World Cup 2026 Bet Builder Tips — Monday 22 June | Best Picks & Predictions

Both of the 2022 World Cup finalists are in group stage action tonight as both Argentina and France look to make it two wins out of two and book their place in the knockout stage tonight.

Argentina, still revelling from Lionel Messi’s hat trick against Algeria in the first match, take on Austria tonight in Dallas, while France are back in action after their 3-1 win over Senegal, as they take on Iraq in Philadelphia.

Argentina vs Austria Bet Builder Tips — World Cup 2026

Kick-off: 18:00 BST, Monday 22 June
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Dallas
Group: J

Argentina bet builder at 33/2 with SBK

Argentina to win to nil, Messi to score and Marcel Sabitzer to be carded

Argentina begun the defence of their World Cup title in emphatic style last, beating Algeria 3-0 thanks to a hat trick from Lionel Messi, to equal the record for most goals scored at a World Cup, one he’ll be desperate to break tonight so he can hold the record himself.

Lionel Scaloni’s side know that victory tonight against Austria will guarantee their place in the knockout stage of the World Cup as they bid to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend their World Cup.

Austria also won their first match of this World Cup, their first since 1998, with victory over tournament debutants Jordan, but will head into tonight’s match as heavy underdogs as they come up against the reigning world champions, a team they’ve never beaten before.

Messi’s iconic hat trick shows that the forward, who turns 39 on Wednesday, still very much has what it takes to perform at the very highest level, and heads into his country’s second match of the tournament joint top of the race for the Golden Boot.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and two-time World Cup Golden Ball winner has scored eight goals and bagged three assists in across seven games for his country since the start of last season, taking his overall tally to 120 goals in exactly 200 international appearances.

No Austrian player has been on the receiving end of more cards for the national team since the start of their World Cup qualifying campaign than former Manchester United midfielder Marcel Sabitzer.

The 32-year-old, who will make his 100th cap tonight, has been booked on three occasions in the last 12 months, including in each of his last two appearances for his national side, in their final World Cup warm up match against Tunisia and their first match of the tournament against Jordan.

France vs Iraq Bet Builder Tips — World Cup 2026

Kick-off: 22:00 BST, Monday 22 June
Venue: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Group: I

France vs Iraq bet builder at 17/2 with Paddy Power

France to win to nil, Kylian Mbappe to score, Zaid Tahseen to be carded

France recovered well from a slow start in their tournament opener against Senegal to hugely impress in the second half of their 3-1 victory, courtesy of a brace from Kylian Mbappe and one from Bradley Barcola.

Didier Deschamps’ side head into this summer’s World Cup among the favourites, having reached the final of the last edition in 2022, and lifted the trophy in Russia in 2018.

Tonight, Les Bleus take on an Iraq side who have reached their first World Cup since 1986, but fell to a 4-1 defeat against Norway in their first match back on their return to the global stage after 40 years.

Kylian Mbappe will make his 100th cap tonight against Iraq in a match which would secure France’s qualification into the last 32 with victory.

The Real Madrid star headed into the World Cup having scored 42 goals for his Spanish club in all competitions this season, as well as eight goals for his country over the last 12 months.

The most recent two goals were scored last week in the win over Senegal, which not only gave France the victory, but also saw the 27-year-old become his country’s all time leading goal scorer his tally now on 58.

The Frenchman is also just two goals off the record for the most goals ever scored at a World Cup, and will have half an eye on scoring those goals tonight against their weakest opposition in the group.

No player has been on the receiving end of more cards since the start of Iraq’s World Cup qualifying campaign than Zaid Tahseen, their centre back.

The 25-year-old has been booked on five occasions and received one red card across his 22 starts for his national team, the most recent of which coming in the Lions of Mesoptamia’s opening World Cup match this summer against Norway.

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