Having landed the double on day two, as well as putting up the correct score for Canada v Bosnia, we look for the value on day three of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Qatar vs Switzerland, 20:00, RTE 2/ITV1
Having lost all three group matches as hosts four years ago, don’t expect things to get any easier for Qatar on the World Cup stage. The Gulf state played out a scoreless draw with El Salvador in their final warm up match to extend their winless stretch to six games (D2, L4).
Qatar have scored just two goals in that time, including a 1-0 defeat in Dublin against an Ireland team who were reduced to ten-men in the first-half. Despite the man advantage, Qatar hardly laid a glove on an Irish team who failed to qualify for the World Cup.
Julen Lopetegui’s side have managed just two wins from their last 15 encounters with European opposition (D5, L8), while they head into this tournament opener without a victory in any of their last 11 full internationals played away from home soil (D5, L6).
Switzerland arrive in excellent form, having lost just one of their last 14 matches (W8, D5), most recently drawing 1-1 with Australia earlier this month. Under Murat Yakin, the Swiss were one of only two European nations to navigate World Cup qualifying without ever falling behind in a match (W4, D2), and as the highest-ranked team in Group B, they will fancy their chances of progressing comfortably.
The Red Crosses have not lost their opening World Cup fixture since 1966 (W3, D3), while they have avoided defeat against every side ranked below Qatar since November 2022.
Having scored at least twice in nine of their last 13 games, the Swiss should make ligght work of Qatar in California.
Prediction: Qatar 0-3 Switzerland (5/1)
Best Bet 1: Switzerland to win nil (10/11)
Best Bet 2: Switzerland -1 (8/13)
– 2026 FIFA World Cup Guide: Fixtures, Results, TV Schedule & Everything Else You Need to Know
Brazil v Morocco, 23:00, RTE 2/BBC One
One of the standout group stage clashes takes place at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey as Brazil tackle 2022 semi-finalists Morocco. Carlo Ancelotti heads to the States with a star studded Samba’s squad, who many expect to go deep into the tournament.
As for Morcco, they followed up their heroics in Qatar by reaching the final of this year’s AFCON, which ended in farcical cirmustances as Senegal won an il-tempered decider, only to be stripped of the trophy soon after, so technically, Morocco go into the World Cup as African champions.
Brazil begin their quest for a record-extending sixth World Cup crown in impressive form, having won each of their last three friendlies while netting 11 goals in the process. That free-scoring run underlines the attacking quality at their disposal and is a major reason why the Seleção are once again regarded among the favourites to lift football’s biggest prize.
Canarinho lifted the trophy the last time the World Cup was staged in the United States in 1994, giving them fond memories of North American soil. However, despite their rich pedigree, Brazil have reached beyond the quarter-finals only once since claiming their fifth world title in 2002, underlining the challenge of turning their status as favourites into tournament success.
Even by their own exceptionally high standards, Brazil’s recent World Cup record has fallen short of expectations. However, no nation can match the Seleção’s pedigree on football’s biggest stage, having played a record 114 World Cup matches and won 76 of them. With that unrivalled experience and history behind them, they will be expected to justify their status as overwhelming favourites in this opening fixture.
Morocco came through qualifying with a 100% record, winning all eight matches, before winning the Arab Cup and reaching the final of the Africa Cup of Nations. The Atlas Lions head into the tournament in encouraging form, unbeaten across their last five friendly internationals (W3, D2), a run that includes a 1-1 draw with Norway on Sunday. Mohamed Ouahbi’s side have built strong momentum in recent months and will believe they can make a positive start to their World Cup campaign, despite facing one of the tournament favourites in their opening assignment.
When you think of Brazil, you think of a free-flowing and artistic style of play. However, Carlo Ancelotti has brought a more pragmatic approach. Brazil’s WCQ matches averaged only 2.28 goals per game, while Morocco have kept clean sheets in seven of their last 10 matches.
With both teams ranked inside FIFA’s top-10, this should be far from a one-sided affair. While Morocco don’t have the same level of star quality as Brazil, they do have two world class players in Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz, who scored first in four of Morocco’s seven games at AFCON.
There is surely too much quality on the field for this to be dull.
Prediction: Brazil 1-1 Morocco (5/1)
Best Bet: Both teams to score (Evs)(NAP)
2026 FIFA World Cup Day Two Double
- Switzerland to win to nil
- BTTS Yes Brazil v Morocco
- ODDS: 2.81/1
