Looking for some betting inspiration? Mr Fixit is on hand with the best bets for the opening games of the World Cup. You won't want to miss these as our guru has some tasty tips to get punters off to a roaring start.
Mexico vs South Africa
The World Cup kicks off on Thursday night and co-hosts Mexico are heavy favourites against South Africa at the Azteca. FIFA and the Trump administration are doing their best to ruin the tournament and I'm expecting plenty of empty seats in stadiums across America. But that won't be the case for any of Mexico's fixtures and the atmosphere will be red-hot whenever this football-mad nation are in action.
McBookie make the co-hosts 5/12 favourites tonight and that looks fair enough given they're unbeaten in eight. Mexico thrashed Serbia 5-1 in their last friendly so I'm combining the home win with over 1.5 goals and over 5.5 corners. That pays a decent 21/20 in a McBookie bet builder.
Brazilian ref Wilton Sampaio loves to flash a card, averaging five per game, so that's another market worth looking at. Over 4.5 bookings pays 13/10 at McBookie while Bet365 offer a tempting 2/1 on South Africa -1 in the card handicap.
South Korea vs Czechia
The other Group A game takes place in the wee small hours and you'd need to be a football fanatic to stay up for South Korea v Czechia. These teams are on a pretty similar level so it should be a close match and backing the half-time draw pays 21/20 at McBookie.
Wolves star Ladislav Krejcí loves a tackle so he might be worth backing for a card at 21/10 with McBookie. The same player is also a tempting 5/4 to commit over 1.5 fouls, which looks better value.
Super Singles: Mexico vs South Africa
- South Africa -1 card handicap (2/1, Bet365)
- Krejci over 1.5 fouls (5/4, McBookie)
McBookie bet builder: A Mexico win with over 1.5 goals and over 5.5 corners pays 21/20.
Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
After fellow hosts Mexico open the show, Canada are first up in Group B and it will be interesting to see what shape the Canucks are in when they take on Bosnia. Jesse March has the most talented group of Canadian players at his disposal and they should get out of a relatively easy group that also contains Qatar and Switzerland.
Bosnia are no mugs, having beaten Italy in the play-offs, but they are 15/4 outsiders at McBookie, who make the co-hosts 5/6 favourites. Jonathan David is the main man up front for Canada and looks decent value for anytime scorer at 7/5. Celtic's Alistair Johnston always gets stuck in and the Canadian right-back appeals for over 1.5 fouls at 9/5.
USA vs Paraguay
The late game sees the USA take on Paraguay and I'm hoping to wake up to an angry Truth Social post from the supreme narcissist. But McBookie can't see it happening, with the Yanks 9/10 favourites and Paraguay as big as 16/5. The Paraguayans usually focus on defence so this could be a tough watch.
The half-time draw looks good at 9/8 with McBookie while combining under 2.5 goals and BTTS no pays 9/5. Sunderland stopper Omar Alderete was sent off when Paraguay lost 2-1 to America in a friendly back in November. He's a tempting 13/5 to go into the book tonight.
Super Singles: Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Jonathan David to score (7/5, McBookie)
- Omar Alderete to be carded (13/5, McBookie)
McBookie bet builder: Combining BTTS no with under 2.5 goals in USA v Paraguay pays 9/5.
