Turkey

vs

Paraguay

Both sides arrive at BC Place in Vancouver with their World Cup hopes already in serious jeopardy. Turkey — beaten 2-0 by Australia in a result that shocked even the most sceptical observers — must win here to keep any realistic hope of progression alive. Paraguay — crushed 4-1 by the USA — are in an equally desperate position, knowing a third consecutive defeat in the final game against the co-hosts would end their tournament. This is, in every sense, a knockout match dressed up as a group stage fixture. The losers go home with nothing. The winners live to fight another day.

Turkey — Ay-Yıldızlılar

Montella is expected to make a significant tactical adjustment. The biggest change is the predicted inclusion of a fully fit Kenan Yıldız from the start — he was not fully fit against Australia and came on as a substitute, but should now be available to start. With Yıldız in the XI, Arda Güler is predicted to shift into the number 10 position behind the striker, which is arguably a more natural role for him than the wider one he occupied against Australia. That move may come at the expense of Kökçü, who drops out entirely — a significant call given his quality, but reflects the reality that a 4-2-3-1 with Yıldız and Güler both starting in advanced roles requires compromise elsewhere.

Çalhanoğlu and Yüksek continue as the double pivot, and Akturkoglu leads the line. Kadioglu, Bardakci, Demiral and Celik form the back four. The predicted lineup represents a more attack-minded setup than the one that lost to Australia — understandable given the imperative to win. Turkey generated a relatively modest xG of 0.64 against Australia despite having more possession — a stat that underlines how ineffective their attacking play was on the day. With Güler and Yıldız operating together and more fluently, that should improve significantly.

Turkey are one of only four teams in this tournament yet to register an xG above 1.0 in their opening match — a concerning statistic for a side with this much attacking quality. The talent is undeniable; the execution must follow.

Paraguay — La Albirroja

Alfaro is also expected to make changes following the 4-1 collapse against the USA. Bobadilla and Sanabria are both predicted to drop to the bench — Bobadilla's own goal opening the floodgates and Sanabria having a difficult afternoon throughout. Pitta and Enciso are predicted to start as the front two, with Galarza coming into midfield. Almiron, Cubas and D.Gomez complete the midfield four. The back four of Alonso, G.Gomez, Alderete and Caceres stays largely intact, with Gill in goal — notably Caballero is out with a muscle strain and Sosa with an ankle problem, two notable absences from the squad.

Julio Enciso is the player Paraguay fans most want to see given the opportunity — technically gifted, creative and capable of producing moments that nobody else in this squad can. His link-up play with Pitta, who brings pace and directness, gives Paraguay a more dynamic front two than the Sanabria-led approach that struggled to impose itself against the USA. Paraguay managed just 0.62 xG against the USA despite the game being relatively open after the first goal — they will need to be significantly more threatening here.

Paraguay beat this same Turkey in a warm-up friendly earlier in the year, which gives Alfaro's squad a psychological edge worth noting.

Predicted Lineups

Key Battle

Arda Güler vs Paraguay's midfield. With Güler dropping into the number 10 role, his ability to receive the ball between the lines, turn and drive at Paraguay's defensive shape becomes the central question of this match. Paraguay's midfield of Almiron, Cubas, Galarza and D.Gomez is disciplined and combative, but Güler is a different kind of problem to anything they faced against the USA. If Turkey can get him on the ball quickly and with space to operate, the combination of Güler threading passes to Yıldız and Akturkoglu on either side of him could be devastating. If Paraguay's midfield can press him high and deny him the turn, Turkey will struggle to create as they did against Australia.

Prediction

Both sides are desperate. Turkey have more individual quality and the added motivation of having significantly underperformed their expectations in game one. Paraguay's changes — bringing in Enciso and fresher options — give them more attacking threat than was apparent against the USA. But Turkey, with a fully fit Yıldız and Güler both in the starting XI, should have too much creativity for Paraguay to contain for ninety minutes.

Expect a high-intensity, open game from two sides with nothing to lose. Turkey edge it — but this is far from straightforward.

Turkey 2–1 Paraguay — Güler, Akturkoglu — Enciso

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Brazil

vs

Haiti

An under-pressure Brazil — still reeling from the 1-1 draw with Morocco that left Ancelotti fielding uncomfortable questions — take on a Haiti side who lost 1-0 to Scotland in a match that arguably deserved more. At Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, the Seleção need a convincing win to restore confidence and keep pace at the top of Group C. For Haiti, another creditable defensive performance and the chance to add a historic first point — or even a historic first goal against Brazil — is the target. This is one of the most mathematically lopsided fixtures of the group stage, but after the results we have seen in this tournament, nobody is writing Haiti off entirely.

Brazil — A Seleção

Ancelotti is expected to make two changes from the Morocco draw. Casemiro — heavily criticised for his performance against Morocco, where he was outworked in the midfield battle — keeps his place in this predicted lineup despite pressure from Fabinho, who made a strong impression as a substitute. Douglas Santos is predicted to retain his left-back spot. The more notable shift is up front, where Paquetá is dropped following a below-par display, with Luis Henrique coming in on the right of the attacking three — allowing Raphinha to shift more centrally. Vinicius Júnior continues on the left, where he created the most danger against Morocco. Up front, Igor Thiago leads the line — Cunha and the pressure for Endrick to start remain in the background, but Ancelotti appears reluctant to deviate from Thiago as his preferred central option.

Brazil's first-round xG numbers were encouraging even in the draw — they generated real chances, Vinicius was their most dangerous player, and the Morocco goal came against the run of play. What they lacked was a clinical finisher in the mould of a fully fit Neymar to convert the half-chances that fell to them. Haiti will defend in a low block and look to frustrate, which is exactly the type of opponent that exposes this Brazil team's current limitations if they cannot find early goals to open the game up.

Haiti — Les Grenadiers

Migné is predicted to keep faith with broadly the same 4-4-2 that gave Scotland significant problems, with one change on the right wing — Deedson comes in for Casimir after his two successive 60-minute appearances earned him the nod. Captain Placide returns in goal, the back four of Experience, Delcroix, Ade and Arcus stays intact, and the midfield of Providence, Bellegarde, Jacques and Deedson will be tasked with the near-impossible job of limiting Vinicius and Raphinha.

Up front, Isidor and Pierrot partner again — Nazon, Haiti's all-time top scorer with 44 goals in 78 caps, remains an option from the bench, but Pierrot keeps his starting place after featuring in the Scotland game. Haiti's performance against Scotland was genuinely impressive — they conceded only from a rebound effort, created their own chances and showed a defensive resilience that impressed watching coaches. Against Brazil they will need to be even better organised, and they may well consider a more defensive shape as the game approaches. Their best hope is to stay in it for 60 minutes and find a moment from a set-piece or a counter-attack.

Predicted Lineups

Key Battle

Vinicius Júnior vs the Haiti back four. Against Morocco, Vinicius was Brazil's most dangerous player by a considerable distance — running at defenders, winning free-kicks and creating the direct threat that the rest of the attack struggled to provide. Haiti's back four kept McGinn and the Scotland attack relatively quiet, but Vinicius is in a different category entirely. Experience and Arcus will face the most difficult ninety minutes of their international careers. If Brazil can get Vinicius on the ball in wide areas early and build pressure from his movement, the floodgates should open. The key question is whether Haiti, playing more defensively against superior opposition, can stay compact enough to limit his impact for long enough to make this interesting.

Prediction

Brazil need to win and win well to restore both confidence and goal difference ahead of the Scotland match. Haiti are organised and spirited — but the gap in quality at this level is too significant to overcome for ninety minutes. Expect Brazil to find the goals their first-game performance perhaps deserved, with Vinicius the catalyst throughout.

Brazil 3–0 Haiti — Vinicius Júnior, Thiago, Raphinha

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Scotland

vs

Morocco

Scotland's World Cup generation has waited 28 years for this moment — and now, having beaten Haiti in their opener, they walk into Gillette Stadium in Foxborough knowing that a result against Morocco could put them within touching distance of the knockout stages. That is not a sentence anyone expected to write before this tournament began. Morocco arrive having been the better side against Brazil and playing with a confidence and organisation that makes them one of the most awkward opponents in the draw. Steve Clarke's side have earned the right to dream, but tonight they face their sternest examination yet — and the occasion will demand everything they have.

Scotland — The Tartan Army

Steve Clarke is expected to stick with the 4-4-2 that earned the opening win, though the predicted lineup shows one change at centre-back — Hanley is predicted to come in alongside Hendry, with Souttar — who was on yellow card duty at left back in the first game — potentially shifting. Gunn keeps his place in goal, with the goalkeeper battle remaining close. Robertson and Hickey are the full-backs, while the midfield four of McGinn, McTominay, Ferguson and Gannon-Doak stays intact.

McTominay had a slightly quieter game against Haiti after his stomach bug, but should be fully fit here and will be determined to assert himself against a more technically demanding midfield. He has been the most prolific scorer in competitive matches for Scotland over the past three years — Morocco will have specific plans to limit his influence. Shankland and Adams continue up front; the partnership created few clear-cut chances against Haiti and Clarke may have considered changes, but is expected to persist with the same combination, trusting the pair to deliver against higher-quality opposition.

Scotland created precious few clear-cut chances against Haiti and Clarke will know they need to be more threatening going forward against a Morocco side with considerably more attacking quality. McTominay's influence was also slightly muted after his stomach bug — if he is fully fit here and finds the form that has made him Scotland's most important player over the past three years, that shift alone could change the dynamic of this match considerably.

Morocco — Atlas Lions

Ouahbi is expected to make no changes from the Brazil draw — the same 4-2-3-1 that gave Brazil's defence genuine problems throughout the 90 minutes. Bounou in goal, Mazraoui, Riad, Diop and Hakimi in the back four. The midfield pivot of Bouaddi and Aynaoui, with the creative three of Khannouss, Ounahi and Brahim Díaz operating behind lone striker Saibari.

Morocco were excellent against Brazil — they held 40% possession, but used it efficiently, created real danger on the counter and exposed Brazil's defensive vulnerabilities repeatedly. Díaz and Ounahi in particular were dangerous throughout. They have now kept a clean sheet in 13 of their last 16 competitive matches, conceding just 11 goals across that run. That defensive solidity, combined with their attacking quality in transition, makes them one of the most dangerous sides to face in this tournament.

The Opta supercomputer rates Morocco as slight favourites here — which tells you something about the respect this side has earned. They ranked among the top five sides in the tournament's first round for pressing intensity and transition speed, and Scotland's wide midfielders will need to be disciplined in tracking Hakimi and Mazraoui's overlapping runs throughout.

Predicted Lineups

Key Battle

McTominay vs Bouaddi and Aynaoui. Morocco's midfield pivot will be tasked with preventing McTominay's late runs into the box — exactly the movement that has made him Scotland's most dangerous player. Bouaddi is combative and reads the game well; Aynaoui brings energy and press-resistance. If McTominay can ghost beyond them and arrive into dangerous positions, Scotland's set-piece delivery and his ability to finish from range become live threats. If Morocco's midfield screens him effectively and forces Scotland wide, the Tartan Army's attacking options thin considerably.

Prediction

This is Scotland's toughest test of the tournament, and Morocco are a better team than Haiti in every meaningful way. The absence of Gilmour hurts. But Clarke's Scotland are organised, disciplined and believe in what they are doing — the Haiti win was built on structure and grit, and they will bring exactly that here. Morocco should win on quality, but Scotland will make it uncomfortable throughout.

Scotland 0–2 Morocco — Saibari, Díaz

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USA

vs

Australia

The most eagerly anticipated fixture in Group D takes place at Lumen Field in Seattle, where two sides who both won their opening matches — and won them convincingly — meet in a contest that could effectively decide who tops the group. USA demolished Paraguay 4-1, with Balogun becoming only the second American player to score more than once in a World Cup game. Australia stunned Turkey 2-0 in Vancouver, with Irankunda's brilliant first touch and Metcalfe's thunderbolt from distance producing one of the upsets of the opening round. The Opta supercomputer gives the USA a 57.8% chance of victory — but after what we have seen in this tournament already, that figure should be treated with appropriate caution.

United States — The Stars and Stripes

Pochettino is expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 with the key question mark hanging over Christian Pulisic, who has been in individual training for a calf injury and as of Wednesday had not rejoined the full group. If he cannot go — and his participation remains uncertain — Giovanni Reyna is the predicted replacement, shifting into one of the advanced roles alongside Malik Tillman behind Folarin Balogun. The predicted back three of Ream, Freeman and Richards offers more of a two-CB feel with Dest pushing higher as a wing-back, while Antonee Robinson provides the thrust on the left. McKennie and Adams continue in the midfield pivot.

Balogun's two-goal opening performance was the moment this tournament needed from the co-hosts — the crowd at SoFi Stadium erupted, and the confidence that brings to a young squad should not be underestimated. Reyna, if he starts, also arrives with momentum after his stunning stoppage-time strike to seal the Paraguay win. The USA have scored four goals in their opening match and created chances with real quality. If Pulisic is fit, the attacking depth is genuinely formidable. Even without him, they have enough.

USA lead the tournament's expected goals rankings in the opening round with some eye-catching numbers from the Paraguay game — their pressing intensity and transition speed caused Paraguay enormous problems throughout. Australia will be a very different and more organised challenge.

Australia — The Socceroos

Popovic is expected to retain the 3-4-2-1 that worked so well against Turkey, with one notable change between the sticks — Beach is predicted to keep his place in goal over Ryan following his inspirational performance against Turkey. The back three of Burgess, Souttar and Circati stays intact, with Bos and Italiano as the wing-backs. Irvine and O'Neill — the latter carrying some discomfort but expected to be fit — form the midfield pivot.

The predicted attacking shape is interesting — Metcalfe and Irankunda are expected to operate in the advanced roles behind lone striker Toure, who holds his place over Yengi following a convincing performance and a quick return from injury. Metcalfe's goal against Turkey — a thunderous drive from outside the box in the 75th minute — announced him to a global audience, while Irankunda's first touch for the opener was one of the moments of the tournament so far.

Australia are playing with the freedom that comes from having nothing to lose and everything to gain. They set-piece threat — Hrustic is their most dangerous dead-ball deliverer — and their direct, physical counter-attacking game are the tools they will deploy against a USA side who have conceded on the break. Their xG against Turkey was modest, but the goals came at exactly the right moments. Against a USA side potentially without Pulisic, they have a genuine chance.

Predicted Lineups

Key Battle

Reyna/Tillman vs the Australia back three. If Pulisic misses out, the onus falls on Reyna and Tillman to create the quality in the half-spaces between Australia's defensive lines. Both are technically capable, but neither carries quite the same penetrative threat from wide. Australia's back three of Burgess, Souttar and Circati held Turkey's Haaland-less attack comfortably — the question is whether they can do the same against USA's more fluid, possession-based approach. If Reyna can arrive late and find Balogun in the channels, the USA should win. If Australia's defensive structure holds as it did against Turkey, this could be much tighter than expected.

Prediction

Two excellent sides, two perfect records, and one of the genuinely open fixtures of the second round. USA have home advantage in every sense in Seattle — the crowd will be electric — and even without Pulisic they carry enough attacking threat to win this. But Australia are organised, confident, and Popovic's tactical preparation for this kind of opponent has been excellent throughout. Expect a competitive match before USA's quality edges it.

USA 2–1 Australia — Balogun, Reyna — Toure

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Mexico

vs

South Korea

The Group A clash with the most riding on it. Mexico — three points and a win over South Africa in a chaotic, red card-filled opener — take on South Korea, who came from behind to beat Czechia 2-1 in a disciplined and impressive performance. A Mexico win here would put them in a commanding position to qualify. A South Korea win draws the group back level and creates a proper four-way battle. There will be no shortage of quality on either side — this is a fixture with genuine knockout potential.

Mexico — El Tri

Javier Aguirre makes one enforced change and one tactical adjustment. Montes is suspended following his red card against South Africa, with Edson Álvarez stepping in — a significant upgrade in quality in central defence, arguably. Reyes retains his place at right back, having surprised many by starting ahead of Sánchez in game one. The back four of Gallardo, Vásquez, Álvarez and Sánchez has a more settled, technical feel than the opener.

The midfield of Mora, Lira and Fidalgo gave good sensations against South Africa — Mora in particular pushed his case for a starting spot with an energetic display. Up front, the trio of Alvarado, Jiménez and Quiñones retained. Jiménez — who headed home the decisive second against South Africa in Azteca — is the focal point, experienced and powerful in the air. Alvarado's creativity from the left and Quiñones' direct running from the right give Mexico genuine width and the ability to hurt any defence with speed on the counter.

Mexico have now reached the round of 16 at every World Cup since 1994 — a remarkable run of eight consecutive tournaments. A win here goes a very long way to extending that record to nine. But South Korea's performance against Czechia showed they are organised, tactically sharp and more than capable of making El Tri's evening difficult.

South Korea — Taeguk Warriors

Hong Myung-bo sticks largely with the winning formula from the Czechia game, using a 3-4-3. Seung-gyu in goal behind a back three of Gi-hyuk, Min-jae and Han-beom. The wing-backs are Tae-seok and Young-woo, with In-beom and Seung-ho in the midfield pivot. Up front the attacking three of Jae-sung, Heung-min Son and Kang-in Lee.

Son Heung-min came off without scoring against Czechia — a quiet game by his standards — but the captain's quality is undeniable and he will be driven by the desire to deliver on the biggest stage. Lee Kang-in is one of the most technically gifted players in the squad and operates with real creativity from the right side. In-beom was the scorer against Czechia with a cool chip and provides the crucial midfield quality and energy that allows the back three to stay compact.

South Korea's 3-4-3 offers tactical flexibility — the wing-backs can push high and turn it into an effective 3-2-5 in possession, or drop back to create a 5-4-1 off the ball. Against Mexico's width, Hong will need them to track runners diligently and prevent Alvarado and Quiñones getting in behind. If they can limit Mexico's wide threat and spring Son and Kang-in on the counter, South Korea are a genuine danger.

Predicted Lineups

Key Battle

Son Heung-min vs the Mexico back four. Son was quiet against Czechia — he will not want a repeat. Against Mexico's back four, his movement, pace and ability to arrive late into the box represent the most dangerous individual threat on either side. He drifts across the front line and makes runs that are genuinely difficult to track in a 4-3-3 defensive structure. Mexico's centre-backs handled South Africa comfortably enough, but Son is a completely different kind of problem. If Son fires, South Korea can win this.

Prediction

Mexico's quality across the pitch and their superior strength in depth make them slight favourites, and the Montes suspension is offset by Edson Álvarez's quality stepping in. But South Korea's first-game performance showed they are more than capable of competing at this level, and Son will be determined to make his mark. This is genuinely close.

Mexico 2–1 South Korea — Jiménez, Alvarado — Son

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Canada

vs

Qatar

Canada know a win here effectively secures a place in the knockout stages. Qatar — who defied all logic to steal a last-minute draw against Switzerland, turning a dominant 23-shot bombardment into a share of the spoils through a Swiss own goal — arrive buzzing with unexpected confidence at BMO Field in Toronto. The stadium that witnessed Canada's first World Cup point against Bosnia will now host their most important match in forty years. For Qatar, this is their chance to produce one of the genuine upsets of the tournament on Canadian soil.

Canada — Les Rouges

Jesse Marsch makes no changes from the Bosnia draw, retaining the 4-4-2 that earned Canada their historic first World Cup point. Crépeau in goal, back four of Laryea, Fougerolles, Cornelius and Johnston, midfield of Millar, Koné, Eustaquio and Buchanan, with Larin and Jonathan David up front.

The big uncertainty remains Alphonso Davies, who has been recovering from injury and did not feature in the pre-tournament friendlies. His involvement or absence from the squad is still unclear — if he is fit and available, his introduction changes Canada's dynamic entirely. Without him, Buchanan on the right and Millar on the left give Canada width and directness, but nowhere near the same level of explosive quality. David remains the primary danger regardless — his movement, clinical finishing and ability to create space for Larin make him the most potent striker Canada have ever produced, and he will be a serious problem for Qatar's back line.

Canada's home advantage at BMO Field is real. The crowd will be enormous and the noise levels will provide exactly the kind of atmosphere that can unsettle a side with Qatar's limited big-game experience. They have already earned their first World Cup point. Now they want their first win.

Qatar

Julen Lopetegui makes one adjustment from the Switzerland game — Madibo retains his surprise starting spot ahead of Boudiaf in the midfield three alongside Laye and Gaber. Abunada stays in goal behind the same back four of Ahmed, Pedro Miguel, Khoukhi and Al-Oui.

Up front, Afif leads through the middle with Junior and Abdurisag in the wider positions — the same attacking trio that functioned against Switzerland. The context of Qatar's first game cannot be overstated: they had 32% possession, an xG of 0.60 against Switzerland's 3.20, and still took a point. Their entire gameplan is built around staying compact, making life difficult and hitting teams on the counter through Afif's individual quality. Against Canada's attacking-minded 4-4-2, there will be spaces to exploit.

The notable omission remains Almoez Ali — Qatar's all-time top scorer with 55 goals in 119 games — who did not get a single minute against Switzerland. His continued absence from the starting lineup is puzzling, and if Qatar fall behind here, his introduction could change the game.

Predicted Lineups

Key Battle

Jonathan David vs Khoukhi and the Qatar back four. David is Canada's most dangerous player and the man Qatar's entire defensive plan will be built around limiting. He is quick, intelligent in his movement and clinical in front of goal — exactly the profile that low-block defences struggle most to contain. If David can get in behind Khoukhi and Pedro Miguel even once, he has the quality to finish. Qatar will look to keep him in front of them at all times, stay compact and deny him the turn. If David fires, Canada win.

Prediction

Qatar's first-game performance was extraordinary in its efficiency — they achieved almost nothing and still got a point. Against Canada at home, with David firing and the crowd behind them, it is hard to see them repeating that trick. Canada have too much quality up front and the atmosphere will drive them forward from the first minute. Qatar will make it competitive for an hour, but Canada should see it out.

Canada 2–0 Qatar — David, Larin

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Switzerland

vs

Bosnia

Group B's most pivotal fixture takes place at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, where a frustrated Switzerland — robbed of a deserved win against Qatar by a last-gasp own goal — face a Bosnia and Herzegovina side who held co-hosts Canada to a 1-1 draw in a performance full of fighting spirit. Both sides have a point, both want three. But the tension is different: Switzerland feel they should already be top of the group, while Bosnia arrive with growing confidence that they can cause a proper upset here.

Switzerland — La Nati

Murat Yakin makes one notable change from the Qatar draw, restoring Widmer to his natural right-back position — Zakaria started there against Qatar but was criticised for not crossing into the box and losing positional sense as the game progressed. Widmer's delivery and technical quality make him the obvious choice. The back four of Rodriguez, Akanji, Elvedi and Widmer is familiar and reliable.

In midfield, Aebischer gets the nod — rapidly emerging as one of Yakin's most trusted players, capable of operating as a central midfielder, full-back or winger — alongside captain Granit Xhaka and Freuler. That midfield three is technically excellent and should control large portions of this match. Up front, Ndoye and Vargas flank Breel Embolo — Embolo who was denied what appeared a legitimate penalty against Qatar and who will be hungry to put that frustration into a productive performance here. Yakin opted for Embolo's all-round threat over Amdouni's sharper finishing, and with Bosnia expected to be physical and compact, Embolo's ability to hold the ball and bring others in could be just as important as pure goalscoring.

Switzerland dominated Qatar — 23 shots, xG of 3.20 to 0.60 — and were done by a freak own goal. The performance was genuinely impressive. Against Bosnia, the challenge is different: Džeko and Demirović are a far more dangerous front two than anything Qatar offered, and Switzerland's defence will be tested in ways it wasn't in game one.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Several selection battles have resolved themselves since the Canada draw. The lineup shows Kolasinac retaining his place at left back despite injury concerns — a significant call, suggesting he has recovered sufficiently. Katic edges out Hadžikadunić at centre-back alongside Muharemović, who has been increasingly impressive. Dedić starts on the right.

In midfield, Basic — who was excellent as a substitute against Canada — comes in, with Tahirović and Bajraktarević completing a four that offers both industry and quality. Sunjić is back from injury but not ready to start. The notable decision up front is to start Lukić alongside Demirović rather than risk Džeko, who is expected to be fit enough for around 30 minutes off the bench. Lukić was superb against Canada — winning headers, holding the ball and scoring the opener. It is a bold decision by the coaching staff to leave a player of Džeko's quality on the bench, but Lukić earned it.

Bosnia drew with Canada and only conceded through a substitute in the 78th minute. Their defensive shape was solid, their set-piece delivery dangerous, and Demirović showed real quality throughout. They will not be overawed here — and with Džeko as a game-changing weapon off the bench, they carry a late-game threat that Switzerland must account for throughout.

Predicted Lineups

Key Battle

Granit Xhaka vs Tahirović and Basic. Xhaka is the controlling force of this Switzerland side — he sets the tempo, picks the passes and provides the set-piece delivery that creates chances. Bosnia's central midfield pairing of Tahirović and Basic will look to close him down quickly, deny him time on the ball and force Switzerland wide. If Xhaka can find space to operate, Switzerland's attacking quality should eventually tell. If Bosnia's midfield can be as physically combative as they were against Canada, this could be a far more difficult evening for La Nati than the Qatar game suggested.

Prediction

Switzerland are the better team and the likely winners, but this is not straightforward. Bosnia have Džeko to bring on, Demirović is in good form, and their defensive shape is organised. Expect Switzerland to dominate possession but find Bosnia hard to break down — before quality eventually tells in the second half, with Džeko potentially making his influence felt late.

Switzerland 2–1 Bosnia and Herzegovina — Embolo, Ndoye — Demirović

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Czechia

vs

South Africa

Two sides already staring down the barrel of early elimination meet at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in what is effectively a must-win fixture for both. Czechia were the better side against South Korea but still lost 2-1, conceding twice after leading. South Africa were chaotic against Mexico — defending poorly, going down to nine men and losing 2-0 in an opener they would rather forget entirely. Both need three points. Neither can afford to drop more. Group A is suddenly wide open.

Czechia — Repre

Miroslav Koubek sticks with the 3-4-2-1 shape that carried them through qualifying, with Kovář in goal behind a back three of Krejčí, Hranáč and Chaloupek — the same unit that started the South Korea game. Krejčí was the scorer against South Korea, heading home from Vladimir Coufal's long throw in the 59th minute. That set-piece threat from dead balls is Czechia's most reliable weapon and South Africa will have noted it carefully.

The midfield four of Železný, Souček, Sojka and Coufal retains the surprise inclusion of Sojka — only his third cap — who held his spot ahead of Sadílek. Souček anchors and arrives late from deep, Coufal provides the delivery and overlapping threat from the right. In the advanced roles, Provod and Šulc support lone striker Patrik Schick, who was withdrawn along with the entire front three on 64 minutes against South Korea without getting on the scoresheet. Schick is the quality up front — his movement, finishing and aerial ability make him a constant threat — but he needs service, and questions remain over whether Provod, Šulc and the wide midfielders can provide it consistently enough.

Czechia ended a 20-year World Cup absence by beating Denmark on penalties in the UEFA play-off. The first game showed they can defend, set up and score from set-pieces — but also that they are vulnerable to teams who press high and win second balls. South Africa in their natural 4-2-3-1, if they choose to play it, could do exactly that.

South Africa — Bafana Bafana

Hugo Broos has made the switch to a more attacking 4-2-3-1 — as expected after the first game's defensive 5-3-2 was exposed and then compounded by two red cards. Ronwen Williams — the best South African player on the pitch against Mexico and arguably the reason the score was only 2-0 — keeps his place in goal. The back four of Kabini, Mbokazi, Okon and Mudau provides a more balanced defensive structure, with Mbokazi having impressed despite the heavy defeat.

The double pivot of Mokoena and Adams — Adams coming in for the suspended Sithole — provides the defensive base. Crucially, Bafana Bafana have finally selected their most dangerous players in the attacking unit: Maseko on the left, the exciting Mofokeng through the middle and Appollis on the right. These are the players the South African fans wanted to see from the first whistle against Mexico. Appollis in particular carries the kind of direct, pace-driven threat that Czechia's wide midfielders will find difficult to track. Rayners leads the line up front.

South Africa are without the suspended Sithole and Zwane — two key players, particularly Zwane who is one of their most creative outlets — and that double suspension has been a real blow to their attacking options in gameweek two.

Predicted Lineups

Key Battle

Appollis vs Železný. Appollis is South Africa's most dangerous attacking player — direct, quick and capable of producing moments of quality from wide areas. Železný on Czechia's left of the midfield four will be tasked with tracking him defensively while also needing to contribute going forward. If Appollis gets in behind Železný repeatedly, South Africa have a genuine route to goal. If Czechia can force play into central areas and limit Appollis's involvement, their own set-piece threat becomes the dominant force in this match.

Prediction

Both sides are under pressure but Czechia have more quality in key positions — Schick, Souček and Coufal are proven top-level players. South Africa's new attacking setup is more promising, but losing Sithole and Zwane is a real blow. Expect Czechia to edge a competitive match, with set-pieces once again likely to be decisive.

Czechia 2–1 South Africa — Schick, Krejčí — Appollis

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Uzbekistan

vs

Colombia

The final fixture of a remarkable Wednesday kicks off in the early hours at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where Uzbekistan — making their first ever World Cup appearance — face a Colombia side who arrive as one of the most watchable teams in this tournament. The contrast in experience could scarcely be greater. But Uzbekistan's coach is a World Cup winner, their qualifying campaign was exceptional, and Group K — which also features Portugal and DR Congo — gives both sides a realistic path to the knockout stages if they can pick up a result here.

Uzbekistan — The White Wolves

Fabio Cannavaro, the 2006 World Cup-winning captain now coaching this remarkable story, sets up in a disciplined 5-4-1, with Yusupov in goal behind a back five of Nasrullaev, Ashurmatov, Khusanov, Urozov and Alijonov. The midfield four of Fayzullaev, Hamrobekov, Shukurov and Urunov is compact and disciplined, with lone striker Eldor Shomurodov carrying the primary attacking responsibility.

Uzbekistan's arrival here is one of the tournament's great underdog stories. They have been knocking on the door of World Cup qualification for over a decade — falling at the final hurdle on multiple occasions — but this time they tore through AFC qualifying with only one defeat in 16 games. Ranked 50th in the world, they finished second behind Iran in both qualifying rounds. The previous coach Kapadze was dismissed despite this success, with Cannavaro brought in to prepare the team for the finals. A pre-tournament loss to Canada (2-0) and defeat to the Netherlands (2-1) show the size of the step up — but Cannavaro will have them organised and difficult to break down.

Shomurodov is the name to watch — the Roma striker has 19 goals in 55 international appearances and is technically one of the most accomplished forwards produced by Central Asian football. Fayzullaev in midfield carries the creative spark, capable of arriving late to support attacks. The shape is compact and pragmatic — Cannavaro will set up to frustrate Colombia, stay in the game and look for a moment on the counter.

Colombia — Los Cafeteros

Néstor Lorenzo lines up in a 4-4-2, with Vargas in goal behind a back four of Mojica, Sánchez, Lucumí and Muñoz. The midfield four of Lerma, Rodríguez, Puerta and J.Arias provides both defensive solidity and attacking width, while Luis Díaz and Jhon Córdoba — labelled as Suárez on the image — partner in attack.

Luis Díaz is Colombia's most important player and one of the most dangerous wide forwards in world football. The Liverpool winger's directness, pace and ability to arrive late into central areas makes him a constant threat — and against a back five that will have limited experience at this level, he could be devastating. Alongside him, Córdoba provides the physical presence and aerial threat. In midfield, James Rodríguez — now in his mid-30s but still one of the most technically gifted players in this squad — will look to pull strings from central positions and supply Díaz with the service he needs.

Colombia topped CONMEBOL qualifying on points in an impressive unbeaten campaign, finishing above Argentina and Brazil in the standings. They beat Brazil 2-1 in Barranquilla — one of the results of the qualifying cycle — and scored 26 goals in 18 games. The supercomputer gives them a 68% win probability here. They are the clear favourites and look every inch a side capable of making the knockout stages.

Predicted Lineups

Key Battle

Luis Díaz vs Uzbekistan's right side. Díaz will operate predominantly down Colombia's left — which means he runs directly at Nasrullaev and Alijonov on Uzbekistan's right flank. Neither has faced anything close to this level of opponent in international football before. If Cannavaro's back five can stay compact and deny Díaz the space to drive inside, Uzbekistan have a chance of keeping this close. If the Colombian wide threat is allowed to function freely, the gaps will appear — and Córdoba and Rodríguez will arrive to punish them.

Prediction

Uzbekistan are here to compete, not simply make up the numbers — Cannavaro has built a well-organised side and Shomurodov is a real threat on the counter. But Colombia's quality across the pitch, and Díaz's ability to decide matches on his own, should be too much over ninety minutes. Expect a competitive first half before Colombia's class tells after the break.

Uzbekistan 0–2 Colombia — Díaz, Díaz

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Ghana

vs

Panama

The late kick-off from BMO Field in Toronto pits two sides carrying very different narratives into Group L's most open fixture. Ghana arrive in the midst of a seven-game winless run, having parted ways with their previous coach and handed the reins to Carlos Queiroz. Panama come in on the back of considerable progress and a five-game winning run — Los Canaleros having beaten Colombia, Ecuador and Chile in the build-up and looking every inch a side that has arrived ready to compete. On form, Panama should win this. But Ghana's individual quality makes them dangerous regardless of recent results.

Ghana — The Black Stars

Carlos Queiroz sets up in a 4-2-3-1, with Asare in goal behind a back four of Mensah, Opoku, Adjetey and Senaya. The double pivot of Sibo and Yirenkyi provides the midfield structure, while Adu, Sulemana and Semenyo support lone striker Jordan Ayew.

Ghana's route to this tournament was comfortable — they topped their CAF qualifying group six points clear of Madagascar — but since October they have been in dismal form. Queiroz inherited a side that had lost to Austria 5-1, Germany 2-1 and Mexico 2-0 in the build-up, and he has had limited time to implement his ideas. The squad has genuine individual quality — Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth is one of the most explosive wide players in the Premier League, Sulemana provides direct pace on the left, and Ayew captains with experience — but cohesion and confidence are both fragile heading into this opener.

Ghana have reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup before (2010) and have real tournament pedigree, but the seven-game winless run is the longest in their recent history and Queiroz's challenge is to rebuild belief in the space of one preparatory period. If they can find their form, they have the quality to beat anyone in this group outside of England.

Panama — Los Canaleros

Thomas Christiansen sets up in a compact 3-4-3, with Mosquera in goal behind a back three of Andrade, Ramos and Córdoba. The wing-backs Blackman and Murillo provide the width, with Harvey and Martínez in the midfield pairing. Up front, the trio of Díaz, Fajardo and J.Rodríguez gives Panama a mobile, energetic attack.

Panama's form heading into this tournament has been genuinely impressive. Five consecutive wins — including victories over Colombia, Ecuador and Chile — suggest a side that has found an identity and a level of confidence under Christiansen. They finished second in CONCACAF qualifying behind the USA, demonstrating consistent quality throughout the campaign. Cecilio Waterman — their most dangerous attacker — is a doubt and may not be fully fit, which would be a significant loss to their attacking threat, but the squad is deep enough to cope.

This is only Panama's second World Cup appearance — they made their debut in 2018, losing all three group games. The growth since then has been substantial, and this group represents a realistic opportunity for them to reach the knockout stages for the first time.

Predicted Lineups

Key Battle

Antoine Semenyo vs Panama's back three. Semenyo is the most dangerous player Ghana possess — direct, rapid and capable of creating something from nothing when he receives the ball with space to run into. Panama's back three is disciplined but has been troubled by pace in recent warm-up matches. If Queiroz can get Semenyo on the ball in wide areas against a wing-back, Ghana have their best chance of causing damage. Panama's defensive structure will need to be alert to him from the first whistle.

Prediction

Panama's momentum and Ghana's form point toward a Panama win — but Ghana's individual quality makes them dangerous regardless of their recent results. Queiroz is an experienced coach who has managed at World Cups before, and the occasion of a tournament opener has a habit of resetting form guides. That said, seven games without a win is not a run you simply snap out of with a team talk.

Lean toward Panama — but Ghana's talent means this could go either way.

Ghana 1–2 Panama — Ayew — Fajardo, Murillo

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