Andy Schooler previews all four of Saturday’s World Cup matches, including Scotland’s opener against Haiti…
FIFA World Cup 2026: June 13th 2026 Best Bets
Qatar were pretty awful at their own World Cup in 2022, losing all three games, and I’m not sure they are going to be much better four years on. They struggled to qualify, actually losing five of their 10 games in the main round of Asian qualifying, conceding 24 goals in the process. UAE put five past them, Iran four. It was a performance which sent them into an additional round, during which they saw off UAE and Oman.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Qatar v Switzerland
Group B, San Francisco (ITV, 8pm)
In contrast, the Swiss breezed through to the finals, conceding only twice as they went unbeaten to finish ahead of Kosovo. They’ve been strong tournament performers in recent times – almost beating England at the last Euros – and while there has been plenty of change, they still have a quality spine running through their side. Former Man City man Manuel Akanji is at the heart of a defence which is now a back four, Granit Xhaka runs the midfield, while Breel Embolo has been scoring plenty of his country – he bagged seven in 10 games during 2025. I want to get with the Swiss here.
I looked at the handicap but they are just 1.61 to win by two clear goals and I’m usually reluctant to get involved at such a price. Instead, let’s go with Switzerland to score in both halves which is a 1.83 shot. They managed that against Qatar’s local rivals Jordan in a recent warm-up friendly, specifically organised with this clash in mind, while earlier in the season, they netted in both halves against both Germany and Sweden, much stronger opponents than Qatar. With this game taking place in San Francisco, temperatures are unlikely to even hit 20C so the Swiss shouldn’t feel the need to ease off and simply control the game as they might at one of the warmer venues.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Brazil v Morocco
Group C, New York/New Jersey (BBC, 11pm)
I’m tempted to back the upset here. Morocco were one of the star acts of the last World Cup, reaching the semi-finals, albeit with something of a grinding style of football. They’ve since qualified for this edition by winning all eight qualifiers and continuing their defensive solidity – only two goals were conceded.
And earlier this year, they were crowned African champions, albeit off the pitch after losing the final to Senegal on it. In short, they remain a difficult side to beat. Brazil’s qualifying campaign was much more arduous, and not just in terms of the number of matches played. They lost six of 18 matches and had the expanded format to thank for their qualification. Away from home, they won just two of nine, which isn’t great as they head off to this tournament.
Of course, they retain some strong attacking talent with the likes of Vinicius Junior and Raphinha likely to test that Morocco defence to its limit. But new boss Carlo Ancleotti has often tried to field four forwards, leaving his side exposed at times. He recalled Casemiro the midfield after taking over mid-campaign but you have to wonder how the 34-year-old will cope in a two-man midfield. Morocco are 5.2 for the win or 3.6 in the draw-no-bet market. I was, however, hoping for a little more than that so can leave it and go for more confident picks elsewhere.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Haiti v Scotland
Group C, Boston (BBC, 2am Sun)
Scotland return to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years but will it be an all-too-familiar story? Their eight previous involvements in this tournament have resulted in eight group-stage exits and, with Brazil and Morocco to follow this contest, it’s fair to say the pressure is well and truly on to gain a result in this one.
While this game certainly looks winnable, Scotland have a long-held reputation for messing up against minnows – they lost to Peru and drew with Iran at the 1978 World Cup, while in 1990 it was Costa Rica who beat them. And that’s before we get to Bertie Vogts in the Faroe Islands. The good news is Scotland have been in decent-enough form in recent warm-up matches, putting four past both Curacao and Bolivia. Lees good if that star man Scott McTominay has been suffering from a stomach bug.
That Bolivia game brought what was only their first clean sheet in eight which opens up a potential angle. Haiti are unlikely to sit back and soak up pressure like many minnows – they like to attack, although it has often come at the expense of goals at the other end.
nd, since qualifying, they’ve added Sunderland’s Wilson Isidor to their ranks – a striker of Premier League quality who has scored in two of their last three friendlies. New Zealand were smashed 4-0 recently, which shows they will be offer threat and I can’t get away from Scotland being under pressure from the get-go in this group. There will be nerves in a defence which isn’t packed with quality. Both teams to score is the bet for me here.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Australia v Turkey
Group D, Vancouver (ITV, 5am Sun)
Readers of my outright preview will know I’m keen on Turkey at this World Cup. They are a team on the up, having followed their run to the last eight of Euro 2024 with Nations League promotion and a first World Cup qualification since 2002. They have some proper star quality in Real Madrid’s Arda Guler and Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz and I’d expect them to win this. They are only 1.61 to do so though.
Instead, I’m going to head to the sub-markets where a couple of bets make appeal. First, I’m going to go with Turkey for most cards – the are 2.7 underdogs here. Their tally of 21 cards in eight qualifiers was the second highest of the European qualifiers. In contrast, Australia received just 23 in 16. Turkey have long been a highly-carded team and this looks a touch of value. I’m also keen to get Harry Souttar on side in the shot markets.
The 6ft 6in Australian centre-back is a massive threat on set plays, as his international goalscoring record of 11 goals in 36 games shows. He’s 10.0 for a goal in this game and I wouldn’t put anyone off but I prefer to turn to the shots market. The Leicester defender has managed a shot in 11 of his last 15 competitive internationals, and also had an effort at goal in the warm-up clash with Switzerland the other day. I don’t think it will take much for him to get a header in from a free-kick or corner and so will happily back him at 1.86.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Best Bets, Saturday June 13
Switzerland to score in both halves @ 1.83 with kwiff
BTTS in Haiti v Scotland @ 1.9 with kwiff
Turkey most cards @ 2.7 with kwiff
Souttar over 0.5 shots @ 1.86 with kwiff
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