant number of fouls, earning 1.78 per 90 in Serie A this season with a midtable side.

In a team that expects to be ball-dominant, he is likely to be a magnet for fouls. He has picked up at least two in two of his last three international matches, and against a Bosnia side that is aggressive out of possession, he is likely to find himself a target in this match.

Given he has started the last nine Canada friendlies, he is a key figure in Jesse Marsch’s plans.

Potentially goes up against Ivan Sunjic and Benjamin Tahirovic, who were Bosnia’s leading foul makers in qualifying with 24 and 18, respectively.

Hull City’s Liam Millar will be an important attacking outlet for Canada, with his direct style of play important to their chances.

In the Championship, he earned one or more fouls in six of his last seven matches with the Tigers, except the playoff final when Middlesbrough committed only two total fouls. Bosnia will not be so standoffish.

They led European qualifying with 177 fouls – 21 more than any other nation – or 16.5 a game.

This will make a ball carrier like Millar, who has led Canada in dribbles in each of their two pre-tournament friendlies, a clear target.

Over the course of their five international friendlies in 2026, Canada have consistently racked up enormous numbers of corners.

They are averaging 9.6 per match, never dipping below seven while topping out at 12 on 2 occasions. Expect them to take an aggressive, front-footed approach to their opening match, seeking to gain early momentum in the competition.

With an offensive style that regularly sees high corner counts, this desire to dominate territory should see them manufacture these situations often.

Don’t be fooled by the fact that Bosnia have not received a single card in their two pre-tournament friendly matches; they are an aggressive team out of possession that has picked up at least two cards in nine of their last 10 competitive matches.

They habitually produce a high foul count – they have hit 15 or above in 80% of these games – offering the match officials plenty of opportunities to card them.

With 28 cards in qualifying, Bosnia averaged 2.62 per game, posting the 4th highest rate of yellows among all UEFA sides. Canada have drawn at least two cards from their opponents in eight of their last 10 friendlies.

Bosnia are a side that consistently get on the scoresheet, netting at least one goal in 14 of their last 15 international matches.

The 0-0 draw against North Macedonia ended a run of 13-straight games in which they had scored in, yet they still managed 16 shots in an encouraging offensive display.

Canada have conceded in their last two against European opposition (2 v Iceland and 1 v Ireland).

They also conceded in two of their four Gold Cup matches last summer, despite playing opponents significantly weaker than the Bosnia side they will come up against in Toronto.

Richie Laryea looks set for a difficult encounter against Bosnia for Canada’s opening World Cup fixture, as he will be directly up against Esmir Bajraktarevic. The 21-year-old currently plays for PSV, and he is a very technical player who often looks to beat his man. Amar Dedic is another right-sided player for Bosnia - the Benfica man looks set for a massive role at the World Cup, and he often looks to maraude forward and create overlapping runs. 

Laryea is likely to be overloaded on the flank at times, which makes this card price stand out. The fullback has picked up two yellow cards from nine appearances in the MLS this term, which is nothing to write home about, but this will be a step up from the opponent he is used to facing. Laryea is the type of player who can be drawn into a cynical challenge to stop the counter, which bodes well for this selection.

Look to Miguel Almiron to commit at least one foul on Saturday. The Paraguay playmaker was a relatively frequent fouler during World Cup qualifying, averaging 0.91 per game across the campaign.

That tendency was also evident at the Copa America a couple of years ago, where Almiron was penalised in all three of his appearances, including twice against Colombia. There is further encouragement from the fact that the 32-year-old has committed a foul in three of his six MLS starts this season.

Typically deployed on the left side of Paraguay's attack, Almiron is likely to spend plenty of time up against Sergino Dest, who was fouled twice when the two nations met in a friendly last year.

Folarin Balogun is worth backing to commit at least one foul. The USA forward leads the line with plenty of physicality and an aggressive press, which often sees him fall foul of the referee. That is reflected in the fact that across his four outings for the USA in 2026, Balogun has averaged 1.28 fouls per game, committing at least one in each of his last three appearances.

Balogun was also a regular offender for Monaco in Ligue 1 last season, averaging 1.81 fouls per 90, while he was also penalised in six of his final nine appearances in last season’s Champions League.

Paraguay’s expected centre back pairing of Gustavo Gomez and Omar Alderete were both drawing averages of 0.60 fouls per game during World Cup qualifying.

Folarin Balogun stands out as the strongest contender to register a shot on target. The USA forward has found his scoring touch at international level, with four of his nine goals for his country arriving across his last nine appearances.

One of those strikes came against Senegal last month, a match in which Balogun hit the target three times. He also scored with one of his two shots on target when the USA faced Paraguay in a friendly last year. The 24-year-old also caught the eye at the Copa America two years ago, scoring twice across his opening two appearances of the tournament.

What’s more, Balogun heads into the World Cup in strong form at club level, having scored 19 goals in 43 appearances for Monaco last season while averaging 1.29 shots on target per game in Ligue 1.

Paraguay look well placed to pick up at least a couple of cards against the USA on Saturday. Gustavo Alfaro’s side averaged 2.12 cards per game during their World Cup qualifying campaign. A closer look shows the White and Red racked up multiple bookings in three of their final five qualifiers, including four in their clash away at Colombia.

The case for siding with this selection is strengthened further by the fact that Paraguay picked up two yellow cards in a 2-1 defeat to the USA in a friendly late last year.

It is also worth noting that Germany collected three cautions in last weekend’s 2-1 friendly win over the USA.

Back the USA to earn a minimum of four corners against Paraguay on Saturday. Mauricio Pochettino’s men will be expected to take a front-footed approach in front of an expectant home crowd, but they may need to show patience against a Paraguay side likely to sit deep and frustrate. That should afford the Stars and Stripes ample opportunity to register at least four corners.

Moreover, the co-hosts racked up a whopping 10 corners against Germany in a friendly last weekend. It is also worth noting that Pochettino’s men have cleared the over 3.5 corner line in friendlies against the likes of Senegal, Belgium and Uruguay since the back end of last year. On top of that, the USA faced Paraguay in a friendly last November and forced five corner kicks.

Diego Gomez hit double figures for yellow cards this season, accumulating ten bookings from his 37 appearances across all competitions for Brighton. He showed his versatility under Fabian Hurzeler this campaign, featuring on both wings, but Gomez is primarily a central midfielder, and that is where he is likely to feature for Paraguay.

With his national side not short of options going forward, Gomez will shoulder a greater defensive responsibility - he had an average of 1.59 fouls per 90 during their qualifying matches, which translated to two yellows and a red in 13 appearances. 

Gomez is a player who tends to press aggressively, looking to win the ball back high up the pitch. He has a commendable worth-rate, and he isn’t afraid to fly into challenges. In fact, Gomez also averaged 3.88 tackles per game for Paraguay during their qualifiers, which highlights just how willing he is to duel.

Antonee Robinson had a tough domestic season for Fulham, having to deal with persistent injury setbacks, but he looks back to full fitness and is expected to play a big role under Mauricio Pochettino at the World Cup.

USA are likely to be very front-footed on home soil here, led by the former Spurs and Chelsea manager, who typically goes with attack-minded tactics. Robinson should be tasked with getting up and down that left flank regularly, although that can sometimes mean he is caught out of position when USA turn the ball over. 

Paraguay are not short of talent in the final third, with Miguel Almiron, Julio Enciso and Ramon Sosa. The latter is expected to match up against Robinson on the flank, and he is averaging 1.97 fouls drawn per 90 in the Brazilian Serie A this season. The Palmeiras winger likes to drive at his marker and be aggressive, making this a tough task on paper for Robinson.