The 2026 FIFA World Cup continues with the knockout rounds underway! It’s time to dive into the World Cup matches today to get you ready to enjoy the tournament in all its glory. The World Cup schedule today features three Round of 32 matches, headlined by Portugal vs. Croatia. Let’s preview today’s World Cup matches with the top players, biggest storylines, and betting odds to know for Thursday, July 2nd. Today's World Cup Matches
Today’s FIFA World Cup Schedule 7/2
We have three matches on the World Cup schedule today as the Round of 32 rolls on. Check out the World Cup matches today before you enjoy the action:
- Spain vs. Austria – 3 pm ET on FOX (Los Angeles)
- Portugal vs. Croatia – 7 pm ET on FOX (Toronto)
- Switzerland vs. Algeria – 11 pm ET on FS1 (Vancouver)
Best World Cup Match To Watch Today
Today’s World Cup matches are all worth tuning into as the Round of 32 rolls on. One game in particular, though, headlines the day’s action. Portugal and Croatia are both capable of making deep runs in the tournament. The European sides first face off in a must-see knockout-round matchup.
Croatia has proven to be a top World Cup contender in recent years. It reached the final in the 2018 tournament before ultimately losing to France. Then, the Croatians followed that up with a third-place finish in 2022. Can they make some noise yet again, starting with an upset over Portugal?
Meanwhile, Portugal enters this match with the 6th-shortest odds to win it all. Led by Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes, the Portuguese have the talent to go far as a dark-horse contender. Can they eclipse their quarterfinal exit of the 2022 tournament?
Top Players To Watch in Today’s Matches
The World Cup matches today feature several top players worth watching. Cristiano Ronaldo is back in action to lead Portugal’s attack. Bruno Fernandes also stars in the Portuguese offense as the team’s engine. On the other side of that match, veteran Luka Modric anchors the Croatia midfield with Ivan Perisic and Mateo Kovacic leading the way as well.
Elsewhere in today’s World Cup matches, Spain brings in a loaded roster. Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal headline the attack, while Pedri and Rodri provide stability in the midfield to control the game. Marko Arnautovic, Marcel Sabitzer, and David Alaba are the key difference-makers for Austria in that match.
We have some playmaking attackers worth watching in the Switzerland vs. Algeria matchup as well. Riyad Mahrez is Algeria’s most dangerous offensive weapon, while Breel Embolo and Johan Manzambi are potent goal-scoring threats for the Swiss.
Biggest Storylines Heading Into Today’s Matches
As we dive deeper into the World Cup schedule today, let’s look at some of the biggest storylines to know. Algeria and Switzerland will face off with history on the line for both squads. The Algerians are aiming to win their first-ever knockout-round match in the World Cup. Meanwhile, the Swiss haven’t won in the knockout rounds since 1954. They’ve failed to win a game past the group stage in 5 straight World Cups as well.
As noted above, Croatia will be looking to continue its recent string of strong World Cup finishes. The Croatians were the tournament runners-up in 2018 and finished third in 2022. Meanwhile, Austria had made it past the group stage for the first time since 1978. The European nation is also looking for its first knockout-round victory since 1954.
Then we have Spain. The 2010 World Cup champs have failed to live up to expectations in recent tournaments. In fact, the Spanish haven’t won a knockout-round game since that 2010 title. Still, they’re among the favorites to win it all this year.
World Cup Odds Today at BetMGM Sportsbook
Now that we’ve set the stage for the World Cup matches today, let’s talk betting odds. Check out how the odds and lines shake out for the World Cup schedule today, courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook. The moneyline and total goals odds are for regular time, while the odds to advance include any extra time or penalty kicks.
Spain vs. Austria
- Moneyline: Spain -300 | Draw +425 | Austria +900
- Odds To Advance: Spain -700 | Austria +450
- Total Goals: Over 2.5 (-135) | Under 2.5 (+110)
Portugal vs. Croatia
- Moneyline: Portugal -135 | Draw +275 | Croatia +390
- Odds To Advance: Portugal -275 | Croatia +215
- Total Goals: Over 2.5 (-125) | Under 2.5 (+100)
Switzerland vs. Algeria
- Moneyline: Switzerland +110 | Draw +225 | Algeria +290
- Odds To Advance: Switzerland -195 | Algeria +155
- Total Goals: Over 2.5 (+115) | Under 2.5 (-140)
What Today’s Matches Mean For The Tournament
The tournament’s knockout rounds continue in the World Cup matches today. The winner of the Spain vs. Austria matchup will take on the winner of Portugal vs. Croatia. That Round of 16 match is scheduled for July 6th, with the victor eventually facing the winner of the United States vs. Belgium.
Meanwhile, the winner of Switzerland vs. Algeria will face the winner of Colombia vs. Ghana in the next round. That latter match is set for tomorrow night.