Friday’s World Cup action features two games between teams looking to ease their path out of Groups B and D.
Co-hosts Canada can get the party started when they face Bosnia‑Herzegovina in Toronto while in the early hours UK time, fellow co-hosts USA begin their campaign against Paraguay.
Recommended bets:
Canada to beat Bosnia‑Herzegovina
Over 17.5 Bosnia‑Herzegovina fouls
Canada vs Bosnia‑Herzegovina (Friday, 8pm)
The atmosphere at BMO Field on Friday should be rocking and it may give the co-hosts enough of an edge in their search for a first World Cup finals win at their third attempt.
Canada are the higher-ranked nation here and have accumulated much more major tournament experience than the Bosnians, whose only previous finals was at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Jesse Marsch’s men surprised a few with their fourth-place finish at the Copa America two years ago and have since beaten the likes of Ukraine, Wales and Venezuela.
The Canucks’ athleticism, pressing structure and midfield balance give them a clear edge over a Dragons side that have failed to win any of their last five games in 90 minutes.
Bosnia’s issue has been up top, where a tally of only four goals in the last five games tells it’s own story.
With Canada’s confidence high and Bosnia looking a bit blunt, the home side are a play to deliver three points.
Back Canada to win @ 7/10 with LiveScore Bet
Bosnia‑Herzegovina were the most penalised team in European qualifying, committing 177 fouls across their 10 games and receiving 24 yellow cards — four more than the next worst offenders.
They committed 18 or more fouls in six of their 10 qualifiers, including four of the five away from home.
Canada’s direct running and aggressive press should draw plenty of fouls, particularly in midfield where Bosnia struggle to cope with pace and movement.
If Canada take control early, Bosnia’s foul count is likely to rise as they attempt to disrupt rhythm and slow transitions.
Back Over 17.5 Bosnia‑Herzegovina fouls @ 5/4 with LiveScore Bet
Score prediction: Canada 1 - 0 Bosnia‑Herzegovina
USA vs Paraguay (Saturday, 2am)
The USA beat Paraguay 2-1 in an international friendly last November but the stakes will be far higher when the teams meet in Inglewood on Saturday.
Mauricio Pochettino's USA are co-hosting the World Cup with Canada and Mexico and they are favourites to kick off their Group D campaign with a victory.
Back USA to Paraguay at @49/50 with LiveScore Bet
It is a trappy draw for the States, who also face a talented Turkey side and Australia in the section, but they have the attacking talent to edge past Paraguay.
Pochettino has got his side playing with real intensity and his strongest team is packed with players from Europe's top leagues.
Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson is an established Premier League star while Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie provide energy and bite in midfield.
Sergino Dest, Christian Pulisic and Monaco striker Folarin Balogun scored the USA's goals in last month's 3-2 friendly win over Senegal and they gave Germany a good game last weekend, losing 2-1 in Chicago.
Centre-back Tim Ream admitted that there is room for improvement in defence as their previous two friendly results this year were a 5-2 defeat to Belgium and a 2-0 loss to Portugal.
Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards has only just returned to training after an ankle injury but Paraguay pose a limited attacking threat, boosting the USA's chances of banking three points.
Former Newcastle midfielder Miguel Almiron, who now plays for MLS side Atlanta United, is the leading scorer in Paraguay's squad, with a modest record of ten goals from 76 caps.
Diego Gomez had a fine season for Brighton but Strasbourg's Julio Enciso came off with a knock in Paraguay's final warm-up fixture, a 4-0 home win over Nicaragua.
Coach Gustavo Alfaro built Paraguay's World Cup qualifying campaign on a solid defence with Sunderland's Omar Alderete at the heart of it.
They conceded only ten goals in 18 qualifiers, finishing level on 28 points alongside South American luminaries Brazil, Uruguay and Colombia.
Six of their seven victories came at home, though, including wins over world champions Argentina and Brazil, but they were far less convincing on the road.
Their only away win was by a 1-0 margin in Peru, who finished ninth in the ten-team standings, and they scored only 14 goals in 18 games.
Paraguay are unlikely to roll over against the USA but the home favourites should have the individual quality to break down their stubborn opponents.
The form of effervescent Dest - more of a winger than a full-back for the national team - is a real positive for Pochettino.
Born in the Netherlands, Dest came through the Ajax academy before being snapped up by Barcelona in 2020.
He claimed one goal and five assists in 26 Eredivisie starts for PSV in 2025-26 and has licence to get forward at every opportunity for the States.
Dest opened the scoring in the seventh minute of May's win over Senegal and he looks a tempting bet to have a shot on target against Paraguay.
Back Sergino Dest over 0.5 shots @ 33/10 with LiveScore Bet
