There are 16 high-stakes knockout ties being played across the historic first-ever Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup. We’ve studied the form and data to come up with our three best bets with easyBet Predictions.
With the tournament transitioning into do-or-die football, determining where the true value lies can be harder than it seems. We’ve done the hard work for you and, using easyBet Predictions’ new ‘yes’ or ‘no’ formula towards betting, picked our three best value fancies.
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Here are our three top tips for the Round of 32…
easyBet Predictions Round of 32
Brazil vs Japan (Monday 29th June – 6pm)
Both Teams to Score (BTTS) in Brazil vs Japan offers incredible value at 51%, where a £10 stake returns £19.61.
The primary catalyst for this bet lies in the historic chaos that defines both of these teams when they transition from group-stage safety into knockout football. Japan have proved they have the tactical bravery to breach elite backlines, scoring seven goals across their opening three group matches, including hitting two past a defensively robust Netherlands side. They also hold psychological leverage over the Selecao, having beaten them 3-2 in an incredibly open international friendly late last year. With Ayase Ueda clinical upfront and Keito Nakamura providing elite shooting volume from the flanks, Hajime Moriyasu’s high-intensity pressing system is perfectly tailored to force turnovers in dangerous areas.
However, keeping Brazil out over 90 minutes remains an almost impossible task for a Japanese defensive unit missing injured captain Ko Itakura. The Selecao arrive in Houston firing on all cylinders, racking up six goals across their last two wins with tournament standout Vinicius Jr decimating opposition right-backs at will. Brazil’s relentless attacking width pushes a 2.33 xG per game, meaning they will inevitably create premium chances. In a single-elimination game state, the moment the first goal lands, the trailing side will be forced to entirely abandon their shape, triggering the exact type of open, transitional match script that makes BTTS a locked-in fancy at 51%.
51% PLACE BETFrance vs Sweden (Tuesday 30th June – 10pm)
France Half-Time/Full-Time (HT/FT) vs Sweden stands out as a high-probability option at 57%, where a £10 stake returns £17.54.
The rationale here centers on France’s explosive, front-loaded tactical blueprint and their tendency to blitz teams right from the opening whistle. Didier Deschamps’ side thrives on suffocating opponents early, as evidenced by their recent group-stage match where Ousmane Dembele struck a hat-trick just after the opening 30 minutes to completely dismantle the opposition shape before the break. With a star-studded attacking line featuring Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, and a highly creative supporting cast, Les Bleus possess too much elite vertical speed and mechanical precision for a rigid Swedish defensive structure to absorb early on.
Sweden are notoriously methodical and prefer to establish a compact, structured shape to feed Viktor Gyokeres on the counter. However, when facing elite transition sides, their backline historically struggles with immediate dynamic movement inside the half-spaces. Once France secures an early lead, they are masterclasses at possession retention and game management, squeezing the life out of the pitch and utilising their structural dominance to maintain control through the second half. At 57%, backing France to lead at both intervals is a highly grounded reflection of the stark gulf in early-game intensity between these two squads.
57% PLACE BETMexico vs Ecuador (Wednesday 1st July – 2am)
Mexico to beat Ecuador stands out as a highly grounded selection at 43%, where a £10 stake returns £23.26.
Co-hosts Mexico carry immense momentum into this tie having perfectly swept Group A with three wins from three, including an incredibly dominant 3-0 clean sheet over Czechia right here at the Estadio Azteca. El Tri have turned their home turf into an absolute fortress, suffocating opposition build-up scripts through a high-intensity, structured press that minimises threat inside their own defensive third.
While a resilient Ecuador side proved their dynamic transition threat by pulling off a comeback victory against Germany, they remain structurally vulnerable when subjected to sustained, top-tier attacking pressure away from home. Faced with a hostile, rocking crowd in Mexico City, Ecuador’s backline is highly likely to succumb to early positional errors under the weight of Mexico’s relentless vertical movement. Backing the home nation to navigate this high-stakes 90 minutes looks like an excellent value fancy at 43%.
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