Today at the 2026 FIFA World Cup: June 16

By Deniss Novickis | Published: June 16, 2026, 06:55

Argentina and France, the finalists of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, will play their first games on Matchday 6. Norway’s talismanic striker Erling Haaland is ready to finally make his debut at the World Cup. MightyTips presents a World Cup value bet of the day and a risky parlay of the day, provides a prediction on all games of the Matchday, and shares some interesting facts about the tournament.

Match 17: France - Senegal, 18:00 CET, June 15
Match 18: Iraq - Norway, 21:00 CET, June 15
Match 19: Argentina - Algeria, 00:00 CET, June 16
Match 20: Austria - Jordan, 03:00 CET, June 16

It’s the last game of the Matchday that caught our attention, as Austria should have an easy ride against World Cup debutants, Jordan. The latter are winless in the last five games, letting in 13 goals in the process. Only a few of their players compete at a high level for their clubs, and the difference in class should prove decisive here. Led by the captain David Alaba, Austria should score at least two goals, while their defence is always solid. For instance, they allowed just four goals in the last 11 games. Austria to win -1.5 goals at 2.00 is an excellent choice for my money.

Few World Cup openers carry as much history as this one. The opening match of the 2002 World Cup saw Senegal stun defending champions France 1-0 in one of the tournament’s greatest upsets, and the two nations meet again 24 years later in Group I. France arrive with a star-studded squad featuring Kylian Mbappé, N’Golo Kanté and Michael Olise, while Didier Deschamps has emphasized a more dynamic attacking approach. Senegal, meanwhile, bring back experienced leaders Sadio Mané, Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy. The midfield battle could be decisive as both sides look to make an early statement in what many consider one of the toughest groups.

This match features two nations ending lengthy World Cup absences. Iraq are back at the finals for the first time since 1986 after a remarkable qualification campaign under Graham Arnold, while Norway return for the first time since 1998. Iraq's squad includes experienced goalkeeper Jalal Hassan, who has recovered from injury, alongside creative talents such as Zidane Iqbal and Ahmed Qasem. Norway arrive with confidence after a great qualifying run and have received encouraging news regarding captain Martin Ødegaard, who has dismissed concerns over a recent injury issue and is expected to be fully available. The contrast between Iraq’s resilience and Norway’s technically gifted midfield should make for an intriguing contest, while Haaland will be looking to score his first World Cup goal. 

The defending champions begin another World Cup campaign carrying familiar expectations, but Algeria have enough quality to make life uncomfortable. One key piece of squad news for the South Americans is the fitness of goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who appears ready to start after recovering from a finger injury that limited his preparation. Argentina’s core of world champions remains largely intact, combining experience with attacking depth throughout the squad. Algeria, meanwhile, arrive with an experienced group led by captain Riyad Mahrez and several players returning from recent injury concerns. Their ability to remain compact defensively and transition quickly into attack will be closely watched against an Argentine side that typically dominates possession.

Austria return to the World Cup stage after a 28-year absence, while Jordan are preparing for their first appearance at the tournament. Ralf Rangnick’s side have earned praise for their intensity and organization, but they are expected to be without influential midfielder Christoph Baumgartner because of injury. That could create opportunities for younger players such as Paul Wanner and Carney Chukwuemeka to take on bigger roles. Jordan’s preparations have been complicated by injuries to key attacker Yazan Al-Naimat and some defensive reshuffling, yet their recent rise in Asian football has been remarkable. Beyond the result itself, this fixture represents a significant moment for two nations eager to showcase their progress on the global stage.

At just 25 years of age, Haaland arrives at the 2026 World Cup as one of the game's most prolific goalscorers and the centerpiece of Norway's return to the global stage. He made his professional debut at 15, exploded onto the international scene with nine goals in a single match at the 2019 U-20 World Cup, and has shattered records at every level since. Haaland’s achievements with Norway are simply remarkable. The Man City striker is his country's all-time leading scorer with 55 goals in just 50 international appearances, becoming only the sixth player in history to reach 50 international goals in fewer than 50 caps.

🇪🇸🇨🇻 Spain fans try to remind their national team what to do on the football pitch#ESPCPV pic.twitter.com/89EAbVFxsM

— MightyTips (@MightyTips) June 15, 2026

On June 16, 1998, France defeated Saudi Arabia 4-0 in the group stage, with Zinedine Zidane scoring his first-ever World Cup goal. It was the beginning of a memorable tournament for Zidane, who would inspire France to their first World Cup title on home soil.