World Cup Anytime Goal Scoring Picks, Odds, Predictions for Thursday, June 11, 2026
The World Cup is finally here! After much anticipation, the quadrennial tournament — hosted by all three North American nations — will kick off on Thursday afternoon at a stadium with tons of World Cup history.
Azteca Stadium in Mexico City is where the so-called “Game of the Century” took place in 1970, with Italy outlasting West Germany 4-3 in an epic semifinal, followed by Brazil winning the title 4-1 behind a performance by Pelé.
Azteca also loomed large in 1986, featuring the famed quarterfinal between England and Argentina, with Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal and “Goal of the Century,” weaving through five immortalized (in the wrong way) en route to scoring — and en route to Maradona getting a World Cup title.
Nothing that epic might happen on Thursday, but Mexico is looking to get itself on track again after a disappointing 2022 performance, in which El Tri failed to get out of the group stages.
Following the opening matinee, South Korea will face Czechia in Guadalajara in the other Group A opening contest. With eight of 12 third-place teams advancing in the newly-expanded tournament, losing the opener isn’t quite the blow that it’s been in past tournaments, but the group’s final standings could pivot significantly on this particular outcome.
Here are three players to keep in mind when considering goal scoring on Thursday. Be sure to also check out our daily World Cup match trends for odds, insights and data on every game.
- Johan Vásquez, Mexico
- Son Heung-min, South Korea
- Pavel Šulc, Czechia
Johan Vásquez, Mexico
Picking a center back to score — and perhaps to be the first player scoring at this edition of the World Cup – is admittedly unusual. Consider, however, that Vásquez has scored in the two most recent El Tri tune-up matches, including the opening salvo in a 5-1 rout of Serbia, as well as the only goal in its 1-0 Rose Bowl showcase against Australia.
Indeed, the Genoa center back could be the best player at the moment for a Mexico team that’s been unbeaten throughout 2026, getting goals from multiple players, including striker Raúl Jiménez, who could end up El Tri’s most reliable scorer. For now, though, Vásquez has a nose for goal, able to post up to head in crosses from a cadre of talented wide players.
Son Heung-min, South Korea
Though he’s been talismanic for the Taeguek Warriors for multiple World Cups now, Son is heading into the final years (presumably) of his international play at age 33. The South Korea team is transitioning to a new generation of players, most notably Lee Kang-in.
But Son’s abilities are still evident – even though he’s had a weird year in MLS, racking up nine assists but scoring no goals — and he’s still being tapped to take penalty kicks, so when he takes the field, he’s still the sensible choice to score for a team that should emerge from the group stages into the knockout rounds, if only the Round of 32.
Pavel Šulc, Czechia
Though Patrik Schick is the most obvious goal scoring threat that South Korea must prepare for, Šulc plays a hybrid 10/second forward role for Czechia that makes him dangerous as well.
His opening goal just minutes into the playoff qualifier with Denmark proved instrumental in what turned out to be a win in penalties, getting them into Group A and this opportunity for a marquee matchup on the tournament’s opening day.
Czechia’s on a five-match win streak and has only lost once in the past year — to Faroe Islands in a qualifying match in October — and despite a world ranking of just 40th, they’re among several “don’t sleep on them” European teams who could find themselves in the Round of 16 should results break their way.
Photo Credit: AP/Petr David Josek
