{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreidky7da6gjtklixiqc4ulfe2mosijjb327mlx7jdhasbistwcwhem",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:ukqvw22lwwbf6udcpphpluql/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnu7ahmdr342"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreihhkr6ubhz2ryv4c77oxwonwudfttub5l3ot5uxcwfgvvuwcj2wpm"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/jpeg",
    "size": 663080
  },
  "description": "Bold predictions for every single game in the 2026 World Cup group stage — all 12 groups, all matches, with a pick for every result. Hold us accountable.",
  "path": "/2026-world-cup-group-stage-predictions/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-09T12:30:37.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.bigdsoccer.com",
  "tags": [
    "Subscribe Today"
  ],
  "textContent": "The 2026 FIFA World Cup is finally here. We have 48 teams, 12 groups, 3 host nations and exactly zero guarantees. Seriously, the group stage has shown us anything can happen. Four years ago Saudi Arabia stunned Argentina. Japan toppled Germany and Spain. Every World Cup handles you at least one result that makes you feel like you’ve never watched soccer a day in your life.\n\nAs the tournament is getting set to start this week, we’re here to predict every single group stage game. Yeah, we’re being bold. And we’re probably going to be way off about many of them.\n\nWhat we’re going to do below is give a winner (or a draw) and a quick why. I’m fully aware that most of these picks will come back to haunt me down the road if they go off the rails.\n\nOne housekeeping note: the top two teams from each group will automatically advance to the Round of 32, and then the next best eight third-place finishers will also advance. That means surviving the group stage is more achievable than ever.\n\nThe Group Stage runs from June 11 through June 27.\n\n(Knockout round predictions will follow in a separate post later 0n)\n\nLooking for more World Cup, MLS and FC Dallas content? Subscribe today to get our posts directly in your inbox as we publish them.\n\n\n                            Subscribe Today\n                        \n\n* * *\n\n### Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Czechia\n\nMatch| Prediction| Reasoning\n---|---|---\nMexico vs. South Africa| **Mexico 2–0**|  Home crowd, home soil in Mexico City. South Africa showed up to survive, not score.\nSouth Korea vs. Czechia| **Draw 1–1**|  Son's last World Cup hurrah vs. a solid Czechia side. Neither has enough to pull away.\nMexico vs. South Korea| **Mexico 1–0**|  El Tri can't afford to slip at home. Grinding result but they get it done.\nSouth Africa vs. Czechia| **Czechia 1–0**|  Quality wins out. Schick finds a goal.\nMexico vs. Czechia| **Mexico 2–1**|  Mexico clinches the group. Czechia presses but it's too little, too late.\nSouth Korea vs. South Africa| **South Korea 2–1**|  Son shows up when it matters. South Africa's tournament ends here.\nTeam| W| D| L| Pts| Result\n---|---|---|---|---|---\nMexico| 3| 0| 0| 9| ✅ Advance\nSouth Korea| 1| 1| 1| 4| ✅ Advance\nCzechia| 1| 0| 2| 3| 🎟️ Advance\nSouth Africa| 0| 0| 3| 0| ❌ Eliminated\n\n### Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Bosnia-Herzegovina\n\nMatch| Prediction| Reasoning\n---|---|---\nCanada vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina| **Canada 2–1**|  Home advantage in Toronto is massive. Bosnia is a step up from nothing but Canada has the horses.\nQatar vs. Switzerland| **Switzerland 2–0**|  Qatar has no business being at this tournament. Switzerland takes it professionally.\nCanada vs. Qatar| **Canada 3–0**|  Should be a walkover. Davies makes Qatar look like a Thursday night men's league team.\nSwitzerland vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina| **Draw 1–1**|  Bosnia scraps for a draw they desperately need. Switzerland plays it safe.\nCanada vs. Switzerland| **Draw 1–1**|  The group decider. Both advance regardless but neither wants second.\nQatar vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina| **Bosnia 2–1**|  Both going home, but Bosnia has actual quality. Qatar collects their participation trophy.\nTeam| W| D| L| Pts| Result\n---|---|---|---|---|---\nCanada| 2| 1| 0| 7| ✅ Advance\nSwitzerland| 1| 2| 0| 5| ✅ Advance\nBosnia-Herzegovina| 1| 1| 1| 4| 🎟️ Advance\nQatar| 0| 0| 3| 0| ❌ Eliminated\n\n### Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti\n\nMatch| Prediction| Reasoning\n---|---|---\nBrazil vs. Morocco| **Brazil 2–1**|  Morocco is legit and won't roll over. But Brazil at a World Cup in North America, 32 years after '94? They find a way.\nHaiti vs. Scotland| **Scotland 2–0**|  Scotland gets to play the one group they can actually win. Haiti is the tournament's sacrificial lamb.\nBrazil vs. Scotland| **Brazil 3–0**|  Sorry, lads. This ain't Wembley '67.\nMorocco vs. Haiti| **Morocco 3–0**|  Morocco needs the goal difference. Haiti obliges.\nBrazil vs. Haiti| **Brazil 4–0**|  Garbage time goals for Vinicius Jr.\nMorocco vs. Scotland| **Morocco 1–0**|  The real second-place battle. Morocco's defensive structure beats a Scotland side that needs a miracle.\nTeam| W| D| L| Pts| Result\n---|---|---|---|---|---\nBrazil| 3| 0| 0| 9| ✅ Advance\nMorocco| 2| 0| 1| 6| ✅ Advance\nScotland| 1| 0| 2| 3| ❌ Eliminated\nHaiti| 0| 0| 3| 0| ❌ Eliminated\n\n### Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey\n\nMatch| Prediction| Reasoning\n---|---|---\nUSA vs. Paraguay| **USA 2–1**|  SoFi Stadium, the opener on American soil. They'd better not screw this up.\nAustralia vs. Turkey| **Draw 1–1**|  Two dangerous teams who won't give each other anything for free.\nUSA vs. Australia| **USA 2–0**|  Pulisic starts cooking. The Socceroos' firepower isn't enough on the road.\nParaguay vs. Turkey| **Türkiye 1–0**|  Better squad depth. Paraguay gives a fight but loses the tight one.\nUSA vs. Turkey| **Draw 1–1**|  Nervy last group game. USA doesn't need to win and plays accordingly.\nParaguay vs. Australia| **Paraguay 2–1**|  South American quality edges out in the match nobody watches. Both need it.\nTeam| W| D| L| Pts| Result\n---|---|---|---|---|---\nUSA| 2| 1| 0| 7| ✅ Advance\nTurkey| 1| 2| 0| 5| ✅ Advance\nParaguay| 1| 0| 2| 3| 🎟️ Advance\nAustralia| 0| 1| 2| 1| ❌ Eliminated\n\n### Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curaçao\n\nMatch| Prediction| Reasoning\n---|---|---\nGermany vs. Curaçao| **Germany 5–1**|  This could possibly be most lopsided matchup of the entire tournament. Pour one out for Curaçao.\nEcuador vs. Ivory Coast| **Draw 1–1**|  Two evenly-matched teams that will make this legitimately watchable.\nGermany vs. Ecuador| **Germany 2–1**|  Ecuador will press and make it interesting. Germany closes it out.\nIvory Coast vs. Curaçao| **Ivory Coast 3–0**|  Comfortable W. Curaçao is just happy to be here.\nGermany vs. Ivory Coast| **Germany 2–0**|  Germany clinches. Talent gap is real.\nEcuador vs. Curaçao| **Ecuador 3–1**|  Ecuador locks up second. Curaçao finishes 0–3 and still somehow made history by getting here.\nTeam| W| D| L| Pts| Result\n---|---|---|---|---|---\nGermany| 3| 0| 0| 9| ✅ Advance\nEcuador| 1| 1| 1| 4| ✅ Advance\nIvory Coast| 1| 1| 1| 4| 🎟️ Advance\nCuraçao| 0| 0| 3| 0| ❌ Eliminated\n\n### Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Sweden\n\nMatch| Prediction| Reasoning\n---|---|---\nNetherlands vs. Japan| **Netherlands 2–1**|  At Dallas Stadium in Arlington. Netherlands are the superior side but Japan always shows up at World Cups. Slight Dutch edge.\nTunisia vs. Sweden| **Sweden 1–0**|  Sweden is the better team. Tunisia causes problems but can't finish.\nNetherlands vs. Tunisia| **Netherlands 3–1**|  Netherlands in cruise control. Tunisia can't cope with the attacking pace.\nJapan vs. Sweden| **Draw 1–1**|  The real second-place fight. Neither side can afford to lose.\nNetherlands vs. Sweden| **Netherlands 2–1**|  Netherlands clinches. Sweden fights until the end but it's not enough.\nJapan vs. Tunisia| **Japan 2–0**|  Japan finishes strong and grabs second on goal difference.\nTeam| W| D| L| Pts| Result\n---|---|---|---|---|---\nNetherlands| 3| 0| 0| 9| ✅ Advance\nJapan| 1| 1| 1| 4| ✅ Advance\nSweden| 1| 1| 1| 4| 🎟️ Advance\nTunisia| 0| 0| 3| 0| ❌ Eliminated\n\n**Note** : Japan and Sweden finish level on 4 points. Japan advances on goal difference (+2 vs. –1).\n\n### Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand\n\nMatch| Prediction| Reasoning\n---|---|---\nBelgium vs. Iran| **Belgium 2–0**|  Belgium's golden generation is gone but there's still enough class to handle Iran.\nEgypt vs. New Zealand| **Egypt 1–0**|  Salah's last stand at a World Cup. Egypt ekes out a narrow one.\nBelgium vs. Egypt| **Draw 1–1**|  Mo Salah does what Mo Salah does. Belgium can't fully neutralize him.\nIran vs. New Zealand| **Iran 1–0**|  Iran needs every point. They grind one out against a side just happy to be here.\nBelgium vs. New Zealand| **Belgium 3–0**|  Belgium finishes group play comfortably.\nEgypt vs. Iran| **Draw 0–0**|  The ugliest match of the tournament. Two defensive sides who both desperately need a result.\nTeam| W| D| L| Pts| Result\n---|---|---|---|---|---\nBelgium| 2| 1| 0| 7| ✅ Advance\nEgypt| 1| 2| 0| 5| ✅ Advance\nIran| 1| 1| 1| 4| 🎟️ Advance\nNew Zealand| 0| 0| 3| 0| ❌ Eliminated\n\n### Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde\n\nMatch| Prediction| Reasoning\n---|---|---\nSpain vs. Cape Verde| **Spain 4–0**|  The defending European champions warm up against debutants. Pedri, Yamal, and Morata have a field day.\nSaudi Arabia vs. Uruguay| **Uruguay 1–0**|  Uruguay's defensive experience is exactly the antidote to Saudi Arabia's limited attack.\nSpain vs. Saudi Arabia| **Spain 2–0**|  The Saudis won't get their big upset at this World Cup.\nUruguay vs. Cape Verde| **Uruguay 2–0**|  Darwin Núñez wakes up. Cape Verde presses but Uruguay's clinical edge is too much.\nSpain vs. Uruguay| **Draw 1–1**|  The most interesting game in the group. Uruguay parks the bus. Spain gets one, can't get the second.\nSaudi Arabia vs. Cape Verde| **Draw 1–1**|  Two teams playing for pride and a possible third-place lifeline.\nTeam| W| D| L| Pts| Result\n---|---|---|---|---|---\nSpain| 2| 1| 0| 7| ✅ Advance\nUruguay| 2| 1| 0| 7| ✅ Advance\nSaudi Arabia| 0| 1| 2| 1| ❌ Eliminated\nCape Verde| 0| 1| 2| 1| ❌ Eliminated\n\nNote: Spain and Uruguay both finish on 7 points. Spain takes first on goal difference (+5 vs. +3).\n\n### Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq\n\nMatch| Prediction| Reasoning\n---|---|---\nFrance vs. Senegal| **France 2–1**|  Mané's last World Cup. Senegal is genuinely dangerous. France has enough to win ugly.\nNorway vs. Iraq| **Norway 3–0**|  Haaland vs. Iraq. This is not a fair fight.\nFrance vs. Norway| **France 2–1**|  Haaland scores. France scores twice. That's how this goes.\nSenegal vs. Iraq| **Senegal 2–0**|  Senegal takes care of business against a team that shouldn't be conceding less than two.\nFrance vs. Iraq| **France 4–0**|  France turns on the jets. Mbappé bags a brace.\nSenegal vs. Norway| **Norway 2–1**|  The real second-place clash. Haaland gets another one.\nTeam| W| D| L| Pts| Result\n---|---|---|---|---|---\nFrance| 3| 0| 0| 9| ✅ Advance\nNorway| 2| 0| 1| 6| ✅ Advance\nSenegal| 1| 0| 2| 3| 🎟️ Advance\nIraq| 0| 0| 3| 0| ❌ Eliminated\n\n### Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan\n\nMatch| Prediction| Reasoning\n---|---|---\nArgentina vs. Algeria| **Argentina 2–0**|  Messi's final World Cup. Argentina will not drop points against Algeria.\nAustria vs. Jordan| **Austria 2–0**|  Austria is a solid European side. Jordan has no business keeping this close.\nArgentina vs. Austria| **Argentina 2–1**|  Austria makes it interesting — this is a legitimate team — but Messi tilts it Argentina's way.\nAlgeria vs. Jordan| **Algeria 1–0**|  Both need points. Algeria has the better squad and it shows.\nArgentina vs. Jordan| **Argentina 3–0**|  Argentina clinches. Messi gets his goals in the sunshine.\nAlgeria vs. Austria| **Austria 1–0**|  Austria finishes second. Algeria's World Cup ends here.\nTeam| W| D| L| Pts| Result\n---|---|---|---|---|---\nArgentina| 3| 0| 0| 9| ✅ Advance\nAustria| 2| 0| 1| 6| ✅ Advance\nAlgeria| 1| 0| 2| 3| ❌ Eliminated\nJordan| 0| 0| 3| 0| ❌ Eliminated\n\n### Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, DR Congo\n\nMatch| Prediction| Reasoning\n---|---|---\nPortugal vs. DR Congo| **Portugal 3–0**|  Portugal rolls. DR Congo will need that third-place spot to survive.\nColombia vs. Uzbekistan| **Colombia 2–0**|  Colombia might be a dark horse team. Uzbekistan is not.\nPortugal vs. Uzbekistan| **Portugal 4–0**|  Ronaldo's last tournament doesn't start with dropped points against Uzbekistan. Full stop.\nColombia vs. DR Congo| **Colombia 2–1**|  Colombia secures second. DR Congo makes them work for it.\nPortugal vs. Colombia| **Draw 1–1**|  The group decider between two good teams. Both go through. No reason to risk anything.\nUzbekistan vs. DR Congo| **Draw 1–1**|  One of these teams might sneak through as a third-place finisher. Ugly draw doesn't help either of them.\nTeam| W| D| L| Pts| Result\n---|---|---|---|---|---\nPortugal| 2| 1| 0| 7| ✅ Advance\nColombia| 2| 1| 0| 7| ✅ Advance\nDR Congo| 0| 1| 2| 1| ❌ Eliminated\nUzbekistan| 0| 1| 2| 1| ❌ Eliminated\n\nNote: Portugal and Colombia both finish on 7 points. Portugal takes first on goal difference (+7 vs. +2).\n\n### Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana\n\nMatch| Prediction| Reasoning\n---|---|---\nEngland vs. Croatia| **England 2–1**|  Dallas Stadium. Tuchel's England gets revenge for Euro 2021. Bellingham and Saka do the damage. Musa gets minutes late.\nPanama vs. Ghana| **Ghana 1–0**|  Ghana is the better side. Panama is not built to go toe-to-toe offensively.\nEngland vs. Ghana| **England 2–0**|  England takes care of business. No surprises, no drama.\nCroatia vs. Panama| **Croatia 2–0**|  Croatia's veteran experience is too much. Modrić still runs this.\nEngland vs. Panama| **England 3–0**|  England wraps up group play in New Jersey. Kane hat trick incoming.\nCroatia vs. Ghana| **Draw 1–1**|  Both need a result to stay alive for that third-place slot. Classic desperation draw.\nTeam| W| D| L| Pts| Result\n---|---|---|---|---|---\nEngland| 3| 0| 0| 9| ✅ Advance\nCroatia| 1| 1| 1| 4| ✅ Advance\nGhana| 1| 1| 1| 4| 🎟️ Advance\nPanama| 0| 0| 3| 0| ❌ Eliminated\n\nNote: Croatia edges Ghana on goal difference (+1 vs. –1).\n\n* * *\n\n## The 8 Best Third-Place Teams: Who Sneaks Through?\n\nWith 12 groups, only the top two from each advance automatically. But the eight best third-place finishers also punch their ticket to the Round of 32 — and based on our predictions, here's who makes the cut:\n\nRank| Team| Group| Pts| GD| Result\n---|---|---|---|---|---\n1| Bosnia-Herzegovina| B| 4| –1| ✅ Through\n2| Ivory Coast| E| 4| 0| ✅ Through\n3| Sweden| F| 4| –1| ✅ Through\n4| Iran| G| 4| –1| ✅ Through\n5| Ghana| L| 4| –1| ✅ Through\n6| Paraguay| D| 3| –1| ✅ Through\n7| Czechia| A| 3| –1| ✅ Through\n8| Senegal| I| 3| –1| ⚠️ Tiebreaker\n\n**The ugly tiebreaker:** Paraguay, Czechia, and Senegal all finish on 3 points and –1 goal difference. It goes to goals scored: Paraguay (3) takes 6th, while Czechia and Senegal are deadlocked at 2 goals each. At that point it goes to FIFA rankings — and Czechia edges out Senegal for the final automatic spot. Senegal goes home despite winning a group stage game. Brutal.\n\n**Going home:** Algeria (3 pts, –2 GD) and Scotland (3 pts, –3 GD) finish just outside the cut. Saudi Arabia and DR Congo are the group stage's biggest disappointments, finishing with just 1 point each.\n\n_Knockout round predictions coming soon. Bookmark this page and come back to tell us how wrong we were._\n\nLooking for more World Cup, MLS and FC Dallas content? Subscribe today to get our posts directly in your inbox as we publish them.\n\n\n                            Subscribe Today\n                        ",
  "title": "Every 2026 World Cup Group Stage Game, Predicted",
  "updatedAt": "2026-06-09T16:46:59.606Z"
}