⚽ World Cup Predictions: Today's Best Bets & Prop Picks for Thursday, June 18
The 2026 World Cup has finally reached matchday 2 as Group A and Group B get underway again. My World Cup predictions for Thursday break down all four games on todayβs slate, highlighting moneylines, parlays, totals, and player props.
Group A features Switzerland vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina and Canada vs. Qatar. All four teams drew their opening matches, leaving the group wide open with two games remaining. Group B features Czechia vs. South Africa (both losers of their opening games) and Mexico vs. South Korea (both winners of their opening games). The winner of the Mexico vs. South Korea nightcap takes a firm grip on the group with one match to go, while the loser of Czechia vs. South Africa will essentially see its World Cup hopes come to an end.
We break down every game, every day, in our World Cup predictions.
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β½ World Cup predictions today: June 18
See all of our experts' World Cup picks based on the latest World Cup odds and favorites
| π° Best bets | π Best odds | βοΈ Wager (units) |
|---|---|---|
| Czechia moneyline | -120 via DraftKings | 0.5u -> 0.42u |
| Czechia Over 1.5 goals | +104 via FanDuel | 0.5u -> 0.52u |
| Switzerland Over 6.5 corners | +122 via FanDuel | 0.75u -> 0.92u |
| Ruben Vargas to be fouled 2+ times | -125 via bet365 | 0.5u -> 0.4u |
| Canada moneyline and BTTS - no | +102 via DraftKings | 0.5u -> 0.51u |
| Jonathan David 2+ shots on target | +150 via bet365 | 0.5u -> 0.75u |
| Mexico vs. Korea BTTS - yes | -105 via DraftKings | 0.75u -> 0.71u |
| Mexico vs. Korea Over 2.5 | +126 via FanDuel | 0.25u -> 0.32u |
Total wagered: 4.25 units | Max profit: 4.55 units
π° Best World Cup prediction today
Switzerland Over 6.5 corners (+122)
Switzerland were clearly the most impressive team in the opening Group A games despite coming away with a draw. While Bosnia-Herzegovina is a better squad than Qatar, the games will play similarly.
The Swiss will dominate possession: they claimed 68% in their opener, while Bosnia had just 39% against Canada. Bosnia will play a mid-to-low block against the Swiss, a recipe for giving up corners to a team that will dominate possession and in wide areas. Bosnia ceded nine in its opener, Switzerland won 10, and hitting seven in a game that should look similar is a reasonable wager.
Kickoff time: 3 p.m. ET
Switzerland vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina odds: Switzerland (-180) | Draw (+310) | Bosnia-Herzegovina (+500)
How to watch: FOX / Telemundo / FOX One
💵 SBR Edge: The recipe for corners
Bosnia tends to defend deep and give up ground, and that plays directly into a high number of corners against a team like Switzerland that will play to wide areas. Those crossing situations can generate a high number of corners - I'll put three-quarters of a unit on this at +122 and I'll play to +100; I'll also likely ladder at least the 7.5 and 8.5.
π₯ More World Cup predictions for Thursday
Czechia moneyline (-120) vs. South Africa / Czechia Over 1.5 goals (+104)
These two markets are based on a lot of the same information. South Africa is without two of its starters (Themba Zwane and Sphephelo Sithole) for this game due to suspension, ripping out the heart of its midfield and opening things up for Czechia. Also, and importantly, it removes important cogs that would be instrumental in defending against Czechia's set pieces.
Czechia will lean into their physical presence and aerial dominance, and will overcome what should be desperate play from South Africa. Once Czechia gets on the board the game will have to open up, given the loser will be effectively eliminated from the tournament.
Kickoff time: noon ET
Czechia vs. South Africa odds: Czechia (-120) | Draw (+255) | South Africa (+300)
How to watch: FOX / Telemundo / FOX One
Ruben Vargas to be fouled 2+ times (-125)
Vargas was a foul magnet in the opener, racking up four, as Qatar struggled to contain the Swiss midfielder. We should see plenty more of that today against a Bosnia-Herzegovina team that will set up similarly in defense, playing a mid-to-low block and trying to stifle Switzerland from getting set up in the wide spaces it likes to work.
Bosnia was incredibly foul-heavy in its opener, finding itself on the wrong end of the referee's whistle a whopping 20 times. They'll be on the wrong end of the possession battle again today against Switzerland, and Vargas is a likely target to be tactically fouled at least two times as Switzerland looks to grab all three points comfortably.
Kickoff time: 3 p.m. ET
Switzerland vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina odds: Switzerland (-180) | Draw (+310) | Bosnia-Herzegovina (+500)
How to watch: FOX / Telemundo / FOX One
💰️ More World Cup predictions today
If you're looking for a deeper dive on today's opening match, our Philip Wood has you covered with his Czechia vs. South Africa prediction. As does Gordon Brunt with his Mexico vs. South Korea prediction.
Canada moneyline and BTTS - No (+102) / Jonathan David 2+ shots on target (+150)
Canada struggled to create chances against Bosnia in its opener, mustering just 13 shots, four on target, despite dominating the possession metrics for the game. Tonight, the co-host gets back Alphonso Davies, the Bayern Munich left-back/wing-back who captains the squad. Whether he's available in the starting XI or just off the bench remains to be seen, but the latter is more likely. He's critical to Canada's build-up and chance generation, and the more they can squeeze out of him tonight, the better for both of these bets.
Qatar will likely produce similarly on offense as it did against Switzerland, when it mustered three shots on target (six overall) and was held off on the scoreboard until an own-goal from Miro Muheim at 90' + 4'.
Canada should find even more success against a Qatar squad that managed just 32% possession and served up seven shots on target (from 26 shots) in its opener. With Canada expected to see an uptick in shots in general, I'll back David at the whopping +150 price to get one more on target than he did in the opener.
Canada got its first-ever World Cup point in their Group B opener, and tonight in Vancouver it should get its first-ever World Cup victory.
Kickoff time: 6 p.m. ET
Canada vs. Qatar odds: Canada (-340) | Draw (+450) | Qatar (+1000)
How to watch: FS1 / Telemundo / FOX One
Mexico vs. Korea BTTS - yes (-105) / Mexico vs. Korea Over 2.5 (+126)
The battle for Group A supremacy tonight in Guadalajara takes away one of Mexico's biggest advantages: the elevation. It's not that there isn't elevation there, but it's closer to sea level than Mexico City, and more importantly, Korea has been training at altitude. That removes a lot of the late-game advantage Mexico has, which means we should get an even 90 minutes from both squads.
Mexico will play a high-tempo game, feeding off the home crowd and holding possession for long spells. Korea is one of the most lethal counterattacking teams in the tournament, soaking up pressure and striking quickly. Mexico also plays with a high line, and it's bound to be exposed at some point. Both sides should have plenty of opportunities to score, and both teams have the quality to convert (at least) one of those chances. I'm backing the BTTS - yes, with a half-unit play.
A little bonus bet, a quarter-unit, is on one side picking up a second goal. Neither of these teams will be happy to leave with a draw, so both should push through the full 90. Sure, Mexico hasn't given up two goals in a game since last winter, but Korea possesses the quality to end that spell, and Mexico has plenty of players with the clinical finishing skills to get a second for themselves.
Kickoff time: 9 p.m. ET
Mexico vs. South Korea odds: Mexico (+105) | Draw (+230) | South Korea (+295)
How to watch: FOX / Telemundo / FOX One
ποΈ Most-bet World Cup totals today
Betting insights via BetMGM.
- Czechia vs. South Africa Over 2.5 (+115)
- Mexico vs. South Korea Over 2.5 (+130)
- Canada vs. Qatar Over 2.5 (-135)
- Switzerland vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina Over 2.5 (-105)
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