FIFA World Cup 2026 Futures and Games Picks Thread

@gotime

 The second I read the Qatar writeup I bet them at +1100 to be lowest.  

@diamondjack, thanks for all the plays as always.  

GROUP F

HOL

JPN

SWE

TUN

8. Japan to win the group @ 4.00/+300 (1u)

9. Japan to reach the round of 16 @ 2.25/+125 (1u)

I'm pretty high on Japan here in this world cup. This is a very easy group for them and their playing style. Coming into this world cup they have 5 straight wins including beating both England and Brazil. In the last world cup Japan beat both Spain and Germany in the group stage. There is very good value on them to top the group. The Netherlands have had questionable results. In qualifying they could not beat Poland both at home and away. They lost a friendly to Algeria a few days ago. The Dutch beat up on the minnows and then play to their opposition be it the top sides or the middle weights. I can't trust them especially at the odds offered.

Sweden- This team should NOT have qualified for the world cup they had ZERO wins in qualification. Some strange BS rules gave them a hope and they won versus Ukraine on a neutral and beat Poland at home to sneak into this world cup. The lost both games to Kosovo in qualification and yet Kosovo is not in the tournament. Fade material big time.

Tunisia- Their opening game versus Sweden will be a battle of mediocrity. In their past 6 games they have only 1 win versus a red carded Haiti team. They will battle it out with Sweden for 3rd place.

@Silk24

DJ-great write-ups! agree with Sweden for group F. definitely wouldn't be in the WC if there were only 32 sides and looked pretty mediocre in qualifying...pulling the trigger on +333 for them to be bottom of the group. Tunisia is -125 on bet365 which seems short considering Sweden-it'll make that 1st match between them a good race for the bottom-lol!

DJ  good to see you back for the WC. Let's hope for better fortunes than the Euros. Your Africa cup run was very solid.

Looking forward to tailing your picks again and stacking some units. Wishing you the best of luck. I always enjoy seeing where you spot value in the markets.

What's your take on Curaçao and Dick Advocaat? A friend of mine from there is pretty bullish on them and thinks they could pull off an upset or two, mainly because of Advocaat's legendary discipline and ability to get the most out of his squads.

GROUP G

BEL

EGY

IRA

NZ

Group G stands for the "geezars" that will lead the 4 teams. Chris Wood on the Kiwis is 34 as is De Bruyne of Belgium. Egypt's Salah will turn 34 this month and Mehdi Taremi will turn 34 in July. Now I wish I was a 34 year old geezer in their shape playing at the world cup but que sara sara. I do not have any futures in this group.

Belgium- The perennial underachievers should top this group with ease. They are on a 13 game unbeaten streak and maybe with zero pressure they go on a run.

New Zealand- They should finish bottom of this group. They have only 1 win in their last 10 games and that was to a Chile side that was red carded. If it wasn't guaranteed a spot with the expanded format they would not be here.

Egypt & Iran- Both sides had a mixed bag of results lately and since both play each other last in this group it could be a hand shake draw to assure 4 points and a passage out of the group for the first time in both nations history.

@docpj72

@Lizzy010

  Curacao are in a very tough group it would be a miracle if they get a win

@DiamondJack

 Good stuff DJ. Nice primer for my World Cup betting this summer. You and Vanzack are my soccer go-tos.  

Good Luck DiamondJack!

Brilliant! 

GROUP H

SPA

URU

KSA

CVR

Spain- The rightful favourites to win the whole thing. Luis de la Fuente ha chosen for the first time in history a squad with no Real Madrid players. Back in the old days there was an issue of Baa and Madid players hating each other ad the nation struggled as a result. I don't think that is the case now days. No value backing them

Uruguay- This is not your decent side of the past few world cups. I will be selectively fading them. I think the manager Bielsa is overrated. Recent results have been mixed 4 wins 6 draws and 3 losses. The still have enough quality to get out of the group.

Saudi Arabia- I see them as overrated minnows that are only good at parking the bus. Recent losses to Serbia, Egypt, Ecuador, Jordan Morocco and Algeria. The only wins are against the lies of world powers like Puerto Rico, Palestine, The Comoros Islands and Oman. I was going to place a future on them to finish bottom of the group. I really do not trust their federation, they are crooked. Bags of cash can be donated for results.

Cape Verde- This is a very underrated team. They recently beat Serbia 3-0 tied Egypt and Finland. I will be backing them versus any side not named Spain. Unless the Saudis have donated something to the African Islands they should get a result.

@fsutomahawk

@pack4ever

I must apologize, the new wireless keyboard SUCKS I can't type too fast otherwise it misses letters

Ha I thought you were 

@pack4ever

 The fact I can't edit my posts past 5 minutes makes it worse. Monday group I

DJ

Nice write up for the World Cup.  

BOL

@docpj72

@Nutter6

Any thoughts on the Golden Boot? I have some on Mbappe +700 and Raphinha +3000 (would need Brazil to probably reach the quarterfinals at least)

Great writeups brother

GROUP I

FRA

NOR

SEN

IRQ

France- No value backing them at any of the prices offered. The manager DD will go down as the GOAT after this tournament when he steps down after winning everything there is to be won both as a player and a manager. I think several of the stars of France are all about their image then team. It almost reminds me of 2002 where their opening game was versus Senegal which they lost as title holders.

Norway- Everyone's "dark horse" side that has not escaped the bookies odds. They won all their qualification matches and with Haaland of Man city and Odegaard of Arsenal leading a new "GOLDEN GENERATION" they definitely have the talent to get to the Semis. However even if the team brought their own food from Norway to avoid the shite America has on their menu I still think they fail as all the "golden generations" ALA Belgium, England etc of the past.

Senegal- They won the AFCON title vs Morocco and then had it stripped away over leaving the field during a crazy ending this past January. Led by Sadio Mane another geezer of 34 years of age they can snatch a result. I do not expect them to go further them maybe getting to the round of 16.

Iraq- You have to feel for Iraq being drawn into this group. They will try to play the role of spoilers. Yeah they recently tied Spain in a friendly 1-1 but I do not reach much into that. Their manager the Aussie Graham Arnold did lead his native county to the round of 16 at the last world cup where nothing much was expected of them. Iraq will be led by the AFC top qualification goal scorer Aymen Hussein who scored 8 goals in qualification.

Bottom Line-- I'm not that high on France like the books are even though they can easily win. Norway are priced right as a very dangerous side. Senegal as well are properly priced. There is value on Iraq but seriously the talent is just not there.

@TRAIN69

 The top scorer is a very difficult wager. I would not touch anyone unless I get +2500 odds or better. Rapinha of Brazil and Havertz of Germany are good pizza money bets at those odds

My whole post disappears, gotta love this site.

Always look foward to your tourney write ups DJ! Can't wait to see your group K. Mitomo being out really snuffed my hope forJapan. I hope I'm wrong. Now I've got the Dutch taking the group.

BOL bro 

@DiamondJack

 LOL - best of luck!! Love the write ups - thank  you for all your comments and insight!  We got this - just 3 days away.

NOW - all that "shite" american menus have . . . ok . . . I and my cardiologist have to take exception:   Just don't pool Texas food with "American food" . . .our Mexico roots, our tropical fruit tree business, and registered angus cattle, along with quail, whitetail and bull redfish off the coast, yum. . . for any menu.  Texas food is better than American food. Just got to have to get past the ICE NAZI douche bag officers.

@Disbarred

 Love Yah Dis  

Some of the best meals I had were in the south, New Orleans for my tastes beats them all.

Oddly enough off all the places in the states, I have never been to Texas

@barneybeans