World Cup 2026 Predictions, 3 July — The Round of 32 Signs Off
Available in USThe Round of 32 closes on Friday, 3 July with three ties: Australia vs Egypt, Argentina vs Cape Verde and Colombia vs Ghana. Between them they settle the last two Round of 16 pairings. This page lists every fixture with its Irish kick-off time, the latest decimal odds converted to fractional, and a neutral assessment for punters — with the caveat that these are knockout matches, so the draw price reflects the chance a tie is level after 90 minutes and heads to extra time and penalties.
Contents
- 1. How to read this page
- 2. Friday’s fixtures at a glance
- 3. Australia vs Egypt
- 4. Argentina vs Cape Verde
- 5. Colombia vs Ghana
- 6. Predictions summary table
- 7. Frequently asked questions
- Argentina (2/11) are the heaviest favourites of the day against debutants Cape Verde; Colombia (8/17) are strong favourites over Ghana.
- Australia vs Egypt is the closest tie: Egypt are the shorter price to win in 90 minutes (3/2) but the draw is well backed at 19/10.
- The winners of Argentina vs Cape Verde and Australia vs Egypt meet in the Round of 16 (M95); the Colombia vs Ghana winner faces Switzerland (M96).
- “Assessment” reflects price versus probability only — Short, Fair, Value or Long — and is not a tip to stake.
1. How to read this page {#how-to-read}
Odds below are decimal (as screen-verified on 3 July), converted to fractional for the Irish market with the decimal shown in brackets. In these knockout ties, "1" is a first-named-team win in 90 minutes, "2" a second-named-team win in 90 minutes, and "X" a level score after 90 minutes — which sends the tie to extra time and, if needed, penalties. The Assessment column is the site’s standard Fair / Value / Short / Long read, not a recommendation to bet. Kick-off times are converted to Irish Standard Time (IST = ET + 5h).
2. Friday’s fixtures at a glance {#fixtures-glance}
| Kick-off (IST) | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 pm | Australia vs Egypt | AT&T Stadium, Arlington |
| 11:00 pm | Argentina vs Cape Verde | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens |
| 2:30 am (Sat) | Colombia vs Ghana | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
3. Australia vs Egypt {#australia-egypt}
The tie of the day for the neutral. Egypt reached the knockout stage for the first time in their history and are the model’s slight favourite — Opta gives Egypt a 38.6% win probability to Australia’s 30.4%, and around 54% to advance overall. Australia failed to score in their last two group matches. Captain Mohamed Salah has recovered from a hamstring strain and is available, but the coach will not commit him to the starting XI; Australia are without Mathew Leckie and Jacob Italiano. AT&T Stadium has a retractable roof and air conditioning, so the ~100°F outside heat index can be neutralised.
| Selection | Fractional | Decimal | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 27/10 | 3.70 | Fair |
| Draw (90 min) | 19/10 | 2.90 | Fair — high for a knockout |
| Egypt | 3/2 | 2.50 | Fair |
The short draw price is the story: at 19/10 the market rates the chance this tie is level after 90 minutes highly, which fits two cagey, low-scoring sides.
4. Argentina vs Cape Verde {#argentina-cape-verde}
The most one-sided price on the board. Holders Argentina have won ten straight and conceded just once in the group; Cape Verde, at their first World Cup, reached the last 32 as the smallest nation by population ever to reach a men’s World Cup knockout stage. Lionel Messi has scored six of Argentina’s eight goals in North America and co-leads the scoring chart. Cristian Romero returns from a knock; Gonzalo Montiel is out.
| Selection | Fractional | Decimal | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 2/11 | 1.18 | Short |
| Draw (90 min) | 8/1 | 9.00 | Long |
| Cape Verde | 27/1 | 28.00 | Long |
At 2/11 Argentina offer nothing for value-seekers on the match result; the interest sits in scorer and margin markets. A dedicated Argentina vs Cape Verde preview covers the story and the team news in full.
5. Colombia vs Ghana {#colombia-ghana}
Group K winners Colombia meet Ghana, through as one of the best third-placed sides. Colombia conceded just once in the group — including a 0-0 with Portugal — and Opta rates them 64.8% to win against Ghana’s 13.8%. Right-back Daniel Muñoz is their unlikely top scorer with two. Ghana’s Antoine Semenyo is expected to shake off an ankle knock. The winner takes on Switzerland in the Round of 16.
| Selection | Fractional | Decimal | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colombia | 8/17 | 1.47 | Short |
| Draw (90 min) | 18/5 | 4.60 | Fair |
| Ghana | 41/5 | 9.20 | Long |
6. Predictions summary table {#summary}
| Match | Favourite (fractional) | Most likely outcome | Assessment of the price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia vs Egypt | Egypt 3/2 | Tight; high draw chance | Fair both ways; 19/10 draw notable |
| Argentina vs Cape Verde | Argentina 2/11 | Comfortable Argentina win | Short — value only in specials |
| Colombia vs Ghana | Colombia 8/17 | Colombia control | Short favourite, Fair draw |
7. Frequently asked questions {#faq}
Sources (3 July 2026): schedule and kick-offs (CBS Sports, ESPN, FIFA); model probabilities and form (Opta Analyst, Sky, Squawka); injuries (FIFA, ESPN, Sports Mole); odds (screen-verified decimal aggregator, converted to fractional); venue conditions (NWS). Kick-off times converted to IST (ET + 5h). Odds for information only — 18+, gamble responsibly.
Related: World Cup 2026 Betting Guide · Bet types explained · World Cup 2026 Schedule (Ireland)
