Today's World Cup 2026 predictions and betting guide [Wednesday, June 17]

We have the latest numbers for today's World Cup matchup, with the model identifying England as the clear 57.9% favorite. To keep things straightforward for your betting strategy, let's look at how the outright moneyline, over/under goals, and top exact scores are shaping up.

Moneyline: Who will win England vs. Croatia?

The outright moneyline gives England the definitive advantage to walk away with three points, though a close tie or a Croatia win still represents a reasonable chunk of the forecast:

• England to win: 57.9%
• Draw: 24.0%
• Croatia to win: 18.0%

Will Harry Kane play today?

Yes, Harry Kane is expected to play and start for England today. He will captain the team in their FIFA World Cup opening match against Croatia, which kicks off at 3:00 PM local time (20:00 GMT) at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas and is projected for the following output:

• First goal: 16.4%
• 1+ goals: 35.5%
• 2+ goals: 7.0%
• 3+ goals: 1.0%
• Shots on goal: 2.6

Total goals market (Over/Under 2.5)

Looking at the total match volume, the model signals a slightly more defensive, lower-scoring affair that favors the under:

• Under 2.5 goals: 54.4%
• Over 2.5 goals: 45.6%

Top 5 exact scoreline predictions

When evaluating the exact scoreline probabilities, the algorithm favors narrow wins for England or a low-scoring draw. The top five outcomes are:

• England 1-0 Croatia: 13.8%
• England 2-0 Croatia: 11.6%
• England 1-1 Draw: 11.3%
• England 2-1 Croatia: 9.5%
• England 0-0 Draw: 8.2%

Summary: England enters the mix with a 57.9% moneyline edge. Combined with a 54.4% likelihood for Under 2.5 goals, taking England to win outright along with a quieter scoresheet looks like a practical path to explore. This lines up nicely with the exact score data, where a narrow 1-0 or 2-0 win for England covers over a quarter of all expected results.

Ghana vs. Panama

Kickoff: June 17, 7:00pm (ET)

The predictive model has run the numbers for today's matchup, projecting a highly competitive, tight game. Ghana holds a very slight edge, but this one is close enough that a case can be made for either side. Let's look at the breakdown for the straight moneyline, over/under totals, and projected scorelines to find the best angle.

Moneyline: Who will win Ghana vs. Panama?

The winner market is incredibly balanced, reflecting just how close these two squads are on paper and this result could determine which nation progresses the Round of 32 as third place finisher in a very tough group.

• Ghana to win: 37.7%
• Panama to win: 35.6%
• Draw: 26.6%

Total goals market (Over/Under 2.5)

For the total goals market, the projections lean toward a more controlled, defensive style of play, with the under holding the advantage:

• Under 2.5 goals: 52.9%
• Over 2.5 goals: 47.1%

Top 5 exact scoreline predictions

Because the overall match metrics are so tight, the exact score predictions are heavily clustered around low-scoring draws and single-goal wins:

• Ghana 1-1 Panama: 12.7%
• Ghana 1-0 Panama: 10.1%
• Ghana 0-1 Panama: 9.7%
• Ghana 2-1 Panama: 8.2%
• Ghana 1-2 Panama: 8.0%

Summary: With Ghana at 37.7% and Panama at 35.6%, this is essentially a toss-up match. Given the tight moneyline split and the 52.9% leaning toward Under 2.5 goals, looking at a Double Chance or Draw No Bet angle on either side provides some security. The numbers point to a cagey affair, heavily reinforced by the exact score probabilities where a 1-1 draw or a 1-0 result for either side represents the most realistic path.

Uzbekistan vs. Colombia

Kickoff: June 17, 10:00pm (ET)

The final set of tournament projections for today wraps up with an interesting matchup between Colombia and Uzbekistan. The numbers lean heavily toward the South American side taking control of this game. To give you one last fresh perspective for your betting card, let's break down the expected trends across the main moneyline, over/under goal lines, and the most likely scoreline combinations.

Moneyline: Who will win Uzbekistan vs. Colombia?

The outright market positions Colombia as a comfortable favorite to win, while Uzbekistan faces a steep challenge to try and force an upset:

• Colombia to win: 68.8%
• Draw: 20.0%
• Uzbekistan to win: 11.2%

Total goals market (Over/Under 2.5)

When looking at total match scoring, things get incredibly close. The projections show a near-even split, with a tiny statistical lean toward a lower-scoring affair:

• Under 2.5 Goals: 51.5%
• Over 2.5 Goals: 48.5%

Top 5 exact scoreline predictions

The exact scoreline distribution shows a high probability of Colombia keeping things tight at the back, with single-goal or two-goal cushions leading the pack:

• Uzbekistan 0-1 Colombia: 14.4%
• Uzbekistan 0-2 Colombia: 14.2%
• Uzbekistan 0-3 Colombia: 9.3%
• Uzbekistan 1-1 Draw: 9.3%
• Uzbekistan 1-2 Colombia: 9.1%

Summary: Colombia heads into this fixture with a clear 68.8% win probability. Because the over/under market sits at an almost dead-even split, targeting the correct score trends offers a smarter way to find value. Backing a Colombia win paired with a clean sheet looks like a strong angle, as a 1-0 or 2-0 victory for the favorites covers more than 28% of the model's entire expected outcomes.

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.