2026 World Cup Best Player Prop Picks, Odds, Predictions for Wednesday, July 15, 2026
The 2026 World Cup semifinals wrap up on Wednesday afternoon as England and Argentina battle for the right to face Spain in the final. Argentina looks to become just the fifth team in history to reach the World Cup final as defending champions, while England chases its first final appearance since winning the tournament in 1966.
The two sides meet for the first time since 2002 on Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. England enters as the favorite to eliminate the reigning world champions and FIFA’s top-ranked side. The loser of Wednesday’s match plays France in the third-place match on Saturday evening, while the winner faces Spain at MetLife Stadium on Sunday for the World Cup title.
Here are the best player props for Wednesday, July 15. Make sure to check out our World Cup match trends page for daily odds, insights, and betting data for each game.
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Wednesday’s Best 2026 World Cup Player Props
Lionel Messi (Argentina) – Over 1.5 Shots on Target (-120)
Jude Bellingham (England) – Over 0.5 Goals + Assists (+175)
Jordan Pickford (England) – Over 3.5 Saves (+195)
Lionel Messi (Argentina) – Over 1.5 Shots on Target (-120)
Despite England’s defensive solidity in the knockout rounds, Messi arrives at Wednesday’s match in outstanding form heading into his third career World Cup semifinal. The 39-year-old remains in the Golden Boot race with eight goals in six appearances, having scored in every match except the quarterfinals. He leads all players in the competition in both total shots and shots on target heading into the final four.
Messi averages a tournament-high 5.5 shots per game, with 3.0 on target. Argentina’s all-time leading scorer has created the most big chances of any player in the tournament and arrives at the semifinal with the second-highest xG (5.25) behind France’s Kylian Mbappé. He accounts for nearly 34% of Argentina’s total shots and close to 50% of their shots on target. England has allowed 3.67 shots on target per game in the knockout rounds and has conceded in all three games leading up to Wednesday.
Jude Bellingham (England) – Over 0.5 Goals + Assists (+175)
Bellingham has been the driving force behind England’s run to the semifinals, scoring four of his country’s five goals across the Round of 16 and quarterfinals. The 23-year-old has been the standout player of the tournament for England and is now tied with Harry Kane for the most goal contributions (7) for his nation at this World Cup. He will look to add to that tally on Wednesday afternoon against an Argentina side that has shown defensive vulnerabilities in the knockout stage.
After conceding just one goal during the group stage, Argentina has conceded five in its last three matches. Scaloni’s side has struggled to defend in transition — an area where Bellingham can be particularly devastating. The Real Madrid midfielder has the finishing and playmaking quality to exploit most defenses, and Argentina’s recent record suggests he will have his chances. His form heading into his first World Cup semifinal is impossible to ignore as the young Englishman looks to further cement his legacy.
Jordan Pickford (England) – Over 3.5 Saves (+195)
Pickford has been solid throughout his 2026 World Cup campaign, conceding an average of one goal per game. He leads all remaining goalkeepers in the final four, averaging two saves per game at a 67% save percentage, and has made three saves in back-to-back matches heading into his first World Cup semifinal.
Argentina will test Pickford more than any side he has faced in his six appearances at this tournament. The South Americans have scored the most goals at the 2026 World Cup (17) and average 6.5 shots on target per game. The three goalkeepers Argentina have faced in the knockout rounds have averaged 5.33 saves per match, with all three making four or more saves against them.
Photo Credit: REUTERS
