World Cup predictions: Expert picks for all six games today

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It's Thursday, June 25 at the World Cup , where another six games are set to kick off across Group E and Group F, and USA TODAY's soccer experts have locked in their picks and analysis for all the action.

The 2026 World Cup is the largest ever, and USA TODAY is going all in with reporters on the ground in all 16 host cities across three countries to cover 48 teams vying for the trophy. Get our World Cup: Extra Time newsletter in your inbox every morning and join our WhatsApp channel to get the latest updates right in your texts.

All games are being broadcast in the United States on Fox and FS1. Matches will also be broadcast in Spanish throughout the entirety of the World Cup on Telemundo and streaming on Peacock .

Let's get to the picks.

All times Eastern and accurate as of Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at 10:24 p.m.

Curacao vs. Ivory Coast World Cup predictions

Time/TV: 4:00 PM, FS1

The Group E picture is not what anyone expected heading into the final matchday, as Curacao meet the Ivory Coast. For one, Curacao has a point. The national team from the smallest country ever to qualify was expected to be a doormat, but it turned out they were concealing a trap door. After scoring in a 7-1 loss to Germany, goalkeeper Eloy Room flustered Ecuador, keeping a clean sheet in Kansas City and earning a point in a scoreless draw. Curacao had scoring chances as well, with Juninho Bacuna pulling the strings in attack, but no goal to come. Still, Curacao has an outside chance at moving on.

The Ivory Coasts hopes are much better, having beaten Ecuador on a late goal to open the tournament and hanging tough with Germany and leading much of the game in a 2-1 defeat. Right back Wilfried Singo left that match with a knock, and while the Ivorian federation said June 23 that initial test were reassuring, it still would be a surprise to see him start in this one with Gula Doue a likely replacement.

After a great day against Germany, Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande will be ready for this one, hoping to orchestrate a move that finally beats Room and opens the floodgates. The longer its scoreless, the more chance Curacao will have.

Seth Vertelney: Curacao 0-3 Ivory Coast

Everything went right for Curacao in its draw with Ecuador, but Ivory Coast won't let it off the hook so easily. This one could look more like the Germany game for the Concacaf side.

Jon Arnold: Curacao 0-4 Ivory Coast

While Ecuador struggled to finish and Curacao got a heroic performance from Eloy Room, it's too much to expect lightning to strike twice in the same place.

Victoria Hernandez: Curacao 1 -1 Ivory Coast

This is honestly one of the hardest matches to predict yet. Curacao has been an incredible surprise in its World Cup debut. But Ivory Coast has impressed too... So let's just say they draw...

Ecuador vs. Germany World Cup predictions

Time/TV: 4:00 PM, Fox

Ecuador takes on Germany for each team's finale of Group E in the World Cup. The fixture will take place on Thursday, June 25 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Ecuador has notched a loss and a draw so far. The South American side was upset by Ivory Coast 1-0 and then drew 0-0 to Curaao where goalkeeper Eloy Room had a historic 15-save performance. Captain Enner Valencia has underperformed as Ecuador was hoping to make it out of group play for only the second time in team history. Germany has played well and already locked up the group. They did so with a 7-1 win over Curaao and a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast. Nico Schlotterbeck tore a ligament in his ankle in the latest match and is out for the rest of the World Cup.

With a spot in the Round of 32 already secured, manager Julian Nagelsmann has the option to rest his squad. The top two teams of each group will advance to the Round of 32 as well as the top eight third-place teams.

Seth Vertelney: Ecuador 1-1 Germany

Germany will likely play a reserve-heavy side, having already clinched the group. But Ecuador could still struggle to break down its opponent after failing to score in its first two games.

Jon Arnold: Ecuador 1-1 Germany

Is this the game that Enner Valencia breaks through? It feels like it may be too little, too late for the Ecuador attack.

Victoria Hernandez: Ecuador 0-2 Germany

Germany has already won the group and lost Nico Schlotterbeck for the rest of the tournament, but Ecuador has shown very few signs of life in this World Cup.

Japan vs. Sweden World Cup predictions

Time/TV: 7:00 PM, FS1

Japan and Sweden meet on Thursday in their Group F finale in Arlington, Texas. Both teams are jostling for position in the group. Japan is in second place, but level with first-place Netherlands on four points. Sweden is in third with three points.

Japan has been the more impressive side thus far, playing the Netherlands to a 2-2 draw in its opener before hammering Tunisia 4-0. It's been a tale of two games for Sweden, which crushed Tunisia 5-1 in its opener before falling to the Netherlands by the same scoreline in its second match.

Japan will finish atop the group if it manages to better the Netherlands' result against Tunisia, which seems a tall order. But a draw against Sweden will at least guarantee a top-two finish. For Sweden, a point will almost certainly be enough to advance. A loss, however, will leave them sweating it out.

Seth Vertelney: Sweden 1-3 Japan

Which is the real Sweden? The one that beat Tunisia 5-1, or lost to the Netherlands 5-1? Here we are betting it's more the latter, especially against an impressive Japanese side.

Jon Arnold: Sweden 2-2 Japan

There are goals in this one, and while Sweden clearly have more at stake, Japan may have an eye on permutations as well and come out stronger than expected. It points to an entertaining stalemate.

Victoria Hernandez: Sweden 0-2 Japan

Sweden is simply inconsistent. Japan will take advantage to lock in its place in the Round of 32.

Tunisia vs. Netherlands World Cup predictions

Time/TV: 7:00 PM, Fox

The Netherlands take on Tunisia at 7:00 p.m. ET at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City in their Group F finale on Wednesday.

Tunisia's World Cup experience has been a tremendous dud. The day after suffering a 4-1 defeat in its opener, Tunisia abruptly fired manager Sabri Lamouchi and brought in Hervé Renard. It didn't exactly change much. Japan beat Tunisia 4-0 on Matchday 2 and saw its World Cup come to an end before it could really even begin.

Now comes a Netherlands side tied with Japan atop Group F and looking to run up its goal differential to help win the group. This may get ugly.

Seth Vertelney: Tunisia 0-4 Netherlands

Tunisia has been the worst side at this tournament thus far, which doesn't bode well against a Dutch side that is finding its attacking groove.

Jon Arnold: Tunisia 0-2 Netherlands

With the Dutch already looking ahead to the next round, this may not be as ugly as Tunisia's first two matches, but the writing seems to be on the wall.

Victoria Hernandez: Tunisia 0-5 Netherlands

Netherlands needs to rack up goals in case it goes into a tie-breaker with Japan in the group standings. Lowly Tunisia is the perfect team to do so against.

USA vs. Turkey World Cup predictions

Time/TV: 10:00 PM, Fox

The U.S. knows it is moving on as the Group D winner, and Turkey knows it is going home, but the two teams still will meet in a group stage finale that has lost a fair bit of the luster it boasted prior to the tournament.

Turkey is still seeking its first goal of the tournament, falling 2-0 to Australia and 1-0 to Paraguay despite firing off many shots in both games. The shots havent been good enough to get on target or beat the keeper, resulting in Turkeys early elimination. Kerem Aktrkoglu, who has started at central forward for both Turkeys early matches, is a wide player with Fenerbahce but he hasnt been the solution manager Vincenzo Montella hoped as a player who could finish plays created by Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz.

The U.S. is likely to play an alternate lineup, protecting players who saw yellow cards in the first two games and would risk suspension if they picked up a third, but may see the return of Christian Pulisic, who missed the match against Australia with a calf issue. The attacker is unlikely to start but has been training with the full group and may be an option for a cameo off the bench to get rhythm back before the round of 32 game with Bosnia. Overall, its a game that doesnt look likely to have major ramifications on the tournament but will be one that could spring into a contest that delights the neutrals.

Seth Vertelney: Turkey 1-1 USA

The USA will want to keep momentum going, though it will be fielding a reserve-heavy side after clinching the group. Getting a third straight win may be tough against a wounded Turkish side.

Jon Arnold: Turkey 1-2 USA

That goal finally comes for Turkey, but a rotated U.S. still is able to find a way to win and keep the good vibes going into the Round of 32.

Victoria Hernandez: Turkey 1-2 USA

The United States don't need to play at full force with the group already locked up, but they're on too much of a high for Turkey to compete.

Paraguay vs. Australia World Cup predictions

Time/TV: 10:00 PM, FS1

Paraguay and Australia go into the last matchday of group play each having beaten Turkey and lost to the United States, so its an old-fashioned showdown that resembles some of the final-day battles in the previous World Cup format.

The winner gets second place. The loser will sweat the third-place spot. (Australia will finish second if the teams tie and Paraguay would also move on). Even if it didnt look like it in the opening match against the U.S., Paraguay loves to defend, with manager Gustavo Alfaro famous for his conservative tactics. So, a second-minute goal from Matas Galarza against Turkey was a best-case scenario.

The first-ever red card for a player covering his mouth during a confrontation, issued to Miguel Almiron, not only hurt in that game, but missing the shifty attacker for the Australia contest will certainly hurt the Albirrojas chance of finding a goal.

Like Paraguay, Australia is often content to set back, but they spring forward well. After resting for the first half of the U.S. game, Nestory Irankunda may need to come back into the starting XI for Tony Popovic. Four of the back five picked up yellow cards, but the manager cant afford to make modifications to guard against suspensions, with no guarantee of another game around the corner. Matthew Leckie didnt train June 23 with the hamstring issue he suffered against the U.S. still bothering him. It may be time for the Australia youth movement to take over even more. This is the game that will decide it all.

Seth Vertelney: Paraguay 1-1 Australia

With each side on three points, a tie may suit both of them. This appears an even matchup regardless of the permutations, so this could end all-square.

Jon Arnold: Paraguay 0-1 Australia

This could be an ugly one, and I didn't discount a 0-0, but Australia has enouhg on the ocunter to break through even against Alfaro's staunch defenders.

Victoria Hernandez: Paraguay 0-1 Australia

Paraguay will be a man down in this red card bonanza of a World Cup. Australia is motivated by the underdog story and will get the win here.

World Cup match odds on June 25

World Cup standings

Explore live group standings, stats and the updated bracket with USA TODAY Sports here.

World Cup key dates

• Group Stage: June 11-June 27
• Round of 32 : June 28-July 3
• Round of 16 : July 4-7
• Quarterfinals : July 9-11
• Semifinals : July 14-15
• Third-place game : July 18 (Miami Gardens, Florida)
• Final : July 19 (East Rutherford, New Jersey)