2026 FIFA World Cup Best Bets (June 19): United States vs. Australia, Brazil vs. Haiti Odds & Predictions

It's been nearly a century since the United States men's team has won its first two matches in a World Cup tournament. It can happen again on Friday if Team USA vanquishes Australia in a 3 p.m. ET match in Seattle. Oddsmakers have the U.S. as favorites against the Aussies.

Four matches are on the schedule for Friday as the eight teams in Groups C and D take to the pitch again across the United States. This will mark the first time that four men's World Cup matches have been played in the U.S. on the same day since 1994.

(Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP via Getty Images)

• My World Cup betting record is 3-5. I was 1-for-2 on Thursday.

Odds for my picks today are from Bet365 Sportsbook.

FIFA World Cup Schedule for Friday, June 19

Games can be seen on FOX Sports, FS1, Peacock, and Telemundo. The U.S. match can be seen for free on Tubi TV.

• United States vs. Australia, 3 p.m. ET in Seattle
• Scotland vs. Morocco, 6 p.m. ET in Boston
• Brazil vs. Haiti, 8:30 p.m. ET in Philadelphia
• Türkiye vs. Paraguay, 11 p.m. ET in San Francisco

Find the Best Sports Betting Offers at the sportsbooks you want to use for your World Cup wagering. Each offer and sports betting site is reviewed by our experts.

FIFA World Cup Odds for June 19 (Bet365)

Odds courtesy of Bet365

FIFA World Cup Best Bets: USA vs. Australia

In many ways the matchup between USA and Australia on Friday afternoon will determine which team finishes atop Group D and which is left to scramble for the second spot in the knockout stage. A win would essentially give that team the No. 1 spot in the group. But a draw would benefit the Aussies more than Team USA. That's because Australia's third match is against lowly Paraguay, while the U.S. will have to take on Türkiye, which likely will be playing to advance.

The homefield advantage is indeed an advantage for the Americans, but Australia's lack of possession may also be key for the United States. Against Türkiye, the Aussies (I really don't want to to call them by their nickname, the "Socceroos") only held possession of the ball about 30% of the time. If the U.S. employs its pentagon strategy of forward passing, that number could be the death of the Aussies. It's a simple three-step philosophy: (1) Control the ball, (2) shoot the ball more than your opponent, and (3) score more goals.

The U.S. can't underestimate the Aussies, however. It could be argued that the U.S. win over Paraguay is less impressive than the win recorded by Australia over Türkiye last week. That's why Folarin Balogun (2 goals vs Paraguay) must get his strong leg into some shots on Friday. If he scores twice again, we may see a lot of babies born nine months from now named Folly.

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Touré injury is question mark for Australia

Striker Mo Touré's health is of concern for Australia. The most well-balanced player on the roster has a tweak in his leg, and though he played in the first match, he admitted afterword that he is still not 100 percent. That may be one reason that manager Tony Popovic shuttled in five subs in the opening match.

That means 20-year old Nestory Irankunda may need to step up against the U.S., just as he did in Australia's stunner over Türkiye, scoring one of Australia's two goals. He has mad dribbling skills, far better than any player the U.S. saw in its first match. Containment is the word of the day for the American defenders when it comes to Irankunda.

The Aussies are 6-0-4 in their last 10 World Cup and World Cup qualifier matches. The roster has a bulk of players that have played together...a lot. That's an advantage for Australia over the U.S. roster.

This match may come down a Battle of the Matt's: Matthew Ryan, the team captain and veteran goaltender for Australia, and Matt Freese, who made his first World Cup start seven days ago. Ryan has yet to allow a goal, and he may need to have another shutout for Australia to get the win or draw it desires.

• USA vs. Australia, Total Goals Over 2.5 (-110, Bet365)

FIFA World Cup Best Bets: Brazil vs. Haiti

The biggest shocker in opening group stage matches was the draw taken by Brazil against Morocco. If you simply looked at the match stats sheet, you'd think Brazil had won. Brazil had more corners, more crosses, and more interceptions. Team Brazil had a better passing percentage and also won the possession battle.

But Morocco had enough grit to force a draw. Now, Team Haiti will have to suffer the retaliation from Brazil, which is the No. 5 ranked team in the world. Haiti is the 83rd ranked team, and only made this tournament because of the larger field. It's just the second time the tiny island nation has been to the World Cup.

I want a wager with some long odds, which means I need to find a market where I believe there is wiggle room with the betting sites. Brazil is overwhelmingly a favorite. I would need to bet $1,100 to win $100 on Brazil. I do not wish to build a parlay: corners and shots on goal can be fickle stats, especially in the hyper-charged atmosphere of the World Cup. But I do expect a handy win for the Canarinho tonight.

• Brazil vs Haiti, Over 2.5 Goals in First Half (+275, Bet365)