The knockout stage rolls on, and Thursday delivers another massive slate of sudden-death football. We are deep into the business end of the FIFA World Cup now, and the margins for error have completely vanished. If you are settling in to watch the drama unfold and want to find where the sharp angles are hiding, here are the best bets for the Day 21 fixtures!
World Cup 2026 Day 21 Predictions & Betting Tips: Thursday July 2
World Cup Day 21 Daily Multi
We have put together a tidy three-legger for Thursday's matches, banking on a couple of heavy favourites to take care of business and backing plenty of action in the Seattle clash.
Leg 1: England to Win $1.26
Leg 2: Belgium vs Senegal: Over 2.5 Goals $1.92
Leg 3: USA -1.5 $2.10
Day 21 Multi
$5.08 (1.5 Units)
England vs DR Congo Prediction, Odds & Best Bet
Kick-off: Thursday 2 July, 02:00 AEST
Venue: Atlanta Stadium, Georgia
Odds: England $1.26 | Draw $5.20 | DR Congo $15.00
Breaking down the tactical matchup in Atlanta reveals a massive possession disparity. The Three Lions sailed through the opening phase undefeated with two wins and a draw, suffocating opponents by holding over 65% of the ball on average while netting six goals and conceding just two. That methodical, possession-heavy style is a nightmare scenario for a Congolese side that only managed to scrape through as a third-place qualifier after a mixed return of a win, a draw, and a loss, having found the net four times while leaking three. While the Leopards showed some bite in front of goal during the group stage, they simply will not see enough of the football to sustain any meaningful attacking pressure. Sitting deep and chasing shadows for 90 minutes will eventually crack an already fatigued African defence, opening the door for a comfortable English victory by a multiple-goal margin.
Correct Score Prediction: England to win 2-0 $5.50
England -1.5
$1.91 (2 Units)
Belgium vs Senegal Prediction, Odds & Best Bet
Kick-off: Thursday 2 July, 06:00 AEST
Venue: Seattle Stadium, Washington
Odds: Belgium $2.12 | Draw $3.20 | Senegal $3.70
If there is one fixture in the Round of 32 practically guaranteed to deliver chaos, it is this clash in Seattle. The European heavyweights secured top spot in their group without suffering a defeat, finishing with a win and two draws while scoring six goals and conceding twice in the process. On the other side of the pitch, the Lions of Teranga managed to advance with three points from one win and two losses, despite playing an incredibly open, end-to-end brand of football that resulted in eight goals scored and six conceded. Both of these nations possess brilliant attacking transition speed but have shown distinct vulnerabilities when forced to defend on the counter. Given neither manager is likely to suddenly adopt a conservative low block, backing a high-scoring shootout offers tremendous value.
Correct Score Prediction: Belgium to win 2-1 $8.50
Over 2.5 Goals
$1.92 (3 Units)
USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina Prediction, Odds & Best Bet
Kick-off: Thursday 2 July, 10:00 AEST
Venue: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, California
Odds: USA $1.36 | Draw $4.80 | Bosnia and Herzegovina $9.00
Backed by a raucous home crowd in Santa Clara, the host nation brings a massive wave of momentum into the knockout stages. Putting exactly eight goals past their opponents while conceding four, the Americans cruised to two early victories before using a final-day defeat to rest tired legs. That freshness in the attacking third spells serious trouble for a Bosnian squad that only just survived their group, securing one win, one draw, and one loss while scoring five times and exposing a brittle defence that shipped six goals along the way. Trying to contain a rested, highly athletic American forward line for a full match is going to stretch the European underdogs to their absolute breaking point. The hosts have the firepower to blow this game wide open and secure progression without needing to sweat out a tight finish.
Correct Score Prediction: USA to win 2-0 $7.00
USA -1.5
$2.10 (2.5 Units)
