Jun 21, 2026
World Cup player props today: Sunday's group stage props include Nicolas De La Cruz [6/21/2026]
Read Article World Cup betting today: Previewing Sunday's matches [June 21]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Reviewed by Dave Garofolo
Complete World Cup 2026 preview and betting guide for today's matches, featuring Spain vs. Saudi Arabia, Belgium vs. Iran, Uruguay vs. Cabo Verde, and New Zealand vs. Egypt, on Sunday, June 21.
The group stage of the World Cup 2026 keeps rolling today with more great soccer on the menu and our betting preview is designed to help you navigate Sunday's four matches using Dimers' data-driven World Cup predictions on June 21. Kicking things off is the match between Spain vs. Saudi Arabia at 12pm (ET), followed by Belgium vs. Iran at 3pm, then Uruguay vs. Cabo Verde at 6.00pm, before New Zealand vs. Egypt closes us out at 9pm.
Thanks to DraftKings Sportsbook, we've broken down each of Sunday's matchups below in our World Cup betting preview, with everything you need to know about the teams, the players, the probabilities, the most likely score lines, as well as the sharpest player props for Sunday's four World Cup fixtures.
Today's World Cup 2026 match predictions - June 21
Dimers' World Cup 2026 predictions refer to the forecasts and statistical projections made by our team of data scientists regarding the outcomes of not only the four matches on Sunday, June 21, but also the ultimate winner of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. These predictions for the 2026 World Cup are generated by highly sophisticated machine learning models that analyze historical data sets, player-specific performance metrics, and team-level compositions that delivered some outstanding betting results in Round 1.
Spain vs. Saudi Arabia preview
Kickoff: June 21, 12:00pm (ET)
The second round of Group H action brings a crucial fixture for both nations after a pair of unexpected stalemates on Matchday 1. Spain is eager to find their clinical edge following a surprising 0-0 draw against Cabo Verde, while Saudi Arabia enters the match with confidence after fighting out an impressive 1-1 draw against Uruguay.
Despite the opening-day slip, the algorithmic projections heavily favor the European side to bounce back in a dominant fashion. Let's look at how the moneyline percentages, total goals market, and top exact scorelines stack up.
Who will win Spain vs. Saudi Arabia?
The straight-up market strongly backs La Roja to pick up their first three points of the tournament, leaving the Saudi squad with a tiny statistical window to secure another shock result:
- Spain to win: 85.3%
- Draw: 10.5%
- Saudi Arabia to win: 4.2%
Will Lamine Yamal play today against Saudi Arabia?
Yes, Lamine Yamal is expected to play against Saudi Arabia in Spain's World Cup match today. However, he is recovering from a hamstring injury and is expected to start on the bench once again.
Total goals market (Over/Under 3.5)
In a notable line adjustment, the model sets an elevated 3.5-goal threshold but favors the under, predicting that Spain will control the tempo while keeping defensive stability a high priority:
- Under 3.5 goals: 55.8%
- Over 3.5 goals: 44.2%
Top 5 exact scoreline predictions
The exact scoreline distribution leans heavily toward a multi-goal, clean-sheet victory for the favorites, with three of the top four outcomes predicting a shutout win for Spain:
- Spain 2-0 Saudi Arabia: 13.8%
- Spain 3-0 Saudi Arabia: 13.3%
- Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia: 9.6%
- Spain 1-0 Saudi Arabia: 9.6%
- Spain 2-1 Saudi Arabia: 7.2%
Summary: Spain heads into this match as a massive 85.3% front-runner. Because their straight moneyline odds offer zero betting value, exploring alternative combinations is necessary. Given the model's 55.8% leaning toward Under 3.5 goals alongside the clear shutout trends in the correct score data, pairing a Spain victory with Under 3.5 total match goals or backing Spain to win to nil provides a highly logical and supported angle to follow.
RELATED: World Cup goalscorer picks: ft. Mikel Oyarzabal on Sunday
Belgium vs. Iran preview
Kickoff: June 21, 3:00pm (ET)
The second round of Group G action features two sides aiming to break out of the opening-round gridlock. Belgium is looking to sharpen their execution after a tight 1-1 draw against Egypt, while Iran brings plenty of attacking confidence following a busy 2-2 tie with New Zealand. With the group completely open, a win here represents a massive step toward the knockout phase.
The predictive metrics establish the Red Devils as a clear front-runner on Sunday, with an expectation of an active scoreboard. Here is a direct breakdown of the moneyline, over/under lines, and top projected scorelines.
Who will win Belgium vs. Iran?
The straight-up market strongly backs the Belgian side to take maximum points, while Iran's chances are primarily concentrated around securing another hard-fought point:
- Belgium to win: 65.6%
- Draw: 20.1%
- Iran to win: 14.3%
Total goals market (Over/Under 2.5)
Reflecting the offensive output shown by Iran on Matchday 1, the model leans toward a more open affair, favoring the over on the standard 2.5 goal line:
- Over 2.5 goals: 54.9%
- Under 2.5 goals: 45.1%
Top 5 exact scoreline predictions
The exact scoreline percentages favor a multi-goal Belgian victory or a close score draw, showing a strong clustering around productive offensive scripts:
- Belgium 2-0 Iran: 11.8%
- Belgium 1-0 Iran: 11.5%
- Belgium 2-1 Iran: 9.8%
- Belgium 1-1 Draw: 9.6%
- Belgium 3-0 Iran: 8.0%
Summary: Belgium heads into this matchup with a solid 65.6% moneyline chance. With the model favoring Over 2.5 goals at 54.9%, taking a straight victory on the favorites lacks substantial value on its own. Pairing a Belgium win with and alt line of Over 1.5 total match goals or exploring Belgium to win and Over 2.5 total match goals lines up cleanly with the data, as a 2-1, 2-0, or 3-0 Belgian win represents a heavy portion of the model's highest-probability outcomes
Uruguay vs. Cabo Verde preview
Kickoff: June 21, 6:00pm (ET)
The second round of Group H concludes with both sides eager to maximize their position following resilient opening-day displays. Uruguay collected a hard-fought point in a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia, while Cabo Verde pulled off one of the biggest surprises of the opening round by frustrating Spain in a 0-0 stalemate.
The data firmly installs the South American favorites as the front-runner to take all three points on Sunday, though the metrics anticipate a highly defensive battle. Here is a direct breakdown of the moneyline, over/under lines, and top projected scores.
Who will win Uruguay vs. Cabo Verde?
The straight-up market strongly backs the Uruguayan squad to find their first win, while Cabo Verde's chances are heavily centered around grinding out another low-scoring tie:
- Uruguay to win: 65.0%
- Draw: 23.5%
- Cabo Verde to win: 11.5%
Total goals market (Over/Under 2.5)
Reflecting Cabo Verde's organized defensive structure against Spain, the algorithm strongly favors a lower-scoring script, expecting a tight match that stays under the standard line:
- Under 2.5 goals: 62.6%
- Over 2.5 goals: 37.4%
Top 5 exact scoreline predictions
The exact scoreline distribution leans heavily toward narrow margins or a tight deadlock, with a low-scoring clean sheet for Uruguay dominating the top individual probabilities:
- Uruguay 1-0 Cabo Verde: 18.6%
- Uruguay 2-0 Cabo Verde: 15.4%
- Uruguay 0-0 Draw: 11.2%
- Uruguay 1-1 Draw: 9.9%
- Uruguay 3-0 Cabo Verde: 8.5%
Summary: Uruguay heads into this match with a solid 65.0% moneyline advantage. Since a straight bet on the favorites offers minimal return on its own, utilizing the total goals market offers a smarter construction. Given the model's strong 62.6% confidence in Under 2.5 goals and the heavy shutout trends in the correct score data, pairing a Uruguay victory with Under 2.5 total match goals or backing Uruguay to win to nil aligns cleanly with the most probable outcomes.
New Zealand vs. Egypt preview
Kickoff: June 21, 9:00pm (ET)
The second round of Group G matchplay concludes with both sides eager to maximize their points position after competitive opening stalemates. Egypt put on a highly organized defensive performance to secure a 1-1 draw against Belgium, while New Zealand showcased a resilient attack in their entertaining 2-2 deadlock with Iran.
The algorithmic projections flag the Pharaohs as the definite front-runner to take maximum points on Sunday, anticipating a low-scoring approach. Here is the direct look at the moneyline splits, over/under lines, and top projected scores.
Who will win New Zealand vs. Egypt?
The straight-up market strongly favors the Egyptian side to find their first tournament win, while New Zealand's path to a result is split between forcing another tight draw or chasing a narrow upset:
- Egypt to win: 58.9%
- Draw: 24.8%
- New Zealand to win: 16.3%
Total goals market (Over/Under 2.5)
Despite New Zealand's open, high-scoring match in their opener, the algorithm strongly favors a much more controlled defensive display for this matchup, leaning heavily toward the under:
- Under 2.5 Goals: 59.4%
- Over 2.5 Goals: 40.6%
Top 5 exact scoreline predictions
The exact scoreline distribution leans heavily toward a clean-sheet victory for the favorites or a tight deadlock, with a low-scoring win for Egypt occupying the top two slots:
- New Zealand 0-1 Egypt: 15.9%
- New Zealand 0-2 Egypt: 12.8%
- New Zealand 1-1 Draw: 11.3%
- New Zealand 0-0 Draw: 9.9%
- New Zealand 1-2 Egypt: 9.0%
Summary: Egypt enters this fixture as a clear 58.9% moneyline favorite. Given that the model heavily backs a low-scoring script with Under 2.5 goals at 59.4%, a straight bet on the favorites can be enhanced by utilizing alternative markets. Pairing an Egypt victory with Under 2.5 total match goals or backing Egypt to win to nil aligns cleanly with the narrative, as the 1-0 and 2-0 clean sheets represent the highest expected individual probabilities on the board.
Bet the World Cup 2026 with confidence
The expanded 48-team format means more chaos, more betting opportunities, and more variance in team performance. Having access to Dimers' World Cup predictions gives you a significant edge—whether you’re building World Cup parlays, targeting specific matchups, or just hunting for value across the various player props markets.
Dimers combines deep coverage of every World Cup match with transparent, science-backed player projections so you can bet smarter, understand the “why” behind the numbers, and enjoy betting on the World Cup with confidence.
To give you the most accurate and helpful information, this article has been reviewed and edited by Dave Garofolo through our fact-checking process.
Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
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