World Cup 2026 Bet Builder Tips — Thursday 11 June | Best Picks & Predictions

The 2026 World Cup finally kicks off on Thursday night with the first two of a record 104 matches taking place through the biggest edition of the tournament in history, now with 48 teams gunning for football’s biggest prize.

The tournament kicks off with co-hosts Mexico taking on South Africa in Mexico City, a rematch of the opening game in Johannesburg 16 years ago, followed by South Korea taking on the Czech Republic in Guadalajara in the early hours of Friday morning.

Mexico vs South Africa Bet Builder Tips — World Cup 2026 Opening Match

Kick-off: 20:00 BST, Thursday 11 June
Venue: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Group: A

Our recommended Mexico vs South Africa bet builder

Mexico to win, Raul Jimenez to score, Jesus Gallardo to be carded – 11/1 with bet365

Mexico have been preparing for the game for the last three years, when they were announced to become the first country in history to host the World Cup for a third time.

El Tri head into Thursday’s opening match in strong form, with six wins in their last eight matches, drawing only the European heavyweights Portugal and Belgium back in March, and have only lost two of their 22 matches in the last 12 months.

That time span includes their triumphant run to winning the Gold Cup last year for the second time in succession, meaning they head into the World Cup as back to back North America champions.

South Africa head into the opening game off the back of a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations in the winter which saw Hugo Broos’ side, who reached the semi finals in the previous edition, exit in the last 16 stage.

Since the turn of the year, the African nation have won only one of their five matches in the build up to their first World Cup appearance since they hosted the competition back in 2010.

35-year-old Raul Jimenez has been the most prolific scorer on the international stage for either team, and is expected to lead the line for his home nation in Mexico City on Thursday night.

The striker scored 10 goals for Premier League side Fulham last season, as well as six in the last 12 months for Mexico, including in the semi final and final of their run to Gold Cup glory last summer.

Jimenez is currently Mexico’s third all-time top goal scorer and is just one goal shy of second place, five goals off taking his tally to 50, and seven off equalling Javier Hernandez’s national all time record, and will be desperate to knock off at least a couple of those milestones this summer.

No player for either nation has been on the receiving end of more yellow cards for their country in the last year than Mexican left back Jesus Gallardo.

The 31-year-old, who boasts 122 caps for his country, received 13 bookings across the last 12 months for his Mexican club side Toluca, as well as five in the last year for his nation.

Emotions will be running high on the first World Cup game played on Mexican soil for 40 years, and Gallardo could be among the first to go overboard in signalling his intent to win the historic match.

South Korea v Czech Republic Bet Builder Tips — World Cup 2026

Kick-off: 03:00 BST, Friday 12 June (Thursday night UK)
Venue: Estadio Akron, Guadalajara
Group: A

Note for UK bettors: this match kicks off at 3am BST — set your bets before you head to bed.

Our recommended South Korea vs Czech Republic bet builder

Czech Republic to win, both teams to score, Heung-Min Son to score – 33/2 with SBK

This match is perhaps one of the more difficult to predict among the opening round, with two evenly matched teams going to battle in a huge match with each team looking for the perfect start as they chase a spot in the last 32.

Czech Republic have qualified for their first World Cup since 2006 following back to back penalty shoot out victories in the European play offs against Ireland and Denmark.

Miroslav Koubek only took charge of his national team in December, but has won all four of his matches in charge so far, including the play-off semi final and final, leaving the side with just one defeat in their last 10 matches in all competitions.

Nicknamed ‘the Representatives’, the Czechs will fancy their chances at reaching the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time since their independence from Czechoslovakia.

South Korea head into their World Cup opener having won five of their last seven matches in all competitions, but have suffered heavy defeats at the hands of Brazil (5-0) and the Ivory Coast (4-0) in the last eight months which could leave them feeling a tad vulnerable against World Cup-level opposition.

The Czechs probably just about have the stronger of the two squads on paper, and are much more physical, which could give them the tactical edge on Thursday night.

Tottenham legend Heung-Min Son is South Korea’s all time top appearance maker and is only two goals shy of the goal record for his country too.

It would no doubt mean a lot to the Los Angeles FC winger to equal, or even break, that record at at his fourth World Cup tournament.

Son has scored five goals for South Korea this season, with no other player on either team having bagged more than twice in the last 12 months, including the winger scoring a brace in a 5-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago in their first pre-World Cup friendly just a week or two ago.

Stay up to date with all the latest World Cup tips & predictions, World Cup Top Goalscorer Odds, World Cup Group Winner Odds and all the best World Cup Betting Offers and Free Bets in our dedicated betting hub

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.