World Cup Predictions: Matchweek 1

GROUP A

THURSDAY:

MEXICO V SOUTH AFRICA

This was the opening game of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with the most memorable moment from that game being Siphiwe Tshabalala's rocket for the opening goal of the tournament along with his celebration.

Mexico are back hosting another World Cup four years after they last hosted one in 1986 where they reached the Quarter Finals, the exact same stage they reached the other time they hosted it in 1970.

The Mexicans have a good record of making it out the group stages as they've qualified for the knockout stages in eight of their last nine World Cups and with home advantage on their side, they should do the same in this one.

South Africa will be the underdogs in this group which in all fairness is very open like most of the groups at this tournament are.

But they'll still be the team least likely to qualify because they don't have any players who are relatively well known like the others.

It was a 1-1 draw when they met on the opening day of the 2010 World Cup. This time I'm going for a Mexico win because they'll have the home crowd on their side and the atmosphere inside the ground will undoubtedly be rocking.

PREDICTION: 2-0

FRIDAY:

SOUTH KOREA V CZECH REPUBLIC

South Korea will have a better chance of making it out the group at this World Cup than they have at recent ones because of the group being very open.

They still have Heung Min Son leading their and although the ex-Spurs forward isn't the player he used to be, he can still come up with moments of quality when his team need them.

Czech Republic are back at a World Cup finals for the first time since 2006 and they too will fancy themselves of getting out of this group.

They've always been a side who are competitive and difficult to beat and they also have quality in attack in the form of Patrik Schick.

Schick hasn't quite kicked on from his impressive form at Euro 2020, but he has just had a clinical season at Bayer Leverkusen and will be hoping to carry the form he showed into this tournament.

The Czech's will look to make it difficult for South Korea in this game by being tough to beat and competitive which is how I think they'll play during the tournament.

But I think South Korea will just edge this one because they have a bit more in energy.

PREDICTION: 2-1

GROUP B

CANADA V BOSNIA

Canada will be playing at their third World Cup this summer and will be hoping to improve on their record of no wins from six games from the previous two appearances at these finals in 1986 and 2022.

Having home advantage will certainly help because they'll be familiar with their surroundings and will have the crown behind them to cheer them all the way.

They will be sweating over Alphonso Davies' fitness for this opening game as he's been a fitness doubt since the final few weeks of the season where he picked up a hamstring injury.

He's had an injury hit season at Bayern Munich but if he's fit, he'll surely start because he's that important a player for Canada.

Bosnia are back at a World Cup for the first time since 2014 and one player from that side in remains in Edin Dzeko, who is still scoring goals at 40 years of age.

He might not be as effective as he used to be, but having him around for his experience will be a big bonus for Bosnia.

He'll be supported by Ermedin Demirovic who is likely to take over as Bosnia's new main man after scoring 15 goals in all competitions for Stuttgart last season.

Because of Canada having home advantage at this tournament, I'm backing them to end their long wait for a World Cup win in this opening game.

They're more familiar with the conditions as well as their surroundings and they also have more energy.

PREDICTION: 2-0

SATURDAY:

QATAR V SWITZERLAND

I don't think many people were expecting Qatar to be at another World Cup so soon after hosting the last one and it's because the tournament got expanded that they are.

They lost all three games four years ago and they'll want to better that this year where they'll be in a more open group than they were last time.

Switzerland know what it takes to make it out the group stages and they come into this tournament in good shape after going unbeaten for an entire year in 2025.

They have lost the magic of Xherdan Shaqiri who has since returned from international football, but they do have Breel Embolo who will have the opportunity to step up as their main man after showing plenty of promise of the last number of years.

They also still have the experience of Granit Xhaka whose leadership will play a vital role for the Swiss at this tournament.

They'll be the favourites to win this group given the quality and experience they have in their side and I'm backing them to kick off their tournament with a convincing win here.

PREDICTION: 0-3

GROUP C

BRAZIL V MOROCCO

Brazil are fancied to win the World Cup before the tournament even starts only for them to crash out before the final.

But that could change this year as they have a manager in Carlo Ancelotti who is a serial winner after winning everything at club level including six Champions League's.

I'm not saying that they're going because I don't think they will, but having a manager who knows what it takes to win trophies does give them a better chance.

Morocco were surprise package four years ago when they reached the semi finals and they come into this one as arguably the best equipped African side.

Most of their squad from four years ago are still around and they did also win AFCON earlier in the year which makes them the most likely African country to go furthest in this tournament.

They upset Belgium, Spain and Portugal in 2022 and they'll be looking to cause one of the greatest shocks in this one by beating Brazil.

But I think Brazil will have enough quality to get their tournament off to a winning start and I'm backing Vinicius Junior to score at least one of the goals.

PREDICTION: 2-0

SUNDAY:

HAITI V SCOTLAND

Haiti will be taking part in their first World Cup since 1974 and it's incredible that a country of their size are at a tournament such as the World Cup.

I remember the country being hit by an earthquake about 16 years ago and for them to recover from that and appear at a World Cup many years later is an incredible story.

They'll of course be massive underdogs at this tournament because they're in a tough group and don't have the calibre or quality of players that the other teams in their group have.

But they will be tough to beat and competitive and they have to be because of the quality of players they'll be up against.

It's good to see Scotland back at a World Cup for the first time since 1998 and they'll be looking to accomplish what they've never done in qualify from the group stages.

They arguably stand a better chance of getting out of this group than they did at previous tournaments because they have a group of players who have played together for a while and are a team in their prime because of it.

I fancy them to get their campaign off to a winning start here because they should have enough in them to see the result over the line.

PREDICTION: 0-2

GROUP D

SATURDAY:

USA V PARAGUAY

USA will fancy their chances of going far at this tournament because they'll have home advantage and they also have a talented squad.

They've been building an exciting side for a while now and this World Cup represents their best chance of going far because of them being one of the hosts and their potential their squad has.

Christian Pulisic will again be their main man like he has been for nearly the last decade and he comes into this tournament as a player in his prime and finally beginning to fulfil his potneital after a few good seasons at AC Milan.

Paraguay had one of the best defensive records in qualifying and will not make this an easy game for the Americans because of that.

They'll be tough to beat and well drilled defensively at this tournament just like they were throughout qualifying.

Although I see them making it difficult for the US in this one, I do see Mauricio Pochettino's side find a way to win and especially with the home crowd on their side.

PREDICTION: 2-1

SUNDAY:

AUSTRALIA V TURKEY

Australia made it out of the group stage for just the second time in Qatar four years ago and they'll fancy themselves to do the same in this tournament as they're in an open group.

The Aussies will be tough to beat and well organised defensively which will make it diffiult for teams to break them down.

Turkey are back a their first World Cup since 2002 where they surprised everyone by reaching the semi finals where they lost to eventual winners Brazil.

They've got some exciting young players in their side including Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz with the former having already made his mark on international football by impressing at the Euros two years ago.

It wouldn't surprise me if they caused some shocks at this tournament because of the young talent they have and I'm backing them to get their tournament off to a winning start.

PREDICTION: 1-2

GROUP E

GERMANY V CURACAO

The pressure will be on Germany to get out the group after failing to do so at the last two World Cups in 2018 and 2022 respectively.

They should definitely get out the group this time round because they're in a winnable group that they should comfortably finish top of.

Curacao are the smallest country to ever play at a World Cup with a population of 155,000 people and for a country of that size to be at a World Cup is just incredible.

All they can do in this game is get men behind the ball because of the quality that Germany possess in attack and the calibre of players they have in that department.

They will try and make it difficult for the Germans, but Julian Nagelsmann's side should still win this one fairly comfortably.

PREDICTION: 4-0

MONDAY:

IVORY COAST V ECUADOR

Ivory Coast have some exciting young players in their squad including Yan Diomande who is already wanted by Liverpool following an impressive breakthrough season at RB Leipzig.

This might be their most exciting squad in their history when you look at the potential of some of the players and they could make an impact at this tournament.

Ecuador will be tough to beat and well drilled defensively as they usually are but I do worry them at the other end of the pitch.

Enner Valencia is still around at the age of 36, but other than him their fellow attackers don't score many goals which is a concern for them.

They'll be without Moises Caicedo for this game due to suspension and I think Ivory Coast could exploit that hole he leaves in the team.

Whether he was suspended or not, my prediction for this game still would've been the same in an Ivory Coast win.

PREDICTION: 2-0

GROUP F

SUNDAY:

HOLLAND V JAPAN

Holland have a good mix of young and experienced players in their squad and I think they have the potential to go far.

Japan have been a surprise package at past World Cups and they certainly were four years ago as they beat both Germany and Spain to finish top of their group.

They're a side not to be underestimated as they showed four years ago and the Dutch will hopefully be aware of that.

I think they will because I'm backing them to win this game as I think their team is arguably better and stronger than the Germany and Spain sides that lost to Japan in Qatar.

PREDICTION: 2-0

MONDAY:

SWEDEN V TUNISIA

Sweden are very fortunate to be at this World Cup as they finished bottom of their qualifying group without a win, but were able to qualify via the play offs after being granted that spot through their performance in the Nations League.

It's because they scraped through the play offs that I see them struggling at this tournament along with issues regarding team selection.

The striker decision is the main one that I feel hasn't been fixed because I think Graham Potter is unsure whether to either play Viktor Gyokeres up front on his own or play him and Isak as a pair.

Tunisia have never made it out of the group stages at a World Cup and it's very unlikely that they'll break that duck in this one.

They will make it difficult for teams as they're tough to beat and organised defensively but are short on firepower in attack.

Sweden certainly have the latter and although I'm not convinced by them, I do think they'll kick their tournament off with a win here with Viktor Gyokeres being the hero once again.

PREDICTION: 1-0

GROUP G

BELGIUM V EGYPT

Belgium come into this World Cup as a team at a crossroads as their golden generation era is long over and I don't know what kind of team they'll be at this one.

They do still have some quality players like Kevin De Bruyne, Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku, but they're not the team that finished 3rd in 2018.

Egypt were disappointing during their last World Cup outing in 2018 but they should perform better this time round as they're in a more open group which they should qualify from with the players they have.

Mohamed Salah may come into this tournament off the back of his worst season at Liverpool, but he'll still be their main man and will want to end his international career on a high with this likely to be his final tournament with Egypt.

Belgium may not be the side they used to be, but I do think they'll have just enough quality to come out on top here.

PREDICTION: 2-1

TUESDAY:

IRAN V NEW ZEALAND

This will be Iran's seventh appearance at a World Cup and at every single one they've gone out at the group stages.

There was talk of them not being at this World Cup because of their war against the US who happen to be one of the hosts of this tournament.

What is happening in their own country will be on the minds of their players and they'll want to give their people something to cheer about in the difficult times they're suffering under.

New Zealand are back at a World Cup for the first time since 2010 where they were the only unbeaten team after drawing all three of their group games.

They come into this tournament as the lowest ranked side but they do have some decent players including Chris Wood, even though he may be a bit rusty after an injury hit season at Nottingham Forest.

This should be a close game as they're both similar in quality and playing styles in that they're both difficult to beat.

But I think the point will be shared because I can see both teams being evenly matched with no difference between them.

I think it will be 1-1 with Taremi scoring for Iran and Wood scoring for New Zealand.

PREDICTION: 1-1

GROUP H

MONDAY:

SPAIN V CAPE VERDE

Spain will be right among the favourites to win this tournament with some people even having them as the favourites.

There is no denying that they have a lot of potential in their squad with the quality of young players they have including Lamine Yamal, who I think will light up this tournament like he did the Euros two years ago.

They could even replicate what the old generation did in dominating international football and especially after they won the Euros the way they did.

Cape Verde will be making their World Cup debut at this tournament and it's incredible for a country of their size to be at a tournament like the World Cup.

But I'm afraid they're going to learn a harsh lesson in this opening game as I think Spain will be beat them rather handsomely with the quality they possess.

PREDICTION: 5-0

SAUDI ARABIA V URUGUAY

Saudi Arabia caused one of the shocks of the 2022 World Cup when they beat Argentina in their opening game and they just happen to be playing another South American side in their opening game at this one in Uruguay.

They haven't made it out the group stages since reaching the last 16 in 1994 and I think the same will happen again at this tournament because they're in another tricky group.

This will be a new and different Uruguay at this World Cup in that they'll be a more front footed team and especially with a manager like Marcelo Bielsa.

Bielsa's teams always play with a lot of energy as we saw from his time at Leeds where his team were easily the most entertaining to watch in the Premier League.

They are still a solid team defensively, but at this tournament they'll be more on attacking and straight after teams unlike recent tournaments tournaments where they've been tough to beat.

They might not be the team they used to as they no longer have the firepower of Suarez and Cavani, but they still have some quality players in their side like Federico Valverde.

I'm backing him to get at least one of the goals and Uruguay to get their World Cup campaign off to a winning start.

PREDICTION: 0-2

GROUP I

FRANCE V SENEGAL

France are my favourites to win this World Cup because of the attacking depth they have which is absolutely frightening.

Mbappe may be my pick to win both the golden boot and player of the tournament award, but the player of theirs I'm looking forward to seeing is Michael Olise.

He's just had an incredible season at Bayern Munich and I can see him light up this World Cup and play a key role for France.

Senegal caused one of the greatest shocks in World Cup history when they beat France in their opening game back in 2002 which set the tone for the tournament they would go on to have.

Repeating what they did back then will be trickier this time round because they're coming into this tournament as an ageing team.

Kalidou Koulibaly, Idrissa Gueye and Sadio Mane are all approaching the twilight years of their careers and although Mane still has much to offer, this tournament could mark the end of an era for them.

Because I have France as the favourites to win this tournament, I'm backing them to avenge their defeat from 2002 by winning this game without too many problems.

PREDICTION: 3-0

TUESDAY:

IRAQ V NORWAY

Iraq are back at a World Cup for the first time since 1986 and will be massive underdogs in this group due to the quality of sides they'll be up against.

All they can do is stay in the game for as long as they can because they'll probably go into their games expecting to be beaten.

It's good to have Norway back at their first World Cup since 1998 and I have them down as my dark horses for this tournament.

One reason I'm happy that they're at this World Cup is because Erling Haaland will finally get to play at a major international tournament.

All the best players in the world deserve to play at a tournament such as the World Cup and for Haaland to finally play in it will be brilliant to see.

I'm backing him to get at least one or two goals here and Norway to win rather comfortably as I think they'll have too much for Iraq.

PREDICTION: 0-4

GROUP J

WEDNESDAY:

ARGENTINA V ALGERIA

Argentina will be playing their final World Cup with Lionel Messi in their side and I know that he'll want to end his international career on a high by winning yet another World Cup.

He'll be playing at his sixth World Cup this summer which is absolutely incredible because very few players have been able to play that many.

I don't think he'll make the same impact as he did at the last World Cup as he's now 38 and no longer the player he used to be, but he can still decide games with a moment of brilliance.

Algeria have good attacking players in their side including Riyad Mahrez who will also be playing at what is likely to be his final tournament.

He's still their talisman at the age of 35 and like Messi is still capable of producing moments of brilliance despite him maybe not being the player he once was.

I can see both teams score here as they both have quality players in their attacks, but I think Argentina will have enough to come out on top here.

PREDICTION: 2-1

AUSTRIA V JORDAN

Austria are back at a World Cup for the first time since 1998 and they'll be one of the favourites to qualify from this group along with Argentina.

They're a team going in the right direction under Ralf Rangnick who has given them a clear identity in how they play and will be looking for his side to build on a good performance at the Euros two years ago.

Jordan will be making their World Cup debut at this tournament and have had a lot of time to prepare for it as they were one of the first teams to qualify.

They were tough to beat and organised during qualifying and I think they'll make it difficult teams in this tournament too by getting men behind the ball.

But in this game I think Austria should have enough quality to come out on top and get their tournament ooff to a winning start.

PREDICTION: 2-0

GROUP K

PORTUGAL V DR CONGO

This might be Portugal's best chance to win a World Cup because their current squad is arguably the best they've ever had.

They have arguably three of the best midfielders in the world right now in Vitinha and Joao Neves, who both had another outstanding season at PSG, and Bruno Fernandes who had an incredible season at Man United.

They also still have Cristiano Ronaldo, who will be determined to get his hands on that World Cup trophy in what will be his final tournament with the national team at the age of 41.

DR Congo will be playing at their first World Cup since 1974 but their first as DR Congo as they were known as Zaire during their last appearance.

They've got some decent players in their squad with a number of them having played in the Premier League including Aaron Wan Bissaka and Arthur Masuaku, who both played for West Ham, Noah Sadiki, who currently plays at Sunderland, and Yoane Wissa.

Wissa will have a point to prove following a disappointing season at Newcastle where he struggled for both form and fitness and is already being linked with a move away.

Congo will look to make it difficult for Portugal as they're a side who are competitive and tough to beat.

But Portugal should have enough quality in them to get their World Cup campaign off to a winning start.

PREDICTION: 2-0

UZBEKISTAN V COLOMBIA

Uzbekistan will be making their first ever appearance at a World Cup this summer and they a World Cup winning captain in charge in Fabio Cannavaro.

They had a strong defensive record in qualifying and they'll need to carry it into this tournament if they're to stand a chance.

Colombia have a lot of firepower in their attack which includes the likes of Luis Diaz and Luis Suarez, both of whom had brilliant goal scoring seasons for Bayern Munich and Sporting Lisbon respectively.

James Rodriguez is also still around 12 years after lighting up the 2014 World Cup. but I don't see him being as influential as the other two because he hasn't been the same player for a while now.

Uzbekistan will look to make it difficult for Colombia as they're well organised and tough to beat defensively.

But I think Colombia will have enough quality to find a way and especially with the quality they possess in attack.

PREDICTION: 0-2

GROUP L

ENGLAND V CROATIA

This will be a rematch of the semi final from 2018 which Croatia went on to win by coming from behind to win in extra time.

I don't think England will be looking for revenge for that result as they already got it when they beat Croatia during the group stages at Euro 2020.

They'll be among the favourites to win this World Cup because they have a good squad to do so and a manager in Thomas Tuchel who has won trophies wherever he's been.

They've gone close at the last few tournaments and all English fans will be hoping that this will be the one where they end the 60 years of hurt.

Croatia have defied the odds at each of the last two World Cup's by reaching the final in 2018 before finishing 3rd in 2022.

But doing so again this year will be difficult because they're an ageing team with most of their squad now in or heading towards the twilight years of their careers.

They looked like an ageing side at the Euros two years ago and I think they'll it again at this tournament. But I do think they'll get out the group as they'll have enough quality to do so.

The heat is likely to play a huge part in England's performances at this World Cup as they're not used to playing in such hot conditions.

Their performance won't be exactly perfect in this one, but I do think they'll get the job done and get their tournament off to a winning start.

PREDICTION: 2-1

THURSDAY:

GHANA V PANAMA

Ghana are arguably the least prepared side heading into this World Cup as they sacked Otto Addo over a month ago before appointing Carlos Queiroz, who has had very little time to work with his team.

But they do still have some decent players including Antoine Semenyo who will be their talisman heading into this tournament following the season he's just had.

Brandon Thomas-Asante is another player to look out for following a good season at Coventry and he'll be looking to prove himself ahead of his first season in the Premier League next season.

Panama have been a competitive side under Thomas Christiansen and will set themselves up to be tough to beat and organised defensively.

They'll go into games looking to keep the score down because they'll go into games expecting to lose.

They will try and make it difficult for Ghana in this one, but Ghana should have enough quality to win this game.

PREDICTION: 2-0