There are four World Cup fixtures in Groups I and J on Tuesday's Day 6, getting under way at 8pm BST through to around 7am. Having made the last two World Cup finals, France are one of the favourites to lift the trophy and open up their campaign against Senegal in a tricky-looking Group I at 8pm, before dark horses Norway take on Iraq three hours later. Defending champions Argentina then take on Algeria in the Group J opener at 2am on Wednesday morning with Jordan taking on Austria in their first ever game at a World Cup finals at 5am. Here are the best bets for the sixth day of action, with all four games once again being held in the United States.
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France vs Senegal (Tuesday, 8pm)
France are one of the favourites to lift the trophy this summer and it is no surprise, with Les Bleus having won in Russia in 2018 before being denied on penalties in the 2022 final in Qatar. Didier Deschamps looks to have a deep squad with a wealth of options, particularly in forward areas, and he will be determined to sign off his tenure with another world crown. France only lost out to Spain in a penalty shootout in the European Championship semi-finals in 2024, before finishing third in the Nations League, and they coasted through qualifying without too much fuss, winning five of their six games, drawing the other. Senegal will be no pushovers in this clash, making it all the way to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, winning on the night against Morocco after extra time before having the title stripped from them afterwards. The Lions of Teranga have previous against France, beating the then defending champions in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup, and they can certainly cause problems for a French side that has kept only one clean sheet in their last six games. Iceland, Azerbaijan and Northern Ireland are among the teams to have breached Les Bleus' defence in recent games, while Ivory Coast won a recent warm-up 2-1 and Senegal are strong enough to capitalise on that vulnerability. However, France have too much firepower up top to be denied and they can avenge that 2002 defeat with an opening win. Back France to win and both teams to score @ 12/5
Score prediction: France 3-1 Senegal
Iraq vs Norway (Tuesday, 11pm)
Iraq were the last team to qualify for the World Cup and will be determined to make their mark, but they look to have fallen into a tough group and look seriously outgunned, facing an impressive Norway side in their opener. Nobody scored more goals than Stale Solbakken's men in qualifying in Europe as they rammed in 37 and there is no surprise that Erling Haaland scored nearly half of them. The Manchester City ace scored 16 goals in qualifying and 12 of those came in his last four games, including a brace at the San Siro that condemned Italy to the play-offs. Norway's strength lies in their attack and there is arguably no better striker in world football than Haaland, who can enjoy another multi-goal game in a contest that they should easily win. Back Erling Haaland to score at least two goals @ 19/10
Score prediction: Iraq 0-3 Norway
Argentina vs Algeria (Wednesday, 2am)
Argentina come into this tournament as both the defending champions and top of the FIFA rankings, even if there are four sides above them in the outright market to lift the World Cup. Lionel Scaloni has turned the Albiceleste into a winning machine and there is plenty of quality in their ranks to suggest another deep run is on the cards. Argentina scored 31 goals and conceded only 10 in finishing nine points clear of second-placed Ecuador in qualifying, and they have landed in a group in which they are standout favourites. Algeria look primed to battle it out with Austria for the right to follow La Albiceleste to the knockout stages, particularly having the confidence of a 1-0 win over the Netherlands behind them. However, tournament football is a different proposition entirely and they are likely to try to stifle the world champions, rather than take them on. Argentina have plenty of strength at both ends of the pitch and, after conceding only one goal in their last nine games, they can make a solid start to their title defence. Back Argentina to win to nil @ 19/20
Score prediction: Argentina 2-0 Algeria
Austria vs Jordan (Wednesday, 5am)
Austria and Algeria are likely to be battling behind Argentina to progress and it is the European side that has the early opportunity to apply pressure as they take on the perceived whipping boys of the group, World Cup debutants Jordan in their first game. Ralf Rangnick's men impressed in qualifying, scoring 22 goals and conceding just four as they won six and lost only one of their eight games, and have enjoyed a three-game winning run ahead of the tournament which includes a 1-0 win over South Korea, who finished six points clear of Jordan in their qualifying run. The Chivalrous Ones will be delighted to have finally reached the finals, but their stay is likely to be short-lived against these rivals, and Austria can capitalise first on these outgunned opponents. Back Austria to win and over 3.5 goals @ 33/20
Score prediction: Austria 3-1 Jordan
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