The World Cup knockout stage is here. One match today, two tomorrow — here are our three-leg acca picks to maximise your weekend winnings from the Round of 32 opener.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage is done and dusted. Thirty-two teams are left standing. The Round of 32 begins today, June 28, with South Africa facing Canada at 20:00 WAT in Los Angeles — and three more matches follow tomorrow, June 29, making this weekend the most exciting stretch of football since the tournament kicked off.
With a light slate on Sunday — one match only — we have built a three-leg Weekend Knockout Acca that combines today’s opener with two of Sunday’s best Round of 32 games. These picks are designed for Bet9ja, SportyBet and BetKing users. Treat this as entertainment, play responsibly, and never stake more than you can afford.
### ⚡ Today’s Accumulator Pick
Legs: Canada to Win (vs South Africa, 20:00 WAT) + Brazil to Win (vs Japan, 14:00 WAT June 29) + Netherlands to Win (vs Morocco, 22:00 WAT June 29)
Combined odds: 5.88 | ₦1,000 stake returns ₦5,880
All three of these selections carry genuine analytical backing — we are not simply picking favourites for the sake of it. Canada have Jonathan David in the form of his life. Brazil are the world’s second-ranked side facing a Japan team that has punched above its weight at previous tournaments but faces superior physical and technical opposition here. Netherlands are one of Europe’s strongest sides and meet Morocco in what could be the tie of the Round of 32 — but the Dutch are ranked higher and have been ruthless in front of goal.
### Leg 1 — Canada to Win vs South Africa | 20:00 WAT | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Pick: Canada to Win
Odds: 2.10 (Bet9ja)
Bafana Bafana have had a remarkable journey — their first World Cup knockout appearance — but Canada are simply the better attacking side. Jonathan David has scored three times in three group games and represents a constant danger South Africa’s central defenders have never encountered before at this level. Alphonso Davies will stretch the right side of South Africa’s defensive block all evening.
South Africa’s strength is their organisation and defensive discipline, but they have only scored twice in the tournament and will need to open up if they want to avoid being eliminated by a single goal. That willingness to attack late in the game plays into Canada’s counter-attacking strengths. We fancy Canada to take this in 90 minutes, likely 1-0 or 2-1.
### Leg 2 — Brazil to Win vs Japan | 14:00 WAT | NRG Stadium, Houston
Pick: Brazil to Win
Odds: 1.40 (SportyBet)
Brazil topped Group C convincingly — drawing with Morocco and beating Scotland — and bring the full force of their attacking firepower into the knockout stage. Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Endrick form one of the most dangerous forward lines remaining in the tournament, and Japan’s disciplined back line will face a physical and technical examination unlike anything in Group F.
Japan are not to be dismissed. They have a proud World Cup tradition of upsetting higher-ranked opponents, having eliminated Germany in 2022. But Brazil’s depth, their ability to shift tempo in the second half, and Dorival Junior’s tactical preparation for knockout football makes them strong favourites here. The form suggests Brazil win with relative comfort. At 1.40, this leg anchors the accumulator.
### Leg 3 — Netherlands to Win vs Morocco | 22:00 WAT | NRG Stadium, Houston
Pick: Netherlands to Win
Odds: 2.00 (Bet9ja)
This is the standout match of Round of 32 Day 2 and the most contested pick in this accumulator. Morocco were excellent in Group C, holding Brazil to a draw and beating Scotland and Haiti, while the Netherlands topped Group D without too many alarms. Morocco are tactically astute, dangerous on the counter, and will have the backing of millions of Arab and African fans watching across the continent.
We are backing Netherlands here at 2.00 because of their attacking depth and superior technical quality in a full 90-plus minutes. Cody Gakpo and Memphis Depay provide a front-line combination Morocco’s full-backs will find taxing, and the Dutch pressing game is well-suited to exposing Morocco’s tendency to play through the thirds from deep. Morocco will make this tough — but Netherlands edge it.
### Combined Acca Summary
| Match | Pick | Approx Odds |
|—|—|—|
| South Africa vs Canada | Canada to Win | 2.10 |
| Brazil vs Japan | Brazil to Win | 1.40 |
| Netherlands vs Morocco | Netherlands to Win | 2.00 |
| Combined | All three | ~5.88 |
₦1,000 stake → ₦5,880 potential return
₦2,000 stake → ₦11,760 potential return
₦5,000 stake → ₦29,400 potential return
All odds sourced from Bet9ja and SportyBet as of Sunday morning. Prices may shift before kick-off — especially for Netherlands vs Morocco — so check the latest lines before placing.
### Singles Backup
If you prefer to play it safe, the two cleanest singles from today’s card are:
For the best platforms to place your bets, check out our guide to the best betting sites in Nigeria and find the platform with the best current offers.
For match-by-match single tips for today and tomorrow, see our World Cup 2026 June 28 fixtures preview.
Remember: This is a three-leg accumulator and all three legs must land. Accumulators carry higher risk than single bets. Gamble responsibly and within your means.
Responsible gambling: Betting should be for entertainment only. Only bet what you can afford to lose. If gambling is affecting you, contact the NLRC helpline.
