World Cup Best Bets - July 2 - Round of 32

Belgium had to endure a tough World Cup group stage campaign, with the side failing to really get going fully. Their 1-1 draw with Egypt and 0-0 draw with Iran saw Belgium avoid defeat, but they rarely truly threatened to win either game. Their 5-1 win over New Zealand should be taken with a pinch of salt considering the standard of opponent they faced. Despite this, they find themselves in the knockout stages of the World Cup. Teams that are tough to beat will always prove to be troubling for the opposition, but can Belgium beat a Senegal side that will give them problems?

Senegal arrive for this one after finishing as one of the top rated third placed teams. Defeats to France (3-1) and Norway (3-2) saw Senegal give two strong opponents real scares. They then stormed to a big 5-0 win over Iraq as they swelled their goal difference. While they arrive for this one as the underdogs, they are my pick to stay alive in the competition. Senegal will likely give Belgium more problems than they have faced at the tournament so far, and I predict that this will see their European opponents knocked out.

The United States of America continued their run at the 2026 World Cup despite their 3-2 loss to Türkiye in their third and final group game. Wins over Paraguay (4-1) and Australia (2-0) saw the co-hosts impress, but they were left stunned by Türkiye as they conceded in the 98th minute of their clash. While they arrive for this one as the big favourites, they can take little for granted against a Bosnia side that is very physical and used to staying in games even when they are under massive pressure.

Bosnia came through what turned out to be a fairly competitive group courtesy of a 3-1 win over Qatar in their final game. Their 1-1 draw with Canada and 4-1 loss to Switzerland meant that Bosnia needed a win in their final match, which is exactly what they got as they got their first triumph at the tournament in 2026. Now, they face a USA team that are full of confidence. If Bosnia can stay compact without the ball, then they will frustrate the home side. This may then see the USA lose a lot of their structure, allowing Bosnia to hit them on the break. This game could be a fascinating clash of styles, with Bosnia likely to slip to a defeat at the hands of a side riding a huge wave of momentum.