Our World Cup 2026 predictions for June 22: Messi chasing history, Senegal and Algeria fighting to survive, plus the banker. Here's the call.
World Cup Preview: Senegal And Algeria Face Trouble
Today is where the group stage stops giving second chances and starts handing out warning letters.
Argentina and Austria both won their openers, so their Group J meeting is the cleanest power game of the day.
Win, and the Round of 32 starts looking less like a dream and more like an appointment.
France and Norway also sit on three points in Group I, while Senegal and Iraq are already staring at the kind of table that makes managers say “we believe” with tired eyes.
For Africa, this is not a soft day at the World Cup.
Senegal need something against Haaland’s Norway after losing to France.
Algeria need a win against Jordan after Messi turned their opener into his personal highlight reel.
This is the World Cup: nobody cares that your first opponent was difficult. The table only asks what you have now.
Argentina vs Austria — Group J — Dallas Stadium
Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 because Messi decided subtlety was for other people.
Austria beat Jordan 3-1 and looked organised, aggressive and very happy to annoy bigger names.
Now they meet with the winner able to move to six points and put one foot through the Round of 32 door.
This is the biggest game of the day.
Not just because Argentina are champions, but because Austria are exactly the kind of team that can make a superstar side work for every pass.
Ralf Rangnick will press, crowd midfield and try to turn Argentina’s rhythm into a traffic jam.
Messi is one goal away from standing alone as the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer.
That is the headline for the world. For Argentina, the headline is simpler: win the match, control the group, avoid stupid final-day stress.
Gonzalo Montiel is a doubt with a hamstring issue, so Nahuel Molina should come in at right-back.
Julian Alvarez is pushing to start with Messi, which makes sense. Austria can be brave, but bravery against Messi is sometimes just another word for leaving space behind you.
Projected Argentina XI: Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Facundo Medina; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez, Thiago Almada.
Projected Austria XI: Alexander Schlager; Phillipp Mwene, Kevin Danso, Philipp Lienhart, David Alaba; Konrad Laimer, Xaver Schlager, Nicolas Seiwald; Romano Schmid, Marcel Sabitzer; Marko Arnautovic.
Key absences/team news: Argentina have a doubt over Gonzalo Montiel (hamstring), with Molina set to deputise at right-back. Austria are without Stefan Posch, who suffered a broken jaw against Jordan, while Marko Arnautovic is pushing for a start after scoring from the bench in that game.
Prediction: Argentina 2-1 Austria.
Tip: Argentina to win — and with Messi one goal from the all-time World Cup record and in the mood, his anytime scorer price is the value add.
France vs Iraq — Group I — Philadelphia Stadium
France beat Senegal 3-1 and Iraq lost 4-1 to Norway. So this one is not complicated.
France win, and they go into the Norway game with full control. Iraq lose, and their World Cup campaign starts sounding like a boarding announcement.
Deschamps has defensive fitness issues to manage, but France’s attacking depth is disgusting.
Mbappe, Dembele, Olise, Barcola, Rabiot, Kone. That is not rotation. That is France being greedy.
Iraq need to stay in the match long enough to make it ugly, but that is easier said than done when Mbappe is running at tired legs.
Aymen Hussein gives them a reference point, Zidane Iqbal gives them class in midfield, but this is a huge jump in quality from most football problems.
Projected France XI: Mike Maignan; Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Lucas Digne; Manu Kone, Adrien Rabiot; Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola; Kylian Mbappe.
Projected Iraq XI: Ahmed Basil Fadhil; Hussein Ali, Zaid Tahseen, Akam Hashem, Merchas Doski; Ibrahim Bayesh, Zidane Iqbal, Amir Al-Ammari, Ali Jasim; Aymen Hussein, Ali Al-Hamadi.
Key absences/team news: France have been cautious with William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Theo Hernandez and Malo Gusto, but they are expected to be available.
Lucas Digne and Manu Kone come into the XI for Theo Hernandez and Aurelien Tchouameni.
Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hassan has shaken off a minor concern, but Ahmed Basil could start after the Norway defeat.
Prediction: France 3-0 Iraq.
Tip: France to win — Iraq shipped four to Norway, so take the -2 handicap or Mbappe anytime scorer for value as he chases the Golden Boot.
Norway vs Senegal — Group I — New York/New Jersey Stadium
This is the African game of the day. Senegal lost 3-1 to France, while Norway battered Iraq 4-1 with Haaland already doing Haaland things.
That means Senegal do not need a nice performance. They need points.
Norway win and they are in a strong position to fight France for the group.
Senegal lose and the final game against Iraq becomes less football match, more survival exam. That is the pressure.
Haaland and Odegaard are the obvious problems.
One stretches the pitch like a cheat code, the other feeds him like he has shares in the goal bonus.
Norway are not cute anymore. They are serious, direct and built to punish defensive hesitation.
But Senegal have enough to hurt them.
Mane still has the aura, Nicolas Jackson gives movement, and Ismaila Sarr can make any full-back regret stepping high.
The issue is not talent. The issue is composure.
Against France, Senegal had moments and wasted too many of them.
You do that again here, Haaland will not write you a sympathy letter.
For Senegal, this is where pride needs to become points.
Losing to France can be explained. Losing again means the campaign starts smelling like missed chances and long airport silence.
Projected Norway XI: Orjan Nyland; Julian Ryerson, Kristoffer Ajer, Torbjorn Heggem, David Moller Wolfe; Martin Odegaard, Sander Berge, Fredrik Aursnes, Antonio Nusa; Erling Haaland, Alexander Sorloth.
Projected Senegal XI: Edouard Mendy; Krepin Diatta, Kalidou Koulibaly, Moussa Niakhate, El Hadji Malick Diouf; Idrissa Gueye, Pape Gueye; Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diarra, Sadio Mane; Nicolas Jackson.
Key absences/team news: Norway have no fresh injury concerns and are expected to keep the core that beat Iraq.
Senegal are expected to make only small changes, with Habib Diarra pushing Lamine Camara for the number 10 role and Sarr still likely to keep his place despite missed chances against France.
Prediction: Norway 2-2 Senegal.
Tip: Both teams to score — Haaland will get his, but Senegal have too much pace and too much desperation to leave quietly.
Jordan vs Algeria — Group J — San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
Algeria lost 3-0 to Argentina. Jordan lost 3-1 to Austria. So this is already the “someone is in trouble” match.
Lose here and depending on the Argentina-Austria result, the exit door starts opening.
Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic says their fate is still in their hands. Fair.
But after that opening defeat, they need more than brave words.
They need Mahrez, Gouiri and Chaibi to turn possession into actual damage.
Jordan will not be soft.
They are compact, physical and already have their first World Cup goal through Ali Olwan.
But Algeria have more final-third quality, and this is the kind of match they simply have to win if they are serious about staying in America beyond the group stage.
Projected Jordan XI: Yazeed Abulaila; Abdallah Nasib, Mohammad Abualnadi, Yazan Al-Arab; Ehsan Haddad, Noor Al-Rawabdeh, Nizar Al-Rashdan, Mohannad Abu Taha; Odeh Fakhouri, Mousa Tamari, Ali Olwan.
Projected Algeria XI: Luca Zidane; Rafik Belghali, Aissa Mandi, Ramy Bensebaini, Rayan Ait-Nouri; Hicham Boudaoui, Nabil Bentaleb, Ibrahim Maza; Riyad Mahrez, Amine Gouiri, Fares Chaibi.
Key absences/team news: Jordan’s Abdallah Nasib is a fitness doubt after coming off against Austria, with Saed Al-Rousan in line to replace him if he misses out.
Algeria start Luca Zidane again and welcome Mahrez back into the XI, but Mohamed Amoura is a fresh doubt after a training injury that could sideline him.
Prediction: Jordan 1-2 Algeria.
Tip: Algeria draw no bet — they are the better side but were toothless against Argentina, so the safety net matters against a stubborn Jordan low block.
Banker Of The Day
France to beat Iraq. The cleanest call on the card. Iraq conceded four to Norway, and France have too many attackers who can turn one loose defensive line into a full-blown incident.
Upset Special
Senegal to get a result against Norway. Haaland is terrifying, yes.
But Senegal have pace, experience and a real need to respond. If Mane and Jackson are sharp, Norway will not have this their own way.
For Africa, this is not a cute support act. Senegal need points. Algeria need a win.
One bad night can be excused. Two bad nights start looking like a World Cup campaign with no plan.
Back any of these? Tell me what you're rolling with today.
18+. Bet responsibly. Odds and team news correct at the time of writing.
