Forty-eight teams. Three countries. One hundred and four matches. The 2026 World Cup is the biggest in the tournament's history, and Bo has been waiting for this moment the way a heavyweight waits for the opening bell. Ladies and gentlemen, the greatest prediction contest BoPredicta has ever staged starts NOW!

Here's the deal. Every match of the group stage, Bo makes his call — and you make yours. Call the result right and that's 10 points in the bank. Nail the exact scoreline and the full 40 points are yours. Predict every fixture in the round, keep your streak alive, and watch yourself climb the leaderboard (or tumble down it, no judgement). It's free, it's gloriously simple, and it'll test your friendships in the best possible way.

Speaking of which — round up the group chat. Set up a private league for the five-a-side crew, the office, or the family WhatsApp that only stirs to life during a major tournament, and settle once and for all who actually knows their football and who's just been getting lucky. 

And then there's the small matter of Bo. Our resident AI showman has gazed into all 104 fixtures, slicked back the electric hair, and declared himself entirely unbeatable — which, history would gently point out, he is not. Plenty of you have made him look like a Championship-level tipster. But Bo doesn't do doubt. He does big calls, and the occasional spectacular faceplant. The gauntlet, as ever, is down: can you beat Bo?

So here it is — Bo's verdict on the entire first round, fixture by fixture, with the reasoning and the scorelines he's staking his (frankly fragile) reputation on. Click any fixture to make your own call and tell Bo exactly where he's gone wrong. It's Boom-Boom Bo football, folks. Let's get into it.

Bo's First-Round Predictions

Thursday 11 June

Mexico v South Africa A 2010 rematch nobody asked for, but here we are. Mexico haven't lost a friendly in eight and have 90,000 mates in the building. Bafana spent the warm-ups perfecting the 0-0. The Azteca won't allow it. 2-0, party starts on time.

Friday 12 June

South Korea v Czech Republic Son's hunting a record; the Czechs got here on two shootouts and a 74-year-old running on pure spite. Something's got to give, and the answer is: nothing. Both score, both survive, everyone learns nothing. Lovely 1-1.

Canada v Bosnia & Herzegovina Davies is on the treatment table, but Toronto's buzzing and Jonathan David doesn't miss the easy ones. Bosnia will set up for a 0-0 like it's a personal hobby — and still concede twice. Canada 2-1, sorry Edin.

Saturday 13 June

USA v Paraguay They played in November, USA won 2-1. They're playing again, USA win 2-1. We're not reinventing the wheel here. Pulisic's flying, SoFi's rocking, Paraguay nick one for the dramatists. Same again, please.

Qatar v Switzerland The Swiss are reliable to a fault: unbeaten, four clean sheets, four past Jordan for fun. Qatar, meanwhile, haven't scored in four of five and would settle for a corner. This one's getting away early. 0-4.

Brazil v Morocco Morocco lost their AFCON-winning coach and half their first-choice spine, then drew Ancelotti's Brazil with Vini and Raphinha. Tough paper to pull. The Seleção waltz through with the handbrake on. 2-0.

Sunday 14 June

Haiti v Scotland Scotland at a World Cup again — pour one out, it's been 28 years. Haiti put four past New Zealand so they'll get a goal to frame. But Clarke's lot, who knocked out Denmark, have the quality. 3-1, Tartan delirium.

Australia v Türkiye Türkiye turn up with Arda Güler and six games unbeaten; Australia turn up with shovels and a plan to make it horrible. They'll make it horrible — for 89 minutes. Then class coughs up the goal. 0-1.

Germany v Curaçao Curaçao — population smaller than a decent festival, and somehow at a World Cup. Genuinely magnificent. Now the bad news: it's Germany, four-time winners, seven on the bounce. Enjoy the photos, lads. 4-0.

Netherlands v Japan Japan beat England and Brazil and will tell you all about it. Fair enough. But the Dutch don't do group-stage wobbles, and Japan are minus Mitoma. Samurai grab one for the highlight reel; Oranje grab the points. 2-1.

Monday 15 June

Ivory Coast v Ecuador Two teams allergic to conceding meet up for a thrill-a-minute chess match. Ecuador shipped five in eighteen qualifiers — frankly showing off — and Caicedo runs the gears. One goal decides it, and it's theirs. 0-1.

Sweden v Tunisia Isak AND Gyökeres up top, which feels unfair. Gyökeres alone dragged Sweden here with a hat-trick and a last-gasp winner. Tunisia didn't concede all qualifying, so they'll make it dull. One bit of magic, 1-0.

Spain v Cape Verde Islands Cape Verde, half a million people and a World Cup ticket — absolute scenes. Then they looked up and saw Yamal, Rodri and Pedri grinning back. They'll park everything they own; Spain pile it on regardless. 4-0.

Belgium v Egypt Belgium put five past the USA in March and De Bruyne's still running the orchestra. Salah's brilliant — but Egypt have never, not once, won a World Cup game. Tonight isn't the night that changes. 2-0, lights out.

Saudi Arabia v Uruguay Bielsa's Uruguay rolling in with Núñez and Valverde. The Saudis bullied Argentina in 2022 and will land a cheeky one for old times' sake — but they've leaked nine in five. La Celeste help themselves. 1-3.

Tuesday 16 June

Iran v New Zealand Iran are World Cup furniture by now, with Taremi up top. New Zealand will bring the bus, the spare bus, and a third bus for the second half. Team Melli prise it open once and that's the lot. 1-0.

France v Senegal Senegal pulled off the 2002 shocker; France have spent 24 years wanting the receipt back. With Mbappé, Dembélé and the deepest squad going, they'll get it. Mané nets a consolation worth keeping. 3-1.

Iraq v Norway Haaland's World Cup debut, only sixteen qualifying goals to his name — twice anyone else's. Iraq held Spain and will defend like their lives depend on it. Admirable. Also futile. The big man breaks through. 0-2.

Wednesday 17 June

Argentina v Algeria The holders saunter in: Messi's sixth World Cup, seventeen Qatar winners still on the books. Algeria have lovely players and zero answers to that. Scaloni's lot do the job without breaking sweat. 2-0.

Austria v Jordan Rangnick's Austria press you until you apologise. Jordan's debut is a genuine fairytale and they'll defend for their lives — but the gegenpress is relentless and tidy. Two goals, no fuss, job done. 2-0.

Portugal v Congo DR Ronaldo's farewell tour rolls into town, supporting cast of Bruno and Leão. Congo are back after 52 years with a squad full of Premier League legs — but Portugal's bench alone would top this group. 2-0.

England v Croatia 2018 called, it wants a rematch. England didn't concede a single goal in qualifying and have Kane and Bellingham loaded. Modrić, 40 and still ridiculous, conjures one — but this time England close it out. 2-1.

Thursday 18 June

Ghana v Panama Semenyo's flying and the Black Stars are still owed one by the football gods (you know the one, 2010, Suárez). Panama are stubborn and stingy. One Ghana strike is enough on a tense, low-scoring night. 1-0.

Uzbekistan v Colombia Díaz in the form of his life, James chasing one last lap of 2014 glory. Uzbekistan's first-ever World Cup is a proper story and they'll grab one — but Colombia are simply a class up. 3-1, Cafeteros cruising.

That's Bo's lot. Twelve days, twenty-four calls, one enormous ego on the line. Click into any fixture above, lodge your own predictions, and show Bo how it's done. Can you beat Bo?