The 2026 FIFA World Cup continues into the knockout rounds! Before you enjoy the action, let’s dive into the top World Cup expert picks for today’s matches. We’ll dish out a few World Cup predictions for Wednesday, July 1st. Check out these World Cup best bets for some of the top players and games on the schedule. Plus, we’ll examine some of the key World Cup odds to keep an eye on. 

Best FIFA World Cup Picks Today 7/1

England vs. DR Congo – England Win To Nil (-124 on FanDuel Sportsbook)

Today’s World Cup expert picks feature the Round of 32 matchup between England and DR Congo from Atlanta. The English are heavy favorites to win on the regular-time moneyline. They should get it done while shutting out DR Congo. That’s the angle for our World Cup predictions.  

England conceded a pair of first-half goals to Croatia in the opening match of group play. Since then, though, the defense has significantly tightened up. The English held both Ghana and Panama scoreless in their next two group matches. The defensive back line was noticeably more disciplined and organized to shut down opposing attacks. 

Meanwhile, DR Congo has struggled to generate a threatening and consistent offense. The African side mustered only 7 shots on target across the three group matches, which is one of the lowest totals among the teams that advanced to the knockout rounds. The Congolese may have scored 3 goals in their latest match, but that came against a weak Uzbekistan defense. 

Count on England’s defense to hold strong and keep DR Congo scoreless. The English allowed just 8 shots on target in their three group games. That ranks among the best in the tournament. Plus, England should hold the large majority of possession as Congo is content to sit back on defense. Any counter-attacking chances can be thwarted. 

On the other side, England boasts enough offensive firepower to break down Congo’s defense for at least one goal in regular time. Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford, and Bukayo Saka give the attack plenty of creators and playmakers. It could take a half or more, but England’s offense should put enough pressure and shots on goal to grab the lead. 

More World Cup Expert Picks:

 

 

 

Top World Cup Player Props Today

Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) – 3+ Shots (-135 on BetMGM Sportsbook)

Let’s keep the World Cup best bets going with a player prop. Our World Cup expert picks feature Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne to have 3+ shots against Senegal today. As a focal point in the attack, the veteran should have plenty of shot opportunities in a game that could be back and forth.

De Bruyne was a volume shooter for Belgium during the group stage. He had 7, 5, and 4 shot attempts in the three matches, while racking up a team-high 16 total shots. The attacking midfielder is the Belgians’ offensive catalyst and engine. He’s also been taking it upon himself to fire away when the attack has struggled to produce goals. 

Belgium should have the majority of possession in this match, which keeps De Bruyne’s shot attempts floor on the higher end. However, Senegal’s attack has a ton of speed with the counter-scoring upside to keep Belgium aggressive on the offensive end. If the African side scores first, then De Bruyne would be even more active. 

Best Underdog Picks For Today’s Matches

Weston McKennie (USA) – Higher Than 46.5 Passes Attempted

Our World Cup expert picks also feature a selection on Underdog Fantasy. Let’s roll with USA midfielder Weston McKennie to have higher than 46.5 passes attempted against Bosnia and Herzegovina. He cleared this line in two of the three group-stage matches and can do it again today. 

McKennie is among the key playmakers in the United States’ attack. While Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun are the bigger scoring threats, McKennie provides stability in possession with smart passes and a nose for the ball. His roaming midfield role will be key against Bosnia’s defense, which will likely focus on covering Pulisic and Balogun.

As noted, McKennie hit this 46.5 passes line twice in the three group matches. He should be plenty involved once again, especially with the United States expected to hold the majority of possession. Bosnia will likely sit back in defense and try to spring counterattacks. On the offensive end for the United States, the onus is on McKennie to generate some scoring opportunities for Pulisic and Balogun. 

 

 

 

Most Likely Goal Scorers Today

Now that we’ve broken down the top World Cup expert picks, let’s focus on which players are most likely to score goals. Below is a list of the top anytime goalscorer World Cup odds for today’s matches. The odds are via DraftKings Sportsbook: 

England vs. DR Congo

  • Harry Kane -145
  • Ollie Watkins -120
  • Ivan Toney -120
  • Bukayo Saka +205

Belgium vs. Senegal

  • Romelu Lukaku +125
  • Nicolas Jackson +255
  • Charles De Ketelaere +270
  • Matias Fernandez Pardo +270

United States vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • Folarin Balogun -105
  • Christian Pulisic +110
  • Haji Wright +120
  • Ricardo Pepi +120

World Cup Betting Trends To Know 

Before you lock in those World Cup expert picks, let’s talk betting trends. The World Cup odds and recent history can tell us a lot about how a match may go. Keeping up with the trends can also help us cash in on World Cup predictions as the tournament progresses. 

In Tuesday’s Round of 32 matches, two of the three games hit the over. Norway bested Ivory Coast in a 2-1 victory. Plus, Mexico’s 2-0 win over Ecuador cashed the over on the 1.5 total goals line. France’s 3-0 victory, meanwhile, was on the opposite end of the pre-game 3.5 total.

That brings us to a 4-3 record slightly favoring the over in the Round of 32 thus far. The over is also now 42-37 in the World Cup overall. As for the “both teams to score” prop, that cashed in just one match yesterday. That pick is now 4-3 in the knockout rounds, and 44-35 overall in the tournament.