World Cup 2026 Bet Builder Tips — Tuesday 16 June | Best Picks & Predictions

Two of the tournament favourites kick their World Cup campaigns off on Tuesday, with each of the last two winners of the competition, reigning champions Argentina and 2018 victors France, in action for the first time this summer.

Argentina begin the defence of their fourth title, which they won four years ago with a penalty shoot out victory over France, against Algeria in Kansas City, but not before this summer’s joint tournament favourites France take on Senegal in a mouthwatering clash in New York.

Belgium take on record seven-time African champions Egypt in the match after, in a match that will draw millions of eyes across the world with the superstars on show, before Saudi Arabia play Uruguay and Iran take on New Zealand in the two later kick offs.

France v Senegal Bet Builder Tips — World Cup 2026

Kick-off: 20:00 BST, Tuesday 16 June
Venue: MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey
Group: I

France vs Senegal bet builder

France to win, Both teams to score, Kylian Mbappe to score, Pape Gueye to be carded – 29/2 with SBK

France head into their opening match of the 2026 World Cup as tournament favourites, not only to reach their third consecutive final, but to win their their second World Cup trophy in eight years.

With Spain, who went into the tournament as joint-favourites, being held to a shock goalless draw by World Cup debutants Cape Verde, Les Bleus now hold the title of solo favourites ahead of their first game, and will be determined to make an impression in their first outing.

Didier Deschamps’ side have been drawn into a tough group with many dubbing Group I the ‘Group of Death’, having been drawn against Senegal and Norway, with Iraq expected to struggle to keep up the pace.

France may be tournament favourites by Senegal have proved themselves to be a strong side in recent years, most recently having their Africa Cup of Nations title they won in January controversially taken off them due to their players leaving the pitch in protest at refereeing decisions, and will still feel the pain from that title being rescinded.

France captain and talisman Kylian Mbappe is the joint-favourite to win this summer’s Golden Boot at the World Cup, which would make him the first player in the history of the competition to win the award twice, having scored the most goals four years ago in Qatar.

The striker makes the trip to North America having scored 42 goals in 44 matches for Real Madrid this season, as well as six goals goals in seven starts for France ahead of tonight’s opening clash.

Not only has Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye received more yellow cards than any other international teammate over the past 12 months, no one at Villarreal, his club side, picked up more than him throughout the entirety of the recently concluded campaign.

Argentina v Algeria Bet Builder Tips — World Cup 2026

Kick-off: 02:00 BST, Wednesday 17 June (Tuesday night in UK)
Venue: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Group: G

Note for UK bettors: this match kicks off at 2am BST — set your bets before you head to bed.

Argentina vs Algeria bet builder

Argentina to win, Lionel Messi to score, Mohamed Amoura carded at 8/1 with bet365

Argentina begin the defence of their 2022 World Cup title tonight in the early hours of Wednesday morning, as they take on Algeria, looking to make a winning start to this summer’s tournament.

Lionel Scaloni’s side have set out to retain the World Cup this summer, something no team has done since Brazil in 1962, following their victory on penalties in Qatar in a memorable final three and a half years ago.

Argentina head into tonight’s game having won their last seven matches in all competitions, losing only one of their last 14.

Lionel Messi, the star of the 2022 World Cup, will be making his 200th appearance for Argentina tonight, scored seven goals in the most recent edition of this tournament, including five in four knockout games and two in the final.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is also Argentina’s top goal scorer since the start of qualifying for this summer’s World Cup, and found the net in each of his last two games for his country, and has started the new campaign with his club with 13 goals in 16 matches, so heads into his record sixth World Cup in strong form.

Algeria forward Mhamed Amoura is no stranger to a caution, having received more yellow cards for his country than any other player since the start of last season.

The Wolfsburg striker has been booked in four of his last six starts for the Fennecs.

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