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Round two offers many delights, including Scotland v Morocco in Group C, the United States v Australia in Group D, and a fascinating match involving England and Ghana in Group L. Every game will be broadcast on television and the best live-streaming apps
Things are warming up nicely at 'We Are 26', and the scene is set for another thrilling week. The UKGC bookmakers featured on this page offer pre-match and live betting markets, odds, and bonuses, including enhanced prices and free bets.
Keep reading as betting expert Frank Monkhouse guides Flashscore readers through his week two preview and predictions.
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Mexico v South Korea, Friday, 02:00 BST
Mexico opened the show in style with a convincing 2-0 win over a disappointing South Africa at the stunning Estadio Azteca.
Javier Aguirre's team dominated the ball, ending with more than 60% possession. From that, they created 16 chances, put four on target, and scored two goals. It was a dominant performance, but the locals now face a tougher challenge.
South Korea started with a surprise 2-1 win over the Czech Republic, battling back from a goal down with two late strikes. South Korea had 61.5% possession, 15 shots at goal, with six on target.
The stats point to an exciting match involving two teams that like to attack. They have met 14 times previously, sharing 43 goals. Both nations scored in the last three meetings.
Tip: Both teams to score @ 1/1 (bet365)
Bet explanation: You need Mexico and South Korea to score at least one goal each.
United States v Australia, Friday, 20:00 BST
Later on Friday, we have another host nation in action when Team USA face Australia. The head-to-head stats available on Flashcore show that these teams have met only twice.
The USA won the first meeting 3-1 back in 2010. The Stars and Stripes made it two from two against the Socceroos with a 2-1 win just eight months ago.
Looking at the results from recent World Cup warm-up matches, we see the USA lost 2-1 to Germany and beat Senegal 3-2. Australia drew 1-1 with Switzerland earlier this month. In week one, the USA smashed Paraguay 4-1, and Australia beat Turkey 2-0.
With the backing of a huge support at Lujmen Field in Seattle, I'm picking the United States to extend their run of wins over the Aussies to 3-0-0. Goals are likely, but I'll stick with the form team in the match-betting market.
Bet explanation: If the USA beats Australia, you'll beat the bookies and make a profit.
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Scotland v Morocco, Friday 23:00 BST
Scotland famously lost 3-0 to Morocco in the Group stages of the World Cup 1998 in France. Will Steve Clarke's team do any better than Craig Brown's men performed that day?
The Scots opened their campaign with a narrow 1-0 win over Haiti, but face a much sterner test here against one of the tournament favourites.
I don't hold out much hope and expect the Africans to claim all three points in Foxborough, with decent odds available on a crucial victory for the Atlas Lions.
Morocco recently won the African Cup of Nations and are ranked seventh in the world by FIFA. They also made a strong start to the tournament, earning a 1-1 draw against five-time world champions Brazil.
I remember when these teams met 28 years ago. The Scottish media and many fans failed to appreciate just how dangerous Morocco can be, and were made to pay the price.
Scotland are better than most of the teams Morocco have been beating in an impressive run of form, but Mohamed Ouahbi's crew will rise to the occasion in their seventh World Cup. Follow the rankings and back the seventh-best team to beat a rival ranked 42nd.
Tip: Morocco win @ 19/20 (bet365)
Bet explanation: If Morocco beat Scotland at the Gillette Stadium, you'll bank a return.
Brazil v Haiti, Saturday, 01:30 BST
Brazil are the most experienced team in World Cup history and are the only nation to have played in every renewal since 1930. The five-time world champions now set their sights on an opponent ranked 83rd on Planet Football by FIFA.
Armchair fans and bettors staying up late to watch Brazil expect a strong win and a few goals. Carlo Ancelotti's team will deliver in style.
Haiti aren't here simply to make up the numbers, but The Grenadiers will be powerless to stop such a powerful opponent. I make this a case of how many Brazil will score, and it appears the bookmakers agree.
Victory for Brazil is no better than 1/14 at bet365, pricing us out of an interest. Instead, we'll take over 3.5 goals at a fair price. The nations have met twice before, with Brazil winning by six goals on both occasions.
Tip: Over 3.5 goals @ 4/5 (bet365)
Bet explanation: Brazil v Haiti must produce more than three goals from both teams combined.
Netherlands v Sweden, Saturday, 18:00 BST
Saturday evening brings a World Cup Group F match that will satisfy the purists. The Netherlands take on Sweden for the first time since 2017, when Oranje won 2-0 thanks to a double from Arjen Robben.
Both sides enjoyed positive starts to their World Cup campaigns. Sweden cruised to a 5-1 victory over Tunisia, while the Netherlands were held to a surprise 2-2 draw by Japan in one of the standout results of the opening round.
The head-to-head stats show the rivals have met 20 times, and there's very little between them. The Netherlands have eight wins, with Sweden on seven, and five draws.
Sticking with the H2H, we see that only three of those 20 games came in the World Cup. They ended goalless in 1974, 1-1 in 1978, and then there was that 2-0 win for the Netherlands in 2017.
That ensures Sweden will enter without fear, but I choose to avoid picking sides and focus on the total goals. A bet on under 3.5 goals landed in all previous World Cup meetings.
Tip: Under 3.5 goals @ 1/3 (bet365)
Bet explanation: You want to see the Netherlands v Sweden end with fewer than four goals scored by both nations combined.
Germany v Ivory Coast, Saturday, 21:00 BST
Saturday evening will be the first time that The National Eleven and The Elephants have met in a World Cup. The nations did face off in a friendly, which produced a four-goal draw, but that was in 2009.
This is also a meeting between two teams that made winning starts to the tournament. Ivory Coast had to work hard for their 1-0 victory over Ecuador, finding the breakthrough in the closing stages of a tight contest, while Germany were far more ruthless as they swept Curacao aside 7-1.
Much has changed for both teams since then, and I expect Germany to bank an important three points. The team ranked 10th in the world will beat the side ranked 33rd.
Emerse Fae's men upset the betting odds when beating France 2-1 in a recent friendly, proving they can hold their own against the major European teams. The Africans also beat Scotland 1-0 and South Korea 4-0 last month.
The Ivory Coast scored 25 goals in qualifying and beat Ecuador 1-0 on Monday. Germany put seven past Curacao on Sunday. I'm happy to follow the stats and shoot for a winner at a nice price.
Tip: Germany and BTTS @ 12/5 (bet365)
Bet explanation: We're backing a win for Germany here, but the Ivory Coast must score at least one goal in defeat.
Spain v Saudi Arabia, Sunday, 17:00 BST
Use your mobile device to check the Flashscore app now, and you'll see that Spain and Saudi Arabia are no strangers.
The nations have met three times in the last 20 years, with the aggregate score reading Spain 9-2 Saudi Arabia. That doesn't tell us everything we need to know, but the H2H gives bettors a strong platform to work off this weekend.
Spain thrashed The Green Ones 5-0 in their most recent meeting. I don't expect a repeat performance in this intriguing renewal, given the Saudis' improvement, but I am sticking with a win for Spain.
With both sides opening the tournament with draws, neither can afford to leave this encounter empty-handed if they want to strengthen their position near the top of Group H heading into the final round of matches.
You can add the Spanish to your weekend accumulators at tight odds, and I'm confident it'll do a job. Let's shoot a little higher, backing Spain -1 goal on the handicap.
Tip: Spain -1 handicap @ 4/11 (bet365)
Bet explanation: The Spanish are betting favourites in the match-winner market, but followers need them to win by two or more clear goals.
Argentina v Austria, Monday, 18:00 BST
Defending champions Argentina are the betting favourites to win Group J, and they'll take a step closer by beating Austria in Arlington.
Checking on the form of Lionel Scaloni's team, we see they scored friendly wins over Iceland and Honduras earlier this month. Argentina scored five goals and conceded none. That strong backline will be key to victory again.
Austria warmed up with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Tunisia on the opening day of June. Just four shots on target in that match does little to inspire confidence in a win for the underdogs.
These teams have never met in competitive action, but I'm taking Argentina to win. The 8/13 offered by bet365 is better than I expected to find, making it a smart bet.
Tip: Argentina win @ 8/13 (bet365)
Bet explanation: The winning margin and scorers aren't important here. You need Argentina to take all three points against Austria.
FIFA World Cup 2026
The 2026 World Cup will be held from June 11th to July 19th in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament will feature 48 national teams and will be played in 16 modern stadiums.
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