The 2026 FIFA World Cup’s Round of 32 is kicking off in earnest. Which World Cup Round of 32 upset picks might stand out this week?
Each day of the knockout round could bring an unexpected result, but three particular matchups seem to rise to the top of the list.
Below, we’ll highlight a trio of World Cup Round of 32 dark horse picks and teams to monitor, including winner payouts, spreads, and over/unders on PrizePicks Team Picks.
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World Cup Upset Picks for Round of 32
It may be time for CAF to flourish in the World Cup, even if Egypt could be bound to run into a Round of 16 freight train when and if Argentina comes calling. So many dark horse picks lurk on Africa’s ledger that regardless of how Mohamed Salah fares in July, CAF’s teams might just be poised to score some upsets.
Ivory Coast, for instance, aims to take down a Norway side that gave up on its own momentum on Matchday 3. England’s strange lapses on the attack flashed a possible weakness for DR Congo to exploit in Wednesday’s knockout bout. Cape Verde’s bid against the defending champs may be a moonshot, but could Ghana catch Colombia napping?
Scroll for a closer look at some top dark horse candidates to win in the Round of 32.
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Ivory Coast vs. Norway Prediction for World Cup Round of 32
Day, Time: Tuesday, June 30, 1:00 p.m. ET
Location: AT&T Stadium (Dallas Stadium), Arlington, Texas
- Winner Payout: Norway 1.96x | Tie 3.33x | Ivory Coast 3.44x
- Spread: Norway -1.5 (3.7x)
- Total: Over 2.5 (1.81x) | Under 2.5 (1.92x)
Norway’s manager Ståle Solbakken surprised many pundits by yanking back on the throttle in Matchday 3, sitting Erling Haaland and numerous other stars in a 1-4 loss to France. Norway had every opportunity to win Group I after a 2-0-0 start, but Solbakken seemed content with a second seed’s draw in the first knockout round.
His ploy may go down in the “be careful what you wish for” category.
Norway has drawn Ivory Coast, yet another African squad that did terrific things in 2026’s group stage. The Elephants stomped their way to a 1-0 debut win over Ecuador, held a lead on Germany until midway through the second half, and outclassed Curaçao 2-0. The Elephants could limit Norway’s attacks.
Ivory Coast’s defensive pursuit rates a solid 14th in the 2026 World Cup with a 53.33-second ball-recovery average, per FIFA. Haaland won’t have an icy boot, but the Man City striker’s supporting cast is as unproven as Ivory Coast on this stage.
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England vs. DR Congo Prediction for World Cup Round of 32
Day, Time: Wednesday, July 1, 12:00 p.m. ET
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta Stadium), Atlanta, Georgia
- Winner Payout: England 1.28x | Tie 4.76x | DR Congo 10x
- Spread: England -1.5 (1.81x)
- Total: Over 2.5 (1.85x) | Under 2.5 (1.88x)
On the surface, England appears set to reach the Round of 16 with grand reviews. Harry Kane’s side broke through in the second half against Panama in Matchday 3’s 2-0 victory, earning Group L’s crown with 7 points. Three Lions returns a favorite’s payout of just 1.28x with a win over DR Congo, Group K’s third-place team.
There’s a fly in the plum pudding when it comes to England’s optimistic spread. Three Lions slumped with the football in the middle of 2026’s group stage, missing shot attempts and squandering set-pieces in a scoreless draw with Ghana. None of Kane’s teammates have more than 3 shot attempts so far.
Can another CAF underdog steal the show in Atlanta? DR Congo ranks eighth at the 2026 World Cup with 898 defensive pressures, a sign that the Leopards could have more second-half stamina as an underdog than Panama.
If England manages to score twice in Atlanta, DR Congo F Yoane Wissa might still come to the rescue for Leopards' spread, having scored 3 of his side’s 4 group-stage goals.
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Colombia vs. Ghana Prediction for World Cup Round of 32
Day, Time: Friday, July 3, 9:30 p.m. ET
Location: Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City Stadium), Kansas City, Missouri
- Winner Payout: Colombia 1.47x | Tie 3.57x | Ghana 5.88x
- Spread: Colombia -1.5 (2.43x)
- Total: Over 2.5 (-2.22x) | Under 2.5 (-1.66x)
Missouri has gone from watching Messi’s march to immortality to hosting a potentially nervous showdown in the Round of 32. Colombia, like England, is a favorite that looks poised for a watershed, with only Switzerland or Algeria awaiting in a potential Round of 16 game.
Ghana could spoil all the Coffee Growers’ fun, however.
Ghana has joined other CAF representatives in setting a new confederation standard for defense in the World Cup, going the first 228 minutes of 2026’s group stage without allowing a goal. England felt Ghana’s bite without the ball last Tuesday, mustering just 4 on-target shots in the 0-0 draw.
Colombia’s rowdy supporters are surely proud of defender Daniel Muñoz’s 2 goals but may be concerned that forward Luis Díaz couldn’t make more out of his 57 offers to receive in Colombia’s 0-0 deadlock with Portugal.
The Ghanaian back line, studded by names such as Marvin Senaya at right back, could help the Black Stars defend and defeat a Colombia side that’s labored to score in the World Cup in many past cycles.
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