That has perhaps contributed to a feeling that the 2026 Finals have begun with less fanfare than usual, especially as the favourites were all going to be playing a few days after the opening fixture of the tournament.
It will be feeling much different once Match Day 2 fixtures get underway with fans now enjoying four games per day for the coming week and having a first look at some of the contenders will have some changing opinions about potential winners and dark horses.
The key for those making selections is to not overthink opening matches- teams are rarely as good or bad as they look in the first game of a tournament, but you have to expect better all around with ninety minutes under the belt and the Groups really take shape over the next six days.
In saying that, you cannot help but be impressed or disappointed by opening efforts.
Spain were one of the big disappointments, but the United States shone in the limelight and both France and England perhaps impressed amongst the favourites.
We will certainly know more about all forty-eight teams at the end of Match Day 2 and the reality is that all nations will play the middle of the three game Group Stage with every reason to believe they can still progress no matter how the opening fixtures went.
World Cup 2026- Match Day 2 Group Picks
Thursday 18th June
Czechia vs South Africa Pick: Most would say four points is almost certainly going to be enough to take a team through to the Last 32 of this 2026 World Cup Finals, but it felt like three points could be good enough as long as a negative goal difference could be avoided.
Opening defeats for both Czechia and South Africa puts these two teams in an almost 'must win' situation.
Yes, a draw would mean being alive going into the final round robin of Group A fixtures, but Czechia and South Africa will be well aware that they will be facing teams that have already won games at this tournament and so this fixture becomes most important.
Both teams conceded twice in the opening losses to South Korea and Mexico respectively, but there is little doubt that South Africa's performance was much more disappointing.
Pre-tournament concerns were that South Africa lacked something in the final third and the lack of shots and an expected goals tally lower than the likes of Curacao and Cape Verde is a massive concern considering level of opponents faced by those teams. Facing the hosts is never easy, but South Africa made things comfortable for Mexico and two players will be suspended after being sent off.
Czechia hardly impressed in the opener themselves, but they will feel this South African attack is not nearly as strong as the South Korean one, while the European nation did create a few more opportunities. Set pieces are likely going to be important again and the feeling is that Czechia will do enough to earn three points and give themselves a big chance to progress in the final game of the section.
Switzerland vs Bosnia-Herzegovina Pick: The European Qualifiers have not really impressed through the opening few days of the 2026 World Cup Finals, but some of that has to be down to the Group Stage situation and what feels like a lack of early jeopardy to progress to the Knock Out Rounds.
Two of those European Qualifiers are facing off on Match Day 2 in Group B and opening draws have increased the importance of this meeting.
You have to believe it is especially important for Switzerland who produced a wasteful display against Qatar, which was punished by conceding deep into injury time in a 1-1 draw against the weakest team in the section. The overall performance will have been encouraging, but the dropped points mean Switzerland need a big result in one of the last two Group fixtures to avoid an embarrassing early exit.
Big expectations had followed Switzerland to North America and they will round out this section against Canada, one of the co-hosts who managed to fight back to earn a 1-1 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The latter have continued to play with some real resilience, but Bosnia-Herzegovina will feel there is still more to come.
The point against Canada does leave them in a positive position to make it out of this Group Stage, but Bosnia-Herzegovina will know that Switzerland represents a significant challenge in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Conditions should not be too bad for these two teams and the edge here is still with Switzerland who will likely be more focused when the chances come their way. There is a fear that this squad lacks goals, but Switzerland can just ease those by finding a couple of routes to goal against a Bosnia-Herzegovina team that have been tough, but who will give up some quality looks as the pressure wears on them.
Canada vs Qatar Pick: A slow start may have had something to do with the pressure of expectation, but Canada deserved their point against Bosnia-Herzegovina and looked the more likely winner by the time the final whistle was blown.
They will feel a win will be enough to take them through to the Last 32 and this fixture likely represents the best chance to do that.
Canada will need to just make a few better decisions in the final third, but they will believe they can create chances against a Qatar team that somehow managed to cling onto the edge of the cliff in the first game and then hit Switzerland with a sucker punch.
The point on the board is already better than Qatar managed in their own World Cup in 2022 and it does give them a chance to move through with one win from the final two games likely to be enough. However, Qatar are going to have to be a lot better than they were in the opening fixture and this time they are going to be dealing with an impartial crowd that will be backing the hosts and pushing them forward for a victory.
One of the questions for Canada is whether they can score enough goals, but they should have enough chances to get on top of Qatar.
In the sole previous meeting, Canada beat Qatar weeks before the 2022 World Cup began and they can match the 2-0 scoreline from that fixture and earn three priceless points on Thursday in Vancouver.
Mexico vs South Korea Pick: They are co-hosting this time, but Mexico have twice reached the World Cup Quarter Final as single hosts in 1970 and 1986 and the current squad will be looking to do the same.
Winning the Group would mean playing all of their matches before the Quarter Final in front of a passionate home support, but Mexico are going to be challenged for that position by South Korea.
Both teams began with solid victories, but South Korea arguably impressed the most and there are plenty of fans travelling to support the team here. They are also playing in Guadalajara for a second time, while Mexico will be travelling from the Capital, and that familiarity with the conditions will make South Korea dangerous.
However, the majority of the support inside the Stadium will be with Mexico and they were pretty comfortable winners in the opening match and have continued a fine run of form.
Opening up a World Cup tournament can be difficult and Mexico were playing an opponent they would have expected to beat, but that result should have settled them down.
As well as South Korea played in the opening match, they came into this tournament under a bit of a cloud and it is Mexico who may just do enough to edge to the three points and almost certainly wrap up top spot in the section.
Friday 19th June
United States v Australia Pick: All eyes are going to be on the fitness of Christian Pulisic after the United States opened the tournament with a crushing win over Paraguay.
Captain America is a huge influence on the squad, but the opening three points should mean Mauricio Pochettino can lean on the side of caution, even if winning the Group remains the ambition.
Players can step in for the USA in this fixture against Australia, who produced one of the upsets of the opening round robin of fixtures when beating Turkiye 2-0. Credit has to be given to Australia, but it is also a fact that Turkiye were wasteful in the final third and sloppy defensively and that allowed the underdog to spring the upset.
It is much less likely that the United States are as generous and this is a team that is capable of getting a real run going in the home World Cup Finals if they can top the section. Another win should be enough when you consider the results from the opening two matches in the Group and the United States have shown there is a real attacking intent in this squad, which could produce at least another two goals for the co-hosts on their way to another winning effort.
MY PICKS: Czechia @ 1.80 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Switzerland to Win & Over 1 Total Goals @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Canada - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.90 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Mexico @ 2.05 Bet365 (1 Unit)
United States & Over 1 Total Goals @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Group Stage MD 2:
Group Stage MD 1: 12-12, - 0.30 Units (24 Units Staked, - 1.25% Yield)
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