The 2026 World Cup rolls on Sunday, and so do our 2026 World Cup picks, with four more matches as we wrap up the first full weekend of action.
At 1:00 p.m. ET, Germany and Curacao kick off Group E play at NRG Stadium in Houston, while the Netherlands and Japan meet in Group F play at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, at 4:00 p.m. ET.
At 7:00 p.m. ET in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field, the Ivory Coast and Ecuador lock horns, while Sweden and Tunisia wrap up the day at 10:00 p.m. ET at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, Mexico.
The first two matches are available on FOX, Telemundo and Peacock, while the final two matches are on FS1, Telemundo and Peacock. Let’s build our bankroll with our top 2026 World Cup picks and predictions for Sunday, June 14th’s game Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador.
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Sunday’s Best 2026 World Cup Picks & Predictions: Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Ivory Coast (+260) vs. Ecuador (+145) | Draw (+175) | O/U 1.5 (-170/+132)
In another intriguing Group E matchup in Philadelphia, the Ivory Coast and Ecuador battle for valuable points. Ecuador ranks No. 23 in the FIFA Men’s World Ranking, while the Ivory Coast is 34th.
This is a huge matchup right out of the gate, as Germany is almost certain to top Curaçao, firing out with three points. A win isn’t imperative, but it would help immensely as these teams try to position themselves to advance.
In this first-ever matchup between these nations, El Tri and Les Elephants will look to play a rather careful first half. Neither side will want to fall behind, as a loss in this battle will likely be the death knell for Group E, with Germany in the mix.
Ecuador reached the Round of 16 in 2006 but was knocked out in the group stage in 2022. Moises Caicedo, who plays his club soccer with Chelsea of the EPL, leads the way. Enner Valencia of C.F. Pachuca in Liga MX is also a significant player.
The Ivory Coast last appeared in the World Cup in 2014, exiting in the group stage. They have never advanced to the knockout stages despite a proud history of talented players like Didier Drogba, Abdoulaye Traoré and Salomon Kalou. Amad Diallo, who plays for Manchester United of the EPL, might be the latest Les Elephants star.
This match should start slowly, and taking the first half under is the way to go.
Picks: Draw (+175) & First-Half Under 0.5 Goals (+128)
