2026 World Cup Picks & Predictions: Tuesday (6/23)
The stars showed up during Monday's World Cup action, with Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland each netting two goals in wins for their respective countries. Group stage competition continues on Tuesday, with another eight nations taking the pitch. If you're looking to get some skin in the game, then you've come to the right place. Below, I'll dive into each of the four games and provide my best 2026 World Cup picks for Tuesday, June 23rd.
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Tuesday’s Best 2026 World Cup Picks & Predictions
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Portugal (-650) vs. Uzbekistan (+1800), DRAW (+750) | O/U 3.5 (+125/-155)
Will Cristiano Ronaldo join the other megastars and finally net a goal at the 2026 World Cup? The oddsmakers believe so, pricing him to score at -185. Portugal (0-1-0) is a massive -650 Moneyline favorite against Uzbekistan (0-0-1) in Tuesday's Group K clash. Kick-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET from NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
Portugal had a bit of a letdown in their opener against Congo DR, but I think the soccer powerhouse bounces back with a sound victory on Tuesday. As for the best way to bet on this match, I think we should look at taking Portugal’s team total over 2.5 goals.
Uzbekistan is one of the worst countries playing in the tournament, coming in at 54th in the official FIFA Men’s World Ranking. Their lead-up to the World Cup wasn't impressive, as the "White Wolves" are now 0-1-3 in their last four matches.
They've conceded multiple goals during their current 0-0-3 stretch of play. Portugal is littered with talented players like Ronaldo (143 international goals) and Bruno Fernandes (29 goals). They should pour it on.
Bet: Portugal Team Total Over 2.5 Goals (-141)
England (-500) vs. Ghana (+1400), DRAW (+600) | O/U 2.5 (-170/+140)
European Golden Shoe winner Harry Kane has already made his presence known in North America, burying two goals in England's 4-2 barnburning victory over Croatia in the opener. Up next for England (1-0-0) is Ghana (1-0-0), who handled Panama 1-0 in their 2026 World Cup debut. This match is set for 4:00 p.m. ET from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA.
I was looking at different ways to bet on this match, and the first angle that came to mind was taking Ghana to go scoreless. However, it's a bit pricey, sitting at -173 at DraftKings Sportsbook. England should have a good chance for a clean sheet, as they've only conceded four times during their current 9-1-1 stretch across all competitions.
However, during the same 9-1-1 stretch, "The Three Lions" have also won eight matches by at least two goals. They have plenty of offensive firepower to score multiple times, so I think the best approach to betting on this game is to lay the two goals with England on the alternate spread.
Ghana's also in the midst of a 1-1-5 stretch, so their 1-0 shocker over Panama may be a bit of a fluke. I like England to cruise on Tuesday.
Bet: England -2 (-105)
Panama (+600) vs. Croatia (-200), DRAW (+340) | O/U 2.5 (-135/+110)
Croatia (0-0-1) is typically a darkhorse candidate on the global stage, but the Eastern European nation will need to secure a point on Tuesday if it even wants to sniff the knockout stage. They'll square off against Panama (0-0-1) in what's essentially a do-or-die game for the two countries. Kick-off is slated for 7:00 p.m. ET from BMO Field in Toronto, ON.
I'll jump on the over in the primetime match on Tuesday night. Croatia's 4-2 loss to England in the opener wasn't an anomaly for them in terms of the amount of scoring, as they've seen at least three goals in seven of their last eight matches in all competitions.
What stands out to me is that Croatia isn't very reliable defensively. They've conceded at least one goal in seven consecutive matches. Panama's no slouch, as they've scored in five of their last six matches.
If Panama nets one, Croatia will be forced to apply the pressure and try to capture a 2-1 victory. They need the points to avoid missing the knockout stage. I think this one lands 2-1 and clears the projected 2.5 total.
Bet: Over 2.5 Goals (-135)
Colombia (-180) vs. Congo DR (+550), DRAW (+300) | O/U 2.5 (+120/-150)
The action concludes south of the border, with Colombia (1-0-0) squaring off against the Congo DR (0-1-0) in a massive Group K matchup. The matchday finale gets underway at 10:00 p.m. ET from Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Jalisco.
This is a spot where I'm fine laying the -180 vig and backing the better team. The Congo DR's 1-1 draw against Portugal was inspiring, but let's not mistake this team for a real contender. They're just the 43rd-ranked team in the official rankings. Columbia is 12th, and they'll have what's as close to a home game as they can get by playing in Jalisco on Tuesday night.
Outside of dropping friendlies against respectable competition in France (3-1) and Croatia (2-1), Colombia is on an impressive 8-1-0 run in its last nine games in all competitions.
They looked sharp in their 3-1 opening win over Uzbekistan, controlling possession (61.4% to 38.6%) and amassing 15 shots. I expect them to take care of business, cementing themselves into the knockout stage before squaring off against Portugal for what'll likely be the de facto group championship game.
Bet: Columbia Moneyline (-180)