The 2026 World Cup kicks into high gear on Saturday with four matches spanning the day, starting with an afternoon match pitting 2022 hosts Qatar against Switzerland, and closing out with a late-night matchup between Australia and TĂŒrkiye which will have bearing on the U.S.âs fortunes, as those teams lie ahead for the Americans following their opener on Friday.Â
Saturdayâs mix also includes one of the most promising early-stage matches of the tournament, with two of the top seven teams in the world per FIFAâs current world rankings list â surprise 2022 semifinalists Morocco facing five-time winners Brazil. In the other match, expect two joyous fan bases â Haiti, who went through so much tumult just to qualify for the tournament, and Scotland, whose Tartan Army is already living up to their reputation of kilt wearing and beer drinking.Â
Given the landscape, you can expect goals galore. Here are three candidates to consider. Be sure to also check out our World Cup match trends page for daily odds, insights and betting data for every game.
- Vinicius JĂșnior, Brazil
- Scott McTominay, Scotland
- Arda GĂŒler, TĂŒrkiye
Vinicius JĂșnior, Brazil
Expect goals when Morocco â who controversially won the most recent Africa Cup of Nations over Senegal after a convincing run to get to the final, and had an incredible run in the 2022 World Cup â faces Brazil, who is in a bit of a transition compared to past World Cup cycles but still loaded with talent.Â
While one of Brazilâs key attackers in this tournament, 19-year-old Endrick, is relatively untested, Vinincus JĂșnior is most definitely ready. Now 25, heâs more seasoned than in his 2022 World Cup debut, having led Real Madrid to a pair of Champions League titles and earning the clubâs legendary No. 7 jersey. Thereâs decidedly goalscoring in Viniâs immediate future; why not in the opener?Â
Scott McTominay, Scotland
No greater authority than JJ Bull, in his amusing âVery Unofficial Scotland World Cup Song,â celebrates great moments in Scottish soccer history, most dramatically in singing about Scott McTominayâs bicycle-kick goal against Denmark in last Novemberâs World Cup qualifier â a goal also commemorated on a limited-edition Bank of Scotland 20 pound note.Â
Given McTominayâs status as Scotlandâs best current player, plus his folk hero status, heâs a good bet to get on the scoresheet at some point in this World Cup, and given that Haitiâs got one of the steepest climbs of any team in the tournament, this just might be the match in which the Tartan Army get to celebrate the most goals their team will manage in 90 minutes this time around â be they bicycle kicks or something far less dramatic.Â
Arda GĂŒler, TĂŒrkiye
At 21 years old, and part of a stacked Real Madrid squad, GĂŒler is one of the best young attacking players in the world. While itâs likely that Australiaâs going to approach all three of their group stage matches in a defense-first low block, itâs also likely that GĂŒler has the ability to break down an Aussie low block on his own and challenge 34-year-old veteran goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.Â
While TĂŒrkiye was one of the last teams to qualify for this yearâs World Cup, theyâre also the biggest danger to the U.S. in Group D, and have the talent to trouble if not outright beat some of the worldâs best teams. GĂŒler will have the opportunity in this tournament to show heâs part of that.Â
Photo Credit: AP/Pamela Smith