World Cup Fixtures Today: All Day 3 World Cup 2026 Round of 32 Predictions - 30th June
Steve Davies
This is Norway's fourth World Cup and they have yet to win a knockout tie
Both teams have scored in all nine of Graham Potter's matches in charge of Sweden
Mexico are one of two team to have reached the last 32 with nine points and no goals conceded
Ivory Coast and Norway kick off Day 3 of the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup, with a fascinating showdown in Arlington, Texas.
Norway were a perfect six points from six before Stale Solbakken's second string were thumped 4-1 by France.
Ivory Coast won admirers for wins over Ecuador and Curacao and could count themselves unlucky to have lost 2-1 to Germany having led that contest.
Following their clash at the AT&T Stadium, France take on European rivals Sweden in East Rutherford before Mexico take on Ecuador at a sold-out Azteca, where Javier Aguirre's co-hosts have not put a foot wrong so far.
Recommended bets
Ivory Coast vs Norway (Tuesday, 6pm)
Ivory Coast are one of nine of the ten African qualifiers to make it to the knockout stage, and they may not be done just yet.
Emerse Fae's men got out of their group for the first time in their country's history courtesy of a 1-0 win over Ecuador and 2-0 win over Curacao.
But it was the result sandwiched between those victories - the 2-1 defeat to Germany - where they really shone, with Amad Diallo and Yan Diomande sparkling as a pair of world-class wingers at the top end of a team packed with muscle, might and no little skill.
Norway have the Erling Haaland effect but the truth is they are slightly over-rated. Yes, they thumped Iraq but had to battle to pip Senegal 3-2 and the loss to France was largely irrelevant because boss Solbakken changed out the entire side.
Norway are the solid favourites here but Ivory Coast have done more than enough to suggest they can not lose this inside 90 minutes. So the Ivory Coast or draw double chance is suggested.
Back Ivory Coast or Draw Double Chance @ 4/5
Score Prediction: Ivory Coast 2-1 Norway
France vs Sweden (Tuesday, 10pm)
Sweden were the luckiest side to be at the World Cup having not won a single qualifier, so they will be delighted to have made it to the last 32.
Not that they were overly impressive. They turned on the scoring taps in a 5-1 win over an abject Tunisia, but were then thumped by the same scoreline against Netherlands before squeezing a 1-1 draw out of Japan.
They have not kept a clean sheet during Graham Potter's nine months in charge and that spells danger here.
France score goals - lots of them - and there is precious little confidence in a Swedish back line which has let in seven goals already.
In Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres and Anthony Elanga they boast a front three who can hurt France, themselves hardly watertight. The France win and both teams scoring feels like the right play.
Back France Win & Both Teams to Score @ 8/5
Score Prediction: France 4-1 Sweden
Mexico vs Ecuador (Wednesday, 2am)
One of the few nations in the world who play at a higher altitude than Mexico do at the Azteca are Ecuador, so steamy, breathless conditions at one of football's most iconic venues will not perturb them.
More of a challenge will be trying to breach a Mexican defence that has behaved impeccably so far.
They have beaten South Africa 2-0, South Korea 1-0 and Czech Republic 3-0 - only Argentina can match that wins to nil record - and will have a packed crowd right behind them.
Ecuador will feel they have a free hit after coming from behind to beat Germany 2-1 to reach this stage.
They are a danger and this looks like it will be tight and a low-scorer - the last three meetings between these countries over the past four years have all ended in draws.
But home advantage looks to be worth its weight in gold to the Mexicans and bet accordingly.
Score Prediction: Mexico 1-0 Ecuador
