With the 2026 World Cup reaching its climactic weekend, the club football programme running parallel to the big show on Saturday, 18 July 18 is low-key in comparison, though there is still potential for punters to unlock some profit.
We’ve picked out five worthwhile selections from Saturday’s fixtures slate, including the World Cup’s Third Place Playoff between France and England in Miami, which can be backed individually or combined in an acca at odds of 18/1 using LiveScoreBet’s latest prices.
Acca for Saturday, 18 July
Otelul Galati vs CFR Cluj (Romanian Superliga) - Otelul Galati Double Chance
Viking Stavanger vs Sandefjord (Norway Eliteserien) - Over 2.5 Goals
Ludogorets vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv (Bulgaria First League) - Under 2.5 Goals
Criciuma vs Vila Nova (Brazil Serie B) - Criciuma to Win
France vs England (World Cup) - France to Win and Both Teams to Score
Acca odds are 18/1 with LiveScoreBet – Potential winnings: £10 stake returns £190
Otelul Galati vs CFR Cluj (Romanian Superliga) – 16:30
The new 2026/27 campaign in Romania’s top tier kicks off this weekend, and Otelul Galati’s tussle with CFR Cluj is one of the standout fixtures in the division’s opening round.
Club (4th - 53 points) finished well ahead of Otelul (10th - 41) last term, however, when they travelled to take on Galati at the Oțelul Stadium in the season’s early throes in August, they suffered one of their biggest defeats of the year (4-1).
Otelul will also have a new head coach Stjepan Tomas, in charge for a competitive fixture for the first time on Saturday, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the contest, so there is enough in play here to suggest the hosts are the value bet in the double chance stakes.
Recommended bet: Otelul Galati Double Chance – 11/20
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Viking Stavanger vs Sandefjord (Norway Eliteserien) – 17:00
Defending Eliteserien champions Viking have been motoring again this season, winning nine of their first 11 fixtures of the new season in Norway, while plundering plenty of goals along the way.
The title-chasers have notched 29 times in just 11 games so far, though a whopping 21 of those games were registered across their first five home matches, with fixtures at the Viking Stadion averaging a staggering 5.40 goals per 90 minutes.
On Saturday, Viking host Sandefjord, a side they’ve put 3+ goals past in four of the clubs’ last five encounters. In skipper Zlatko Tripic (11 assists) and forward Peter Christiansen (6 goals), Viking have some of the division’s most dangerous attackers, so expect them to push for goals again in another high-scoring event.
Recommended bet: Over 2.5 Goals – 1/3
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Ludogorets vs Lokomotiv Plovdiv (Bulgaria First League) – 19:15
Familiar foes Ludogorets and Lokomotiv Plovdiv contested a Conference League Qualification Playoff at the back end of the previous Bulgarian campaign, and had to be separated by penalty kicks following an initial, tense 0-0 draw between the sides.
Low-scoring tactical battles between the teams have become a trend in recent seasons, with each of the clubs’ last five encounters featuring under 2.5 goals.
The same five matches averaged a paltry 1.2 goals per 90 minutes overall, so bettors shouldn’t expect a flurry of goalmouth action when Ludogorets and Plovdiv collide on Saturday evening.
Recommended bet: Under 2.5 Goals – 26/25
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Criciuma vs Vila Nova (Brazil Serie B) – 20:00
First meets second on Saturday evening when leaders Criciuma host their nearest challengers and chasers Villa Nova at the Estádio Heriberto Hülse, where backing a straight home win is the fancied approach.
Criciuma hold just a two-point buffer over Vila Nova at the summit of Serie B in Brazil, however, their form ahead of Saturday’s showdown has been much sharper than their opponents.
Eduardo Baptista’s table toppers have won four games on the spin and six of their last seven assignments overall, and they are currently in the midst of an unbeaten run that stretches back 12 matches.
In contrast, Vila Nova have lost three of their last five fixtures, including each of their last three on the road, and with their confidence knocked, it makes sense to oppose them again here.
Recommended bet: Criciuma to Win – 11/20
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France vs England (World Cup) – 22:00
Thomas Tuchel has already said that “none of his players want to play this match”, however, with critics circling following England’s disappointing showing against Argentina in the semis, the German coach will be determined to avoid successive defeats.
That means Tuchel and England are likely to approach Saturday’s Third Place Playoff against France with a strongest-possible XI and more attacking ambition than they showed against Argentina. An open contest could develop in Miami as a result.
Both teams to score has already landed in each of England’s four knockout phase fixtures at the World Cup this summer (vs DR Congo, Mexico, Norway and Argentina), and we’re tipping Saturday’s tie to follow suit.
France will be equally eager to finish their summer adventure on a high and with Kylian Mbappe (8 goals) still chasing the Golden Boot, Les Bleus have extra motivation to push forward.
With Declan Rice and Reece James among the English players nursing injuries, the Three Lions look vulnerable to defeat again, however. They were second best against Argentina and struggled to combat their opponent’s quality through the middle and attacking thirds.
The pattern of their competition closer against France could be similar, so combining a Les Bleus victory with BTTS looks like the best route to profit here.
Recommended bet: France to Win & Both Teams to Score – 19/20
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