The 2026 FIFA World Cup continues Thursday, and so do our 2026 World Cup picks. We have a total of six matches, beginning at 4:00 p.m. ET with Curacao and Cote d’Ivoire (FS1) in Philadelphia, and Ecuador and Germany (FOX) in East Rutherford, New Jersey. At 7:00 p.m. ET, Japan and Sweden (FOX) tangle in Arlington, Texas, while Tunisia and Netherlands (FS1) match up in Kansas City. In the 10:00 p.m. ET window, Paraguay and Australia (FS1) meet in Santa Clara, California, while Turkiye and Team USA (FOX) meet in Los Angeles.
All of the matchups are available on Telemundo and FOX One, too. Let’s build our bankroll with our top 2026 World Cup picks and predictions for Thursday, June 25th.
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Thursday’s Best 2026 World Cup Picks & Predictions
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Ecuador (+470) vs. Germany (-210) | Draw (+420) | O/U 2.5 (-162/+132)
Ecuador heads into this match with a 1-0 loss to Cote d’Ivoire, while playing to a scoreless draw with Curacao. La Tricolor is still alive for the Round of 32, but it must get a win against Germany, the table topper in Group E. While Germany is already assured of the top spot in E, it is playing to win.
For Germany, fullback Nico Schlotterbeck is out for the rest of the tournament due to an ankle injury suffered against Cote d’Ivoire. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is still expected to start ahead of Oliver Baumann, the TSG Hoffenheim goalkeeper who is the backup.
It’s unlikely Germany takes its foot off the gas, and Ecuador is likely to do all it can to earn a win. It isn’t likely, however. We’ll take Germany for a low-scoring win. Only take the Germans laying the big number as part of a multi-leg parlay. The best play is to go low on the total.
Picks: Germany Moneyline (-210) & Under 2.5 Goals (+132)
Curacao (+1600) vs. Cote d’Ivoire (-650) | Draw (+650) | O/U 3.5 (+134/-164)
Curacao is alive, but barely breathing, as the tiniest nation to ever qualify for the World Cup has a shot at the second round after a scoreless draw with Ecuador. Cote d’Ivoire has three points after topping Ecuador 1-0 in the opener, before falling 2-1 against Germany.
I just can’t see Curacao making trouble for Les Elephants. CIV had a legitimate shot at a draw against Germany before the table topper snatched the win with a goal from Deniz Undav at 90’+4′, his second goal of the match.
Let’s take Cote d’Ivoire laying the goal and a half, although it will still cost you in excess of two times your return. Again, only play that as part of an SGP or multi-leg parlay. And, let’s go Under on the total.
Picks: Cote d’Ivoire -1.5 Goals (-210) & Under 3.5 Goals (-164)
Tunisia (+2500) vs. Netherlands (-1000) | Draw (+950) | O/U 3.5 (-102/-120)
Netherlands heads into this Group F finale against Tunisia looking for a win. “Oranje” have managed seven goals with a win and a draw through two matches. The Dutch embarrassed Sweden 5-1 after playing to a 2-2 draw with Japan in an entertaining opening match. With a draw or a win, Netherlands will secure at least a top-two spot in the group.
Tunisia is playing for pride. It’s been a World Cup full of tumult, which saw “The Eagles of Carthage” sacking manager Sabri Lamouchi after the 5-1 loss to Sweden to open the tournament. Herve Renard took the reins of the side, but the Tunisians suffered a 4-0 loss to Japan. Through two matches it has a minus-8 goal differential, and it is already eliminated from moving on to the second round.
Netherlands has a ton to play for, as a first place finish secures a more favorable matchup in the Round of 32. Look for Oranje to crush the Eagles, and we’ll go high on the total, too.
Picks: Netherlands To Win Both Halves (-116) & Over 3.5 Goals (-102)
Japan (-120) vs. Sweden (+350) | Draw (+260) | O/U 2.5 (-122/+100)
Japan, who played to a 2-2 draw with Netherlands, is neck-and-neck with the Dutch for the top spot in Group F. Sweden was roughed up by Netherlands 5-1, but it returned the favor with a 5-1 win over Tunisia, and the Swedes are very much in play for advancement to the Round of 32, if not the top spot in the group if things break right, although it would take a Tunisian miracle.
Will we get good Sweden, or bad Sweden? It likely won’t be as big of a scoring machine as it was against Tunisia, who has been a sieve in this tournament. And, it won’t be as bad as it was against Netherlands, either.
The difference here is Japan’s strong midfield, which will give Sweden fits. And, the Swedes do not have much of an attack out of Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak. If Japan can blanket those two, it will cruise. Still, I could see a 2-1 win by Japan, so let’s go high on the total.
Picks: Japan Moneyline (-120) & Over 2.5 Goals (-122)
Paraguay (+185) vs. Australia (+300) | Draw (+120) | O/U 1.5 (-148/+118)
Paraguay and Australia do battle in, perhaps, the biggest match of the day. In Group D, both clubs sit with three points through two matches, although the Socceroos have an even goal differential, while Paraguay is minus-2, thanks to a 4-1 loss to USA in the opener. It stunned Turkiye 1-0 in the second match, and it is poised for advancement.
Australia topped Turkiye 2-0 in the opener, then it lost 2-0 to USA in Seattle last time out. The Aussies are on the verge of moving on, but there is still work to be done.
Let’s get a little creative here. Let’s roll the dice on both teams to score, and we’ll go Over 2.5 Goals, for the chance to nearly triple up. If you’re a little more on the conservative side, playing Over 1.5 total goals is worth a play.
Picks: Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals (+270) & Over 1.5 Goals (-148)
Turkiye (+270) vs. USMNT (-115) | Draw (+300) | O/U 2.5 (-148/+120)
Last, but certainly not least, Team USA has the opportunity to win all three group-stage matches for the first time in its World Cup history. Standing in the way is Turkiye, a side which has been a huge disappointment in this World Cup, and one which has been eliminated from advancement.
Christian Pulisic (calf) is hopeful of playing in the group finale. He left the opener at half time against Paraguay due to a calf ailment. USA has already clinched the top spot in the group, while Turkiye is guaranteed of finishing last in the group. As such, don’t expect a lot of excitement in a game with both sides having their group fates pre-determined. Let’s go low on the total, and we’ll actually go with a draw as the result, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see a scoreless draw.
Picks: Draw (+300) & Under 2.5 Goals (+120)
