Argentina and France both return to action at the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Monday, while Senegal v Norway promises much. Andy Schooler previews all four games…
FIFA World Cup 2026: Huge Monday Preview, June 22nd
Argentina have an excellent defensive record but I am tempted by the both-teams-to-score bet here. The holders have conceded just one goal in their last eight games and let in only 10 in 18 qualifiers but few teams will have approached matches with them in the same way as Austria.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Argentina v Austria
They will press pretty high and look to turnover the ball relatively close to the Argentine goal. Now, the South Americans may well be able to play through that press but it should an interesting watch finding out if they do. Austria showed they are capable of mixing it with the best at Euro 2024 where they topped a group containing France and the Netherlands and they’ve now scored in 21 of their last 23 internationals.
BTTS landed in three of four games at those European Championships, while it also did five times out of eight in the UEFA Nations League, another competition in which teams of a similar ability face each other. If Austria are able to fashion chances by winning the ball in dangerous areas, they do have goalscorers in the shape of Marko Arnautovic and Marcel Sabitzer. It’s not a strong fancy – and some of stats clearly don’t back it up – but both teams to score is a tentative play.
Taking the likely tactics into account, it is also worth considering Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister in the card market. They will be among the players in the firing line in terms of Austria’s press and they could well have work to do in terms of tidying up any loss of possession.
It’s not hard to envisage a drag back if the ball is lost. Fernandez would be the top pick – he was carded 14 times for Chelsea this season and has received a card in two of his last three competitive internationals. However, a price of 3.75 isn’t high enough to warrant involvement.
FIFA World Cup 2026: France v Iraq
France’s first and second half performances against Senegal were chalk and cheese but even if they were to make another slow start, it’s hard to envisage Iraq causing them problems in the same way the Africans did. They were well beaten in the end by Norway, although they did at least compete for sections of the game. With France very short, betting angles are thin on the ground here. One player is worth considering in the card markets though and that’s Iraq’s Zaid Ismael.
As the team’s holding midfielder, he could be in for a busy day against France’s attacking threat, with Ousmane Dembele likely to be operating around him. Ismael was carded in 11 of 30 starts in Iraq’s recently completed domestic league season, while it’s three in seven at international level. The referee is Drew Fischer, whose card make-ups for his last eight senior competitive internationals are 9-7-3-8-5-4-4-10. He’s also been one of the MLS’ strictest officials this season, averaging just under five cards per game in that competition.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Senegal v Norway
I think this could be one of the best games of the group stage with these sides looking pretty well matched. Norway are the favourites but although they won 4-1 in the end against Iraq the other day, they weren’t totally convincing, with their opponents very much in the game until the 75th minute after which the Norwegians scored twice. Having a finisher of Erling Haaland’s ability certainly has plenty to do with that price but you can definitely make an argument for Senegal at 2.95.
They were the better side against France for 45 minutes and really should have gone in at half time in front. A front line of Nicolas Jackson, Ismaila Sarr and Sadio Mane is not to be sniffed at and should cause Norway problems. Other Premier League stars like Idrissa Gueye and El Hadji Malick Diouf provide a steadying influence in behind too.
In a tough group and having already lost by two goals in their first game, they need something here. Likewise, Norway won’t want to lose here, knowing they still have France to come. Yes, a +3 goal difference already means they will likely make it through but third-placed teams are going to have tough draws in the last 32 and they will want to avoid that outcome.
In short, I’d expect an entertaining game with two sides going for the victory. While Senegal’s win price is tempting, the bet I’m taking here comes in the shot markets. Somewhat surprisingly, Idrissa Gueye was in Everton’s top five for shots-per-game last season, often having a dig from outside the box – he can often be found lurking there on corners and free kicks, ready to pick up a clearance.
He’s often been given a bit more licence to get forward with Senegal and while that wasn’t really in evidence against France, he’d have been more concerned with defensive duties in that one. I expect the shackles will be loosened on the midfielder a bit here and it’s interesting to note that Norway were actually out-shot by Iraq in that opener. Gueye isn’t a great shooter – his efforts often end up high or wide – but one strike of any quality is all it takes to win this bet and it’s one I’m prepared to play at 1.83.
World Cup 2026: Algeria v Jordan
When conducting World Cup research, one quote from Algeria manager Vladimir Petkovic stood out. He spoke about Argentina being “very difficult” opponents in Group J and that “second place is the goal”. With the Argentina game done and dusted (they lost 3-0), it seems likely that the Desert Warriors will be more offensive in what looks their most-winnable game in the group.
Jordan will most likely feel the same way and they will have had their confidence boosted by a decent display in defeat to Austria. They were beaten 3-1 but were level heading into the final 15 minutes. It was certainly far from a performance of containment with their tally of 11 shots matching that of their opponents. As well as scoring their first-ever World Cup goal, they hit the woodwork and will take plenty of positives into this one.
The man who scored that goal, Ali Olwan, is of interest here and I think he’s worth taking a chance on in the shot markets. His goal was one of two shots on target against the Austrians and the forward has now had multiple SOT in five of his last eight competitive starts. While some of the opposition in that run has been of questionable quality, Algeria don’t look like World Cup giants and, as suggested, they may open up more in this game.
Olwan can take advantage. He’s an accurate shooter with 18 of his last 30 shots in competitive matches hitting the target and so a price of 4.33 about him having 2+ shots on target in this one is tempting me in. Others will like the 1+ SOT bet at 1.7 – landed in eight of his last nine competitive international appearances – but aiming for the higher bar looks worthwhile on this occasion.
World Cup 2026: Best Bets, Monday June 22
BTTS in ARG v AUT @ 1.94 with kwiff
Ismael to be carded @ 2.8 with kwiff
Gueye over 0.5 shots @ 1.83 with kwiff
Olwan 2+ SOT @ 4.33 with kwiff
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