Football tips for 2 Jul 2026: Analysis of 3 key matches in the 2026 World Cup Round of 32, today's match schedule and predictions for the games.
On 2 July 2026, football tips reach the fifth day of the 2026 World Cup Round of 32. The highlights focus on Spain, Portugal—two favorites for the title—and Switzerland. Let's follow the football analysis and predictions for these three matches.
- 2026 World Cup Round of 32 / Kickoff at 02:00
*Live broadcast on Monomax
Spain started slowly with a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, then bounced back by thrashing Saudi Arabia 4-0 and beating Uruguay 1-0 to top Group H without conceding a goal. They are now chasing their second World Cup title, holding an unbeaten run of 34 matches in all competitions, second only to Italy's 37. However, they face injury problems with three wingers sidelined—Nico Williams, Yeremy Pino, and Víctor Muñoz—so Alex Baena is expected to continue on the left wing. The midfield battle is open among Mikel Merino, Fabián Ruiz, Gavi, and Dani Olmo, while the attack is led by Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal.
Austria advanced to the knockout stage in a nail-biting fashion, winning 3-1 over Jordan, losing 0-2 to Argentina, and drawing 3-3 with Algeria in the 96th minute. They finished second in Group J alongside Algeria. Their recent form includes 5 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss in their last 8 matches. Historically, Austria has won only 4 of 16 meetings against Spain, losing 9 and drawing 3, with their last win dating back to 1990 (a 3-2 friendly). Although key players Marco Arnautović and David Alaba are fit to start alongside Konrad Laimer, Marcel Sabitzer, and Romano Schmid, Austria's overall strength is inferior. Spain is favored to narrowly secure victory.
Match Prediction Spain to narrowly defeat Austria.
- 2026 World Cup Round of 32 / Kickoff at 06:00
*Live broadcast on Monomax and Monomax Sports channel 29
Portugal's quest for their first World Cup title remains uncertain after a 1-1 draw with DR Congo, a 5-0 win over Uzbekistan, and a 0-0 draw against Colombia, finishing second in Group K. This may set up matches against Spain in the Round of 16, Belgium in the quarterfinals, and France in the semifinals. They remain unbeaten in their last 8 matches (5 wins, 3 draws) and are fortunate to have no injuries. João Neves will return as a starter alongside Vitinha and Bruno Fernandes in midfield. The attacking trio may remain unchanged with Cristiano Ronaldo, Pedro Neto, and João Félix, or see adjustments involving Gonzalo Ramos, Rafael Leão, or Francisco Conceição.
Croatia progressed with a slow start but strong finish: losing 2-4 to England, then beating Panama 1-0 and Ghana 2-1, finishing second in Group L. They have won 11 of their last 16 matches in all competitions, losing 4 times only to higher-ranked teams. Against Portugal, they have managed just 1 win in 10 encounters, losing 7, including 5 losses in 6 official matches. Josko Gvardiol returns at left back, with Ivan Perisic pushed forward to his favored left wing. The midfield trio of Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, and Petar Sučić will orchestrate play, while the attack may rely on the experienced Ante Budimir. Still, Croatia may narrowly lose to Portugal.
Match Prediction Portugal to edge out Croatia in a close match.
- 2026 World Cup Round of 32 / Kickoff at 10:00
*Live broadcast on Monomax and Monomax Sports channel 29
Switzerland gradually improved to win Group B after drawing 1-1 with Qatar, beating Bosnia 4-1, and defeating co-host Canada 2-1. Under coach Murat Yakin, they remain unbeaten in 9 consecutive official matches (6 wins, 3 draws). In their last 14 games, they conceded more than one goal only once. However, Sylvan Widmer is injured and may be replaced by Luca Jaquez at right back. The midfield features veteran captain Granit Xhaka and rising star Johan Mambimbi, who will support striker Breel Embolo.
Algeria advanced with difficulty after losing 0-3 to Argentina, beating Jordan 2-1, and drawing 3-3 with Austria in stoppage time, finishing third in Group J. This is their second knockout appearance since 2014, when they lost to then-champion Germany in the Round of 16. Their recent form is solid with 4 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss in 7 matches. They have lost twice to Switzerland in their last meetings. Mohamed Amoura may miss this match due to injury, leaving the attack to Riyad Mahrez, Ibrahim Mazza, and Amine Gouiri. Although the contest looks even, Switzerland's greater international experience makes them likely to advance.
Match Prediction Switzerland to narrowly defeat Algeria.