World Cup 2026 Results: My 21 June Verdict & Ratings
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I set two alarms on Saturday night and still nearly missed Lamine Yamal’s opener. That is the rhythm of this World Cup for those of us watching from Ireland — RTÉ have the lot, all 104 matches free-to-air, but the kick-offs land deep into the small hours and the coffee bill is mounting. So before you stake another cent on Matchday 3, let me give you my ratings on what actually happened on 21 June, because the group stage is starting to separate the contenders from the also-rans, and the betting markets are moving with it.
La Roja ran riot against Saudi Arabia — my pick of the 21 June bunch.
Spain 4–0 Saudi Arabia: La Roja Finally Click
This was the performance the outright market had been waiting for. Spain blew Saudi Arabia away 4–0 in Group H, Lamine Yamal opening inside the first quarter of an hour and Mikel Oyarzabal helping himself to a quick double before the break, with an Al-Tambakti own goal rounding it off after the restart. I rate this 9/10 — ruthless, controlled, exactly the statement a title contender needs to make. The market noticed: Spain are now 6/1 for the trophy (verified outright, as of 22 June; Oddschecker/ESPN/FOX Sports consensus; fractional conversion mine).
For Irish punters who took Spain early, this is the result that justifies holding the slip. They sit top of Group H on four points and look every bit the joint-second-favourites the books now make them, level with England behind France. If you fancy backing them deeper into the bracket, my Spain World Cup betting breakdown still stands up.
Egypt 3–1 New Zealand: Salah Delivers
Mohamed Salah does not do quiet World Cups. Egypt’s 3–1 win over New Zealand sent them top of Group G on four points, Zizo and Trezeguet flanking Salah’s strike after Surman had given the Kiwis an early lead. 7/10 — they made hard work of the opening 20 minutes, but champions of a group find a way, and Egypt did. New Zealand can hold their heads up; they competed, but the gulf in the final third told.
Uruguay 2–2 Cape Verde: History on the Islands
The romantic result of the day. Cape Verde — population under half a million — came from behind twice to draw 2–2 with Uruguay, Dailon Pina scoring the nation’s first-ever World Cup goal before Varela’s leveller earned a point that will be replayed on the islands for a generation. 8/10 for the underdogs, 5/10 for a flat Uruguay who now have two draws and a lot of questions. La Celeste were 11/10 favourites at kick-off and let it slip; a reminder that "should win" and "will win" are different markets.
Belgium 0–0 Iran: Red Mist, No Reward
A turgid 0–0 in Group G, and Belgium did it the hard way, finishing with ten men after Nathan Ngoy’s 66th-minute red card. 4/10. Two draws, no goals, a Golden Generation that keeps promising and never quite arriving — if you backed the Belgian "to win the group" market, you are sweating. Iran, two draws and unbeaten, quietly fancy their chances of a best-third spot.
Carried Over From 20 June
Two results from the night before still shape the picture:
- Germany 2–1 Ivory Coast — Deniz Undav’s 94th-minute winner. Ice-cold, 8/10, and it secured Germany’s place in the Round of 32 as Group E winners. The 12/1 outright suddenly looks generous for a side that simply refuses to lose.
- Netherlands 5–1 Sweden — Brobbey with a first-half brace, Gakpo at it again, Sweden dismantled. 9/10. The Dutch at 15/1 are the value play of the contenders for my money.
- Japan 4–0 Tunisia — Ueda’s double knocked Tunisia out of the tournament. Clinical.
- Spain’s 4–0 was the standout — La Roja look the part at 6/1 for the title.
- Cape Verde scored their first-ever World Cup goal in a 2–2 draw that embarrassed Uruguay.
- Germany are already through to the Round of 32 as Group E winners after Undav’s late winner.
- Netherlands (15/1) are quietly the most convincing of the mid-priced contenders.
My Verdict
If you are building accumulators off the back of this round, the lesson is clear: the elite are pulling away, and the "should win" favourites — Uruguay, Belgium — are leaking value all over the place. I would be leaning into Spain and the Netherlands rather than chasing the short-priced names who keep drawing. All odds quoted here trace to the 20–21 June boards; convert and shop around before you stake, because the lines are moving by the hour. New customers can compare current prices at BetiBet or Boomerang Bet.com, both showing fractional odds in € for the Irish market — please bet responsibly, 18+.
Next up: my best bets for tonight’s fixtures, and the small matter of Scotland versus Brazil. For the wider title picture, my World Cup odds comparison is the place to start.
