The 2026 FIFA World Cup continues into the semifinal round! England takes on Argentina with a World Cup Final bid on the line. Before you enjoy the action, let’s dive into the top World Cup expert picks for today’s match. We’ll dish out a few World Cup predictions for England vs. Argentina on Wednesday, July 15th. Check out these World Cup best bets for some top player props as well. Plus, we’ll examine key World Cup odds and trends to track.  

Best FIFA World Cup Picks for England vs. Argentina Today, 7/15

Both Teams To Score (-105 on BetMGM Sportsbook)

Today’s World Cup expert picks feature the semifinal matchup between England and Argentina. You can make a case for either team to win, but let’s look elsewhere for our best bet. There are paths for both teams to score in what should be a tight match. 

Argentina’s defense has shown some cracks lately. It allowed 2 goals to both Cape Verde and Egypt in the Round of 32 and Round of 16 victories, respectively. The Argentinians have also conceded in 4 straight matches now, after giving up a goal to Switzerland in the quarterfinal. 

England has the offensive firepower to exploit some of Argentina’s defensive issues. Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane have combined for 12 goals in the tournament, while Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka have 3 assists apiece. The English roster also features multiple weapons off the bench for a late score, including Marcus Rashford and Ollie Watkins. 

On the other side, England’s defense has also been susceptible to goals. It’s allowed 3 straight opponents to score during the knockout rounds, and conceded twice to Croatia in the group stage. The English lineup is strong up top and in the midfield, but the back line has holes at times. 

It’ll be tough for England to keep Argentina’s potent attack quiet for a full match. Argentina has scored 17 goals across 6 games in this World Cup, including 2+ in each contest. Lionel Messi’s passing and scoring prowess lead an attack that will test England’s defense and keeper Jordan Pickford throughout. Even when the offense has slowed down, goals have still come. 

 

 

 

Top World Cup Player Props Today

Nahuel Molina (Argentina) – 3+ Tackles (-115 on DraftKings Sportsbook)

Let’s keep the World Cup best bets going with a player prop. Our World Cup expert picks feature Argentina’s Nahuel Molina to have 3+ tackles against England today. The right-back will play a crucial role against Anthony Gordon on that side of the pitch.

Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are owning the headlines while scoring most of England’s goals, but Gordon has emerged as a key playmaker in the attack. His runs, creative passes, and ability to cut inside are creating problems for opposing defenses. Plus, Gordon has claimed the starting left wing spot from Marcus Rashford. 

Argentina needs its right-back to step up and hold Gordon in check. Nahuel Molina had 3 tackles against both Egypt and Cape Verde in the knockout rounds. He could be paramount to shutting down the left side of England’s attack, which is led by Gordon’s playmaking. 

Expect plenty of tackle opportunities for Molina as he matches up with Gordon. It’s a trend we’ve seen multiple times for opposing right-backs against England. In the quarterfinal, Norway right-back Julian Ryerson had 4 tackles. So too did Mexico right-back Jorge Sanchez in the Round of 16. Plus, when Gordon started against Ghana in the group stage, right-back Marvin Senaya racked up 7 tackles. 

More World Cup Expert Picks: 

Best Underdog Picks For Today’s Matches

Lionel Messi (Argentina) – Higher Than 1.5 Shots On Goal

Our World Cup expert picks also feature a selection on Underdog Fantasy. Let’s roll with Argentina’s Lionel Messi to have at least 2 shots on goal against England today. The GOAT is always the focal point of Argentina’s attack, and the shot attempts should be there. 

Messi has racked up 33 total shots and 18 attempts on goal in 6 games so far. He has 2+ shots on target in 4 of the 6 matches as well. Argentina regularly feeds Messi in the attacking zone, and he hasn’t been shy to shoot. Plus, the onus has been on him to create scoring chances out of nothing late in games. 

England’s defense will surely be focused on denying Messi the ball, especially in or near the box. However, it’s worth counting on him to rise to the occasion. Getting to 2+ shots on goal is historically a low bar for Messi, especially in the knockout rounds. He’s now hit the mark in 10 of 13 matches over the past two World Cups combined. 

 

 

 

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 match. The odds are via DraftKings Sportsbook: 

  • Lionel Messi +125
  • Harry Kane +135
  • Ollie Watkins +185
  • Ivan Toney +190
  • Jude Bellingham +245
  • Julian Alvarez +265
  • Lautaro Martinez +265

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. 

Spain handled France in Tuesday’s semifinal with a 2-0 victory. The match hit the under while the “both teams to score” failed to cash. That means totals are now 18-11 to the over in the knockout rounds and 56-45 in the World Cup overall. Meanwhile, “both teams to score” is also 56-45 in the tournament and 16-13 in the knockout games. 

Spain won outright as a pre-game underdog. However, favorites have still been profitable to back. The pre-game betting favorites are now 18-3-8 on the 3-way moneyline in the knockout rounds. Plus, favorites to advance are 23-6 in the knockout stage so far. \