Brazil

vs

Morocco

Two of the most watchable sides at this tournament collide in Group C at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, as five-time world champions Brazil begin their campaign against an Morocco side that reached the semi-finals four years ago and has absolutely no intention of being a supporting act. This is the kind of first-round fixture that feels like it belongs in the knockouts — and with Carlo Ancelotti in the dugout for the Seleção and both squads carrying significant injury concerns, it promises to be anything but straightforward.

Brazil — The Favourites

Ancelotti, appointed in a historic move as Brazil's first ever foreign coach, looks set to deploy a 4-2-3-1. Alisson Becker starts in goal behind a back four of Sandro, Magalhães, Marquinhos and Danilo, with the double pivot of Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães providing the platform from which Brazil operate. That midfield pairing is arguably the best in this tournament — Casemiro screens, Guimarães drives, and together they give Brazil control most sides can only dream of.

Further forward, Raphinha and Lucas Paquetá operate in the advanced roles, while Vinicius Júnior — Brazil's most dangerous weapon and one of the finest players on the planet — starts on the left. The significant news concerns the striker position: Neymar is listed as doubtful with a calf injury and is not expected to start, with Matheus Cunha preferred as the lone forward. Cunha is a livewire presence — mobile, technically sharp and capable of linking play between the lines — but he is a very different animal to the mercurial Neymar, and the weight of carrying Brazil's attack will fall heavily on him alongside Raphinha and Paquetá, with Vinicius expected to be the primary creator and finisher.

Brazil have not won the World Cup since 2002 — a 24-year drought that remarkably mirrors the exact gap between their 1970 and 1994 triumphs, which was also ended on American soil. The symbolism is not lost on anyone. They are also the only nation to have appeared in every single World Cup since 1930, and they have won seven of their eight matches against African nations at the tournament.

Morocco — The Dark Horses

Under Mohamed Ouahbi — who stepped in after Walid Regragui's surprise resignation less than 100 days before the tournament — Morocco have gone three wins and two draws from five matches and arrive in fine fettle. They breezed through CAF qualifying with eight wins from eight and were controversially crowned Africa Cup of Nations champions earlier this year after Senegal were stripped of the title following a chaotic final. The motivation to prove themselves on the biggest stage again is enormous.

Ouahbi will likely line up in a 4-2-3-1, with Bono in goal. Hakimi and the fitness-doubtful Mazraoui — who trained fully on Thursday but remains questionable with a shoulder problem — provide the width at full-back, while Issa Diop and Chadi Riad partner in central defence in the absence of first-choice centre-back Nayef Aguerd, who is ruled out with a groin injury. That is a notable loss — Aguerd is Morocco's most assured defender and the spine of their back line. Whether Diop and Riad can handle Vinicius Júnior in full flight for 90 minutes is the central question of this match.

Going forward, Morocco possess genuine quality. Brahim Díaz — 14 international goals in 26 appearances and the most technically gifted player in this squad — drifts inside from the right and thrives in tight spaces. Azzedine Ounahi pulls the strings in the number ten role with Saibari providing the threat from the left, while Kaabi leads the line as the lone striker. Morocco also lose set-piece specialist Ez Abde to a knee ligament injury for the entire group stage — a blow to a side who built much of their threat from dead-ball situations in 2022.

Predicted Lineups

Key Battle

Vinicius Júnior vs Achraf Hakimi. Hakimi is one of the best attacking full-backs in world football — but he will spend most of this game in a defensive headache. Vinicius is at his most devastating running at pace toward goal, and Morocco's right flank is the avenue Brazil will target repeatedly. If Hakimi pushes forward, he leaves the space Vinicius will exploit in behind. If he stays deep, Morocco lose one of their most potent outlets on the counter. It is a genuine dilemma with no comfortable answer.

Prediction

Morocco will make this uncomfortable. Their defensive structure is real, their attacking players are capable of punishing any lapse, and the loss of Aguerd — while significant — does not strip them of their organisation. But Brazil have too much quality in midfield and on the wings. Vinicius will find a moment, Guimarães will impose himself on the game, and the Seleção should have enough to see it through, even without Neymar.

Expect a tight first half before Brazil's quality tells in the second.

Brazil 2–0 Morocco — Vinicius Júnior, Raphinha

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Qatar

vs

Switzerland

Qatar make their first appearance at a World Cup as qualifiers — having hosted the 2022 edition — when they face a formidable Switzerland side in Group B at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara. For Julen Lopetegui's side, this is uncharted territory in every sense. For Murat Yakin's Swiss, it is another chapter in a long and steady tournament pedigree. The gap in class is real, but Qatar have proven before they are capable of an upset on the right day.

Qatar — The Underdogs

Lopetegui is expected to set up in a compact 4-1-4-1, with Mahmoud Abunada between the sticks. The back four of Ahmed, Khoukhi, Pedro Miguel and Al-Oui provides the defensive base, while Ahmed Fathy operates as the holding midfielder tasked with protecting the shape. The midfield four of Laye, Gaber, Abdurisag and Junior offers industry and width, with the creative burden falling on captain Akram Afif in the advanced role behind the striker.

Afif is the key man — 39 international goals and 11 assists in qualifying alone make him Qatar's most dangerous outlet by some distance. Six of those assists came from set-pieces, and dead-ball situations may well be Qatar's primary route to goal here. The concern is what comes at the other end: Qatar have not scored in their last 373 minutes of football across all competitions, a run stretching back to a December 2025 Arab Cup match against Syria. Their pre-tournament friendlies brought a 1-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland and a goalless draw with El Salvador. The goals have dried up at the worst possible time.

There is historical encouragement, however — Qatar's only previous meeting with Switzerland ended in a 1-0 friendly win in 2018, with Afif scoring the decisive goal in the 86th minute. Nine players from that squad are back in this one.

Switzerland — The Favourites

Yakin will line up in a 4-3-3, with Gregor Kobel in goal behind a back four of Widmer, Akanji, Elvedi and Rodriguez — an experienced and well-organised defensive unit. The midfield three of Xhaka, Freuler and Aebischer gives Switzerland both the defensive structure and technical quality to control proceedings, with captain Granit Xhaka the conductor at its heart.

Up front, the trio of Ndoye, Embolo and Vargas is as balanced an attacking unit as any in this group. Breel Embolo — one of just five players to have scored multiple goals at both the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024 — leads the line, while Dan Ndoye arrives in excellent form having netted in three of Switzerland's last five matches. Rubén Vargas provides the pace and directness on the opposite flank.

Switzerland topped their UEFA qualifying group without ever falling behind in any of their six matches — a remarkable stat that underlines the defensive solidity underpinning this side. They have lost just once in their last 14 games across all competitions, and the supercomputer gives them a 76% chance of winning this match. They are, by some margin, the class act in this fixture.

Predicted Lineups

Key Battle

Akram Afif vs the Switzerland midfield. Afif is Qatar's only genuine world-class talent and the one player capable of conjuring something from nothing. Xhaka and Freuler will know exactly where the danger lies and will be disciplined in cutting off his supply lines. If Qatar are to cause an upset, Afif needs time and space — two things Switzerland's midfield will be highly reluctant to give him.

Prediction

Qatar's goalscoring drought and the step up in quality they face here makes this a difficult match to see them getting anything from. Switzerland are organised, in-form and packed with players operating at the top level of club football. That said, Lopetegui is an experienced coach who will set up to be hard to beat, and Qatar will make a game of it — at least for a while.

Expect Switzerland to eventually find a way through, with Embolo or Ndoye likely to be the difference-maker.

Qatar 0–2 Switzerland — Embolo, Ndoye

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USA

vs

Paraguay

Co-hosts USA kick off their World Cup campaign on home soil against a disciplined Paraguay side who have proven time and again they are not to be underestimated. Mauricio Pochettino's men carry the weight of a nation's expectations at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, while Gustavo Alfaro's pragmatic Paraguayans arrive as dangerous outsiders with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

United States — The Co-Hosts

Pochettino looks set to deploy a 3-4-2-1 shape, with Matt Freese between the sticks after earning his place as the number one ahead of the tournament. A back three of Ream, Trusty and Richards — though Richards has only just returned from an ankle injury and the door remains open for Miles Robinson — provides the defensive foundation, with Dest and Antonee Robinson as the wing-backs.

In the engine room, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie offer the control and drive this system needs, while Christian Pulisic and Malik Tillman operate in the advanced roles behind lone striker Folarin Balogun. Pulisic had a difficult club season at AC Milan but showed sharp touches against Germany in the final warm-up, and this tournament could be the stage for him to remind the world of his quality. Balogun, meanwhile, hit 19 goals across all competitions for Monaco last season and brings pace and clinical instinct to the attack.

The USA have lost just one of their last nine World Cup group games and have reached the knockout stage in each of their last three tournaments. Playing every Group D fixture on the west coast gives them a genuine and sustained home advantage throughout.

Paraguay — The Dark Horses

Alfaro will likely set up in a compact 4-4-2, built on the defensive solidity that carried them through CONMEBOL qualifying. Gustavo Gomez captains from the heart of the back four alongside Omar Alderete — a player who was sent off against this very opponent in a friendly last November — with Caceres and Alonso providing width at full-back.

The midfield of Bobadilla and Cubas is disciplined and combative, tasked with compressing space and funnelling attacks wide. Miguel Almiron and Diego Gomez offer the creative spark from wider positions, while Julio Enciso — who carries a minor quadriceps concern from the warm-up win over Nicaragua — links the play in the hole behind Tonny Sanabria, La Albirroja's top scorer in qualifying with four goals.

Paraguay's campaign was defined by defensive resilience — they averaged just 37.3% possession in CONMEBOL qualifying and scored the highest proportion of their goals from set-pieces (36%). They will not come to entertain. They will come to make life as uncomfortable as possible, hit the Americans on the break and punish any defensive lapse from a dead ball.

There is also real uncertainty over who lines up in goal. Roberto Fernández would normally be considered the automatic starter, but reports in the lead-up to the tournament have suggested he has slipped to third choice in Alfaro's thinking. Orlando Gill is expected to get the nod — but this is one selection worth watching closely when the teamsheets drop.

Predicted Lineups

Key Battle

Christian Pulisic vs the Paraguay midfield block. Pulisic is at his most dangerous when he receives the ball in tight spaces between the lines and drives at defenders. Paraguay's double pivot of Bobadilla and Cubas will have specific instructions to deny him exactly that. If the USA can find ways to get Pulisic on the ball in central areas, they will create chances. If Paraguay's block holds firm and forces play wide, this could be a very long evening for the hosts.

Prediction

Paraguay are not here just to make up the numbers. They beat world champions Argentina in qualifying, they are organised and defensively stubborn, and they have genuine match-winners capable of punishing a passive US side. The injury doubt over Enciso adds a touch of intrigue — if he starts and fires, he could be the difference.

That said, the USA's home advantage is real, and Balogun and Pulisic together represent a dangerous combination that a limited Paraguay side will struggle to contain for ninety minutes. Expect a tight first half before the Americans find a way through.

USA 2–1 Paraguay — Balogun, Pulisic — Sanabria

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Canada

vs

Bosnia

Co-hosts Canada make their long-awaited return to the World Cup stage — their first appearance since 1986 — as they face a Bosnia and Herzegovina side bursting with attacking quality in what promises to be a compelling opener. Canada will feed off an electric home atmosphere, but Bafana — sorry, Bosnia — arrive with genuine quality throughout and will fancy their chances of making a statement on the grandest stage.

Canada — The Hosts

Canada are likely to set up in a 4-4-2 with Maxime Crepeau in goal behind a back four of Laryea, Fougerolles, Cornelius and Johnston. The midfield four of Millar, Kone, Eustaquio and Buchanan gives them both industry and creativity, with Buchanan capable of causing real problems down the right. Up front, the partnership of Cyle Larin and the supremely talented Jonathan David is one of the most exciting strike pairings in this tournament. David in particular arrives in great form.

Playing at home with a nation behind them for the first time in 40 years, Canada will draw enormous energy from the crowd. The atmosphere could be the difference in what promises to be a tight contest.

Bosnia and Herzegovina — The Dark Horses

Bosnia line up in a mirror 4-4-2 with Vasilj in goal. The back four of Kolasinac, Muharemovic, Katic and Dedic provides a solid foundation, while the midfield of Alajbegovic, Sunjic, Tahirovic and Bajraktarevic is one of the most technically accomplished in this group. But the real danger comes up front — Edin Dzeko, ageless and lethal in the box, leads the line alongside the clinical Ermedin Demirovic in a partnership that will cause Canada's defence serious problems.

Bosnia are not here just to make up the numbers. Dzeko will be desperate to sign off his international career with a World Cup to remember, and that motivation could prove a powerful force throughout the tournament.

Predicted Lineups

Key Battle

Jonathan David vs the Bosnia back four. David is lethal in the channels and arrives at this tournament on the back of a remarkable club season. If Canada can get him running in behind Kolasinac and Dedic, Bosnia will be in serious trouble. The question is whether Bosnia's midfield can be disciplined enough to deny him the space he needs.

Prediction

Canada's home advantage is real, and Jonathan David is capable of winning any game on his own. But Bosnia's firepower — particularly Dzeko — makes this far from straightforward. Expect a tight, physical contest with goals at both ends as two attacking sides go toe to toe.

Canada 2–1 Bosnia and Herzegovina - Jonathan David, Cyle Larin — Edin Dzeko

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South Korea

vs

Czech Republic

One of the most intriguing group stage clashes of the opening round sees an electric South Korea side take on a technically assured Czechia in what promises to be a tactical battle between two well-organised and dangerous teams. Both sides will fancy their chances of making the knockout rounds and will see this as a must-win fixture from the off.

South Korea — The Asian Tigers

South Korea arrive at this World Cup with genuine quality throughout the squad. The talisman is undoubtedly Heung-min Son, who is one of the players every defender in this tournament will be wary of. Alongside him up front, Hee-chan Hwang and Kang-in Lee provide pace, creativity and a goal threat that can hurt anyone on their day. The midfield is anchored by the composed Inbeom Hwang with Jae-sung Lee and the wide threats of Tae-seok Lee and Young-woo Seol providing width through a 3-4-3 shape. At the back, Ki-hyuk Lee leads a three-man defence alongside Minjae Kim and Han-beom Lee, with Seung-gyu Kim in goal.

Son is the difference maker. When he is at his best, South Korea are capable of beating anyone in this tournament.

Czechia — The Dark Horses

The Czechs are one of the most underrated sides in this tournament and should not be taken lightly by anyone. Patrik Schick leads the line with his characteristic blend of physicality and composure in front of goal, and at 80% he is expected to start. He is flanked by the direct Ondrej Provod and the highly-rated Lukas Sulc, who arrives at this World Cup in the form of his life. The midfield engine room of Tomas Soucek and Lukas Sadilek gives the Czechs steel and creativity in equal measure, with Vladimír Coufal and David Jurasek providing the wide outlets. The back three of Tomas Krejci, Tomas Hranac and Matej Chaloupek is well organised and hard to break down, with the excellent Matyas Kovar — one of the best goalkeepers in this tournament at commanding his area -

could be the difference between Czechia going deep in this tournament or going home early. He has the ability to single-handedly keep them in matches.

Predicted Lineups

Key Battle

Heung-min Son vs Tomas Krejci. Son will look to exploit the spaces in behind the Czech defence and will likely come up against Krejci as the left-sided centre-back tasked with tracking his runs. If Son can get in behind early and put the Czech backline under pressure, South Korea will have the platform to control this game. If Krejci can shackle him, the Czechs have the quality to hurt Korea on the break through Schick.

Prediction

This is one of the hardest calls of the opening round. Son gives South Korea the X-factor but Kovar in goal and Schick up front mean the Czechs are dangerous at both ends. Expect a tight, tactical contest that could go either way — but Son's quality at the highest level just edges it for the Asian Tigers.

South Korea 1–1 Czechia - Heung-min Son — Patrik Schick

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Mexico

vs

South Africa

The FIFA World Cup 2026 gets underway as co-hosts Mexico open their campaign against a spirited South Africa side in what promises to be a fascinating opener. Playing on home soil, El Tri will be expected to deliver — but Bafana Bafana are no pushovers and will arrive with serious ambitions of causing an upset in front of a world audience.

Mexico — The Hosts

Mexico enter the tournament with the weight of a nation on their shoulders. As one of three co-hosts, the expectation is enormous — and manager Javier Aguirre has a talented, experienced squad capable of a deep run. The spine of the team is built around a solid defensive unit anchored by César Montes and Johan Vásquez, and a midfield trio of Brian Gutiérrez, Erik Lira and the technically gifted Álvaro Fidalgo supported by ever-reliable Edson Álvarez from he Bench. The focal point up front is Raúl Jiménez, flanked by the pace of Roberto Alvarado and Julián Quiñones, who carries the hopes of a nation with every touch.

At home they will be deafeningly loud. Mexico's record on their own turf in World Cups is strong, and Aguirre will be desperate to start with maximum points to set the tone for the group.

South Africa — The Underdogs

South Africa return to the World Cup stage for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010, and their qualification was no fluke. Bafana Bafana are well organised under Hugo Broos, compact defensively and dangerous on the counter. Ronwen Williams is one of the most assured goalkeepers in the tournament and will be crucial to keeping Mexico at bay. In front of him, Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Ime Okon form a disciplined centre-back pairing, while Teboho Mokoena pulls the strings from midfield. Up front, the pace of Oswin Appollis and the physicality of Lyle Foster give South Africa a genuine threat on the break

Their best hope lies in frustrating Mexico in the opening exchanges, soaking up the pressure, and hitting them on the break. It is a strategy that has undone better sides than El Tri.

Predicted Lineups

Key Battle

Álvaro Fidalgo vs Teboho Mokoena: Fidalgo will look to dictate the tempo and unlock South Africa's defensive shape, while Mokoena will seek to win the ball back quickly and transition fast. Whoever dominates this midfield contest is likely to decide which way the game goes.

Our Prediction

Mexico's home advantage and quality in the final third should see them through, but this won't be the stroll some expect. South Africa will make it uncomfortable before Mexico's class tells. Mexico 2–0 South Africa - Raúl Jiménez, Álvaro Fidalgo

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