FIFA World Cup Best Bets Today: Expert Predictions and Betting Picks

Mexico vs. South Africa: Mexico Moneyline and Under 2.5 (-112)

Group A kicks off the World Cup with co-hosts Mexico hosting South Africa at Estadio Azteca at 3pm EST on June 11. Opening up the entire tournament on home soil should be a huge advantage for El Tri, and it’s an advantage that most host nations have used in the past.

If we look at the past 16 World Cups since 1966, host nations on Matchday 1 have gone 9-6-1, with the only loss being Qatar in 2022.

One of those draws actually came between these teams in their last matchup. That was in 2002 with South Africa hosting and the teams splitting the points in a 1-1 in Johannesburg. All-time, Mexico is 2-1-1 versus this opponent.

In the last World Cup, Mexico failed to advance from their group for the first time since 1978 and last summer they came up short to USA in the Gold Cup Final. But since that time, in all friendly matches, they’re 6-6-2.

They come into the tournament confident after wins of 2-0, 1-0, and 5-1, while also being undefeated in eight games. Betting on unders in their matches has also paid off, cashing at a 9-5 clip. If you add the pressure of the opening game, it should be nervy early on, with limited chances.

South Africa returns to the tournament for the first time since hosting in 2010. They started the year off by going out in the Round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations and since, are just 0-3-1 in four friendlies. They’re now winless in five to go with just one win in seven overall matches.

The form guide and homefield heavily tilts in Mexico’s favor. Only two of Mexico’s last 11 matches have seen more than three goals, while just one of South Africa’s last nine matches have seen more than three.

Given the stats and all the context surrounding the game, a tight win for Mexico makes the most sense, hence the option to back the hosts and under 3.5 goals for this one.

South Korea vs Czechia: Both Teams to Score (-115)

The second Group A match at the World Cup pits together 25th-ranked South Korea versus 41st Czechia. In three all-time friendlies between the nations, the record is split at 1-1-1, though they haven’t played since 2016.

South Korea coasted through their qualifying campaign at a combined 11-5-0 over two phases, outscoring opponents 40-8. The Taegeuk Warriors are regulars at the World Cup, making their 11th straight appearance. In 2022, they finished second in their group and even upset Portugal.

Their qualifying campaign ended last summer and since that time they’ve gone 8-1-4 in friendlies. Recent form has been mixed with 4-0 and 1-0 losses to Ivory Coast and Austria in March, to go with wins of 5-0 and 1-0 over Trinidad and Tobago and El Salvador in May/June.

Czechia needed the UEFA playoff path to reach the tournament for the first time since 2006. They played in two wild matches that ended 2-2 and saw them win 3-2 in penalties. Bets on both teams scoring has hit in four straight Czechia matches and the Over 2.5 is 5-0.

While Czechia typically has a strong home advantage, they’re obviously on neutral field here, and they’ve not beaten a team ranked inside the top 30 since September 2024. They are very dangerous in dead-ball situations, though, which could be they for them in this match. Half of their qualifying goals, including seven from corners, came by that route.

Despite bets on both teams scoring going 0-5 and 1-11 in recent South Korean matches, a scored draw wouldn’t be the worst for either team in Matchday 1 and both have strong attackers. Son Heung-min is two goals shy of tying the South Korean scoring record, and Czechia’s Patrick Schick had 16 goals in the Bundesliga this season.