The World Cup knockout stage continues today with three matches: England vs. DR Congo, Belgium vs. Senegal, and USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Our team of experts has come up with a pick for each of Wednesday's three Round of 32 games, so let's dive into today's World Cup best bets.
Today's World Cup Best Bets, Expert Picks
The team logos in the table below represent each of the World Cup matchups that our staff is targeting from today's slate. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 12:00 p.m. | |
  | 4:00 p.m. | |
  | 8:00 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our World Cup odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
England to Win to Nil (-139)
After conceding two goals against Croatia in their opening match, England significantly tightened up their defense. They followed up that performance with back-to-back clean sheets against Ghana and Panama, showcasing a much more organized and disciplined backline.
The underlying data supports this trend, as England allowed just eight shots on target through three group games, a mark bettered by only a handful of teams in the tournament.
On the other side, DR Congo has struggled to generate consistent offense. The Leopards managed just seven shots on target across their three group matches, one of the lowest totals among teams that advanced to the knockout round.
While Newcastle's Yoane Wissa presents a threat, he is likely to be isolated against a superior English defense. England is expected to dominate possession and control the match's tempo, which should limit DR Congo's counter-attacking opportunities and make it difficult for them to find the back of the net.
Pick: England to Win to Nil (-139)
Both Teams to Score – Yes (-111)
Belgium's attack finally clicked in a 5-1 victory over New Zealand, but they also showed defensive frailties by conceding in that match and in a 1-1 draw with Egypt. Rudi Garcia’s squad has a habit of conceding goals against competent opponents, a trend also evident during their qualifying campaign.
Senegal is certainly a competent opponent, boasting an attack filled with players with Premier League experience. Ismaïla Sarr has been in excellent form, having already scored four goals in the tournament, while Iliman Ndiaye and Sadio Mané add further threats.
Furthermore, knockout stage games in recent tournaments have often featured goals from both sides. In the 2018 and 2022 editions, the 'Both Teams to Score – Yes' selection was successful in six of the eight opening fixtures of the knockout round. Given the attacking quality on both rosters, this trend could continue.
Pick: Both Teams to Score – Yes (-111)
USA Over 1.5 Goals (-189)
The USMNT scored eight goals across its three group stage matches, netting at least two in each game. This offensive consistency is not a fluke, as they generated these eight goals from an expected goals (xG) figure of 4.62, indicating a clinical edge in front of the net. Furthermore, Mauricio Pochettino’s squad has scored more than one goal in eight of their past 10 international fixtures.
On the other side, Bosnia has struggled defensively and has managed just one clean sheet in their past 11 games and conceded six goals during the group stage. Four of those goals came in a lopsided defeat to Switzerland, highlighting their difficulties against higher-caliber opponents.
After the USA rested key players in their final group game against Turkiye, their main attackers will be fresh and ready to exploit a defense that has allowed 14 shots on target thus far in the World Cup.
Pick: USA Over 1.5 Goals (-189)
