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Wednesday, June 17 is Day 7 of the 2026 World Cup, and the slate is headlined by two of the tournament’s most compelling Group openers. Cristiano Ronaldo kicks off what may be his final World Cup appearance as Portugal face DR Congo at 1 p.m. ET in Houston. England open against Croatia at 4 p.m. ET in Dallas — a rematch of the 2018 World Cup semi-final, eight years on. Ghana and Panama follow at 7 p.m. in Toronto, and Uzbekistan take on Colombia at 10 p.m. from Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Here are six World Cup best bets across Wednesday’s full card, with odds from FanDuel, DraftKings, and bet365.
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Wednesday’s World Cup Schedule — June 17
| Kickoff (ET) | Match | Group | Venue | Favorite | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:00 PM | Portugal vs DR Congo | K | NRG Stadium, Houston | Portugal -360 | FOX |
| 4:00 PM | England vs Croatia | L | AT&T Stadium, Dallas | England -138 | FOX |
| 7:00 PM | Ghana vs Panama | L | BMO Field, Toronto | Ghana -165 | FS1 |
| 10:00 PM | Uzbekistan vs Colombia | K | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City | Colombia -250 | FS1 |
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Portugal vs DR Congo — Best Bets (1:00 PM ET)
Ronaldo’s sixth World Cup begins in Houston, and the market has priced Portugal as a near-certainty at -360. The moneyline is too short for standalone value. The play here is the Over 2.5 goals at -137 — Portugal average 3.33 goals per game across their recent competitive and friendly run, control 71.3% of possession on average, and created chances at elite volume throughout qualifying. DR Congo are no passive minnow — Yoane Wissa (Brentford) and Cédric Bakambu headline an attack that averaged 3.0 total goals per game across their last four qualifying matches. The NRG Stadium dome eliminates Houston’s heat as a performance variable, meaning this is a straight quality matchup at full intensity.
Pick 1 — Portugal vs DR Congo: Over 2.5 Goals (-137) at FanDuel
Pick 2 — Portugal vs DR Congo: Ronaldo Anytime Scorer (-195) at DraftKings
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England vs Croatia — World Cup Best Bets Today (4:00 PM ET)
Eight years after Croatia ended England’s 2018 World Cup semi-final dream, the sides meet again in a group-stage opener that is more narratively loaded than most Wednesday afternoon matches deserve to be. England are the clear betting favorite at -138, and the case for them is straightforward: Thomas Tuchel’s side won all eight qualifying matches without conceding a single goal, entered the tournament with 11 wins in 14 games, and carry Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Harry Kane — one of the most complete attacking trios in the field.
The best price on today’s card is Kane to score first at +380. Kane has scored eight goals in 11 World Cup appearances, broke the deadlock against New Zealand in England’s final pre-tournament friendly, and is listed as the penalty taker and aerial focal point for a side playing against a Croatia defense missing regular depth through injury attrition. The RotoWire team specifically cited this as “the best price on the card.” The England win at -138 is the safer primary play; Kane first scorer at +380 is the value add.
Pick 3 — England vs Croatia: England Win (-138) at bet365
Pick 4 — England vs Croatia: Kane First Goalscorer (+380) at FanDuel ⭐ Best Value Pick
Ghana vs Panama — Best Bet (7:00 PM ET)
Ghana are the -165 favorites in BMO Field, Toronto, against a Panama side making only their second World Cup appearance. The Black Stars are the more technically complete side and carry greater top-flight European talent across their squad. Fox Sports lists Ghana as -140 to advance from Group L’s bottom half — an indication that the market broadly expects them to navigate the easier part of their fixture list. Ghana win at -165 is the straightforward pick in a game where the talent gap is real.
Pick 5 — Ghana vs Panama: Ghana Win (-165) at FanDuel
Uzbekistan vs Colombia — Best Bet (10:00 PM ET)
Colombia are heavy -250 favorites at Estadio Azteca — one of the most iconic football venues in the world — against a Uzbekistan side making their first-ever World Cup appearance. Colombia’s squad is filled with Premier League and European top-flight regulars. James Rodríguez leads a side that scored freely in CONMEBOL qualifying and enter as -210 favorites to win Group K outright (behind Portugal at -210 also — essentially co-favorites). The Colombia win at -250 is not value per se, but it is near-certainty. Better: Colombia -1.5 handicap at around +105 to +115 if available at your book, aligning with the scoreline the market most expects.
Pick 6 — Uzbekistan vs Colombia: Colombia Win (-250) at FanDuel
Wednesday Parlay: Three-Leg Combo at +380
| Leg | Pick | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Leg 1 | Portugal Over 2.5 Goals | -137 |
| Leg 2 | England Win | -138 |
| Leg 3 | Ghana Win | -165 |
| Combined Parlay (approx.) | +380 | |
Build this parlay at FanDuel or DraftKings. A $100 stake returns approximately $380 in profit if all three legs land. Verify combined odds before placing — parlay returns vary slightly by sportsbook.
Wednesday Best Bets — Full Summary
| Game | Pick | Odds | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal vs DR Congo | Over 2.5 Goals | -137 | FanDuel |
| Portugal vs DR Congo | Ronaldo Anytime Scorer | -195 | DraftKings |
| England vs Croatia | England Win | -138 | bet365 |
| England vs Croatia | Kane First Goalscorer ⭐ Best Value | +380 | FanDuel |
| Ghana vs Panama | Ghana Win | -165 | FanDuel |
| Uzbekistan vs Colombia | Colombia Win | -250 | FanDuel |
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