The Athletic's daily World Cup predictions series returns for Matchday 8, with four games across Groups A and B on June 18, 2026, giving our panel - the Soccer Experts, guest subscriber Greg from the United States, six-year-old Wilfred, Stanley the whippet, and the tournament's emerging story, the Algo algorithm - fresh opportunities to prove their forecasting credentials. After a dramatic Matchday 7 that featured Portugal's surprise stumble against DR Congo and Ghana's injury-time winner over Panama, the leaderboard is sharpening up with Algo sitting outright at the top on 58 per cent accuracy from 14 correct calls.
Before diving into today's games, it's worth noting that the World Cup's sprawling, multi-sport festival atmosphere around the host cities has drawn interest from fans across every discipline - from football to, yes, even field hockey online betting - though it is the beautiful game that commands all attention right now. Greg, today's guest subscriber, supports USMNT, Scotland and Tottenham, which means he arrives with the full emotional baggage of someone accustomed to tournament heartbreak. Good luck, Greg - you may need it.
Matchday 7 Recap: Congo Stun Portugal, England Put Four Past Croatia
Matchday 7 delivered its share of surprises. Portugal, whose midfield trio of João Neves, Vitinha and Bruno Fernandes has drawn comparisons to Spain's legendary 2010 engine room, took the lead inside six minutes against DR Congo through a Neves header - entirely on brand for a player who defies his 5ft 7in frame to win aerial duels in the right moments. But DR Congo, inspired by Yoane Wissa shaking off a difficult debut season at Newcastle, clawed back a 1-1 draw and secured their first-ever World Cup point. Portugal, and the 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, were fortunate to escape with a share of the spoils; Congo's xG of 0.87 actually bettered Portugal's by the final whistle.
England were more convincing, dispatching Croatia 4-2 in a rematch of the 2018 semi-final - revenge of sorts for a nation that has rebuilt considerably since that painful night in Moscow. Thomas Tuchel's side earned the backing of Algo, the experts and Wilfred; Stanley, born and raised in England and yet somehow picking against his own nation, remains inexplicable. Ghana then edged Panama in stoppage time through substitute Brandon Thomas-Asante, who set up 20-year-old Caleb Yirenkyi for a winner in the fifth minute of added time - a result that handed Algo yet another correct call and extended its lead at the top of the table.
Matchday 8 Preview: Four Games, Fragile Streaks and Group A Clarity on the Line
The day opens with Czech Republic vs South Africa (12pm ET / 5pm BST, FS1 / BBC) in Group A, a game that carries genuine must-win urgency for South Africa after a catastrophic opening-day performance against Mexico - two red cards, two goals conceded, and a team that now faces elimination if they cannot recover. The Czech Republic, taller, more organised and packed with experienced European club footballers, are the logical favourites. The Experts and Algo both call a Czech win; Greg and Wilfred go for a draw, and Stanley - continuing a tradition of eccentric selections - backs South Africa. The height differential is significant: South Africa are the tournament's second-shortest side, the Czechs its fifth-tallest, which makes set pieces a likely battleground.
Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (3pm ET / 8pm BST, FS1 / ITV) is Group B's pivotal midday clash. Switzerland, pre-tournament favourites in their group, were rattled by a late dropped point against Qatar, and Murat Yakin's side need to reassert control. Bosnia, unbeaten in nine, drew with Canada in a hostile Toronto atmosphere and could yet be boosted by the return of Edin Dzeko, recovering from a shoulder injury. The Bosnian diaspora in Switzerland gives this fixture an edge beyond the sporting. The Experts, Wilfred and Algo back Switzerland; Greg and Stanley opt for a draw.
Canada host Qatar in Vancouver (6pm ET / 11pm BST, FS1 / ITV) in a game the co-hosts will feel they ought to win. Their xG numbers against Bosnia were encouraging - they dominated territory and chances - but squandered the opportunity to convert dominance into three points. Jonathan David must deliver as the focal point of attack, and Alphonso Davies's hamstring fitness will be closely monitored. As the Experts note: when a host nation plays at a World Cup, you watch it - even if the opposition is Qatar.
The night closes with Mexico vs South Korea (9pm ET / 2am BST, FS1 / ITV), perhaps the most watchable fixture of the day. A Watch Rating of 4/5 is justified: Son Heung-min, quiet against Canada and with a point to prove, against a Mexican side that contains the pace and directness of Hirving Lozano and the finishing of Raul Jimenez. The Experts call a draw; Greg, Wilfred and Algo all back Mexico to win; Stanley, as is his wont, agrees with nobody in particular by also picking a draw. South Korea need to respond after their Canada defeat; Mexico need to build on their South Africa win and think about group qualification.
The Leaderboard: Algo Dominant, Stanley Running Out of Excuses
- Algo: 14 correct (58% accuracy) - outright leader
- The Experts: 13 correct - one behind in second
- Wilfred & Readers: 11 correct - three back
- Stanley the Dog: 7 correct - bottom of the table
Algo's consistency is the story of this tournament so far. Built for exactly this kind of pattern recognition across a large fixture volume, it is proving that data-driven forecasting has genuine value in a sport often dismissed as too chaotic for algorithmic prediction. The Experts remain competitive, the readers are in the hunt, Wilfred is performing beyond reasonable expectation for a six-year-old, and Stanley - well - Stanley still has that Qatar equaliser, and perhaps that will have to sustain him for a while yet. Four games today. The leaderboard shifts again tonight.
