Stuck assembling a winning fantasy football World Cup team in the final stages of Matchday 2?
I’ve been writing fantasy football guides for more than eight years, and I have a few suggestions that should pay off immediately.
Remember that all this info is perfectly fine to use in FootballCoin’s free fantasy World Cup contest! In fact, I encourage you. I’ll drop a link for you here.
World Cup Fantasy Picks: Matchday 2 Guide (June 22–24) – Win XFC Rewards
FIFA World Cup 2026™ Match Slate
| Date | Kickoff Time | Matchup | Group | Venue |
| Mon, 22 Jun 2026 | 18:00 | Argentina vs. Austria | Group J | AT&T Stadium (Dallas) |
| 22:00 | France vs. Iraq | Group I | Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia) | |
| Tue, 23 Jun 2026 | 01:00 | Norway vs. Senegal | Group I | MetLife Stadium (New York/New Jersey) |
| 04:00 | Jordan vs. Algeria | Group J | Levi’s Stadium (San Francisco Bay Area) | |
| 18:00 | Portugal vs. Uzbekistan | Group K | NRG Stadium (Houston) | |
| 21:00 | England vs. Ghana | Group L | Gillette Stadium (Boston) | |
| Wed, 24 Jun 2026 | 00:00 | Panama vs. Croatia | Group L | BMO Field (Toronto) |
| 03:00 | Colombia vs. DR Congo | Group K | Estadio Akron (Guadalajara) |
Set-Piece & Penalty Matrix
Set-Piece & Penalty Matrix (June 22–24)
| Matchup | Team | Penalties | Free Kicks | Corners |
| Argentina vs. Austria | Argentina | Lionel Messi | Lionel Messi | Lionel Messi, Rodrigo de Paul |
| Austria | Marko Arnautović | Marcel Sabitzer | David Alaba, Marcel Sabitzer | |
| France vs. Iraq | France | Kylian Mbappé | Michael Olise | Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé |
| Iraq | Aymen Hussein | Amir Al-Ammari, Ali Jasim | Amir Al-Ammari, Ali Jasim | |
| Norway vs. Senegal | Norway | Erling Haaland | Martin Ødegaard | Martin Ødegaard, Fredrik Aursnes |
| Senegal | Sadio Mané | Sadio Mané | Sadio Mané | |
| Jordan vs. Algeria | Jordan | Ali Olwan, Yazan Al-Naimat | Musa Al-Taamari, Ali Olwan | Musa Al-Taamari, Mahmoud Al-Mardi |
| Algeria | Riyad Mahrez | Riyad Mahrez, Farès Chaïbi | Riyad Mahrez, Farès Chaïbi | |
| Portugal vs. Uzbekistan | Portugal | Cristiano Ronaldo | Bruno Fernandes | Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva |
| Uzbekistan | Eldor Shomurodov | Otabek Shukurov | Jaloliddin Masharipov | |
| England vs. Ghana | England | Harry Kane | Declan Rice | Declan Rice |
| Ghana | Jordan Ayew | Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Kudus | Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Kudus | |
| Panama vs. Croatia | Panama | Ismael Díaz, Eric Davis | Amir Murillo, Adalberto Carrasquilla | Eric Davis, Adalberto Carrasquilla |
| Croatia | Ante Budimir | Luka Modrić | Luka Modrić | |
| Colombia vs. DR Congo | Colombia | James Rodríguez | Jhon Arias | Jhon Arias, Luis Díaz |
| DR Congo | Cédric Bakambu, Yoane Wissa | Yoane Wissa, Gaël Kakuta | Arthur Masuaku, Gaël Kakuta |
Cheat Sheet – Players Cards You Need for Your Fantasy Football Team
📅 World Cup Fixtures & Player Picks (June 22 – 24, 2026)
The “Locks” – Players You Need
Argentina – Austria
Argentina and Austria are essentially playing the same squads they have for the last four years. My experience as a football writer tells me this could be a surprisingly high-scoring game.
You may need Messi for this, if you can afford him. De Paul and Mac Allister are essentially there to help him. Lisandro Martinez was surprinsgly good last time around.
Austria presses aggressively, which, I think, may open the door to trouble. However, the dynamism and price tag on Schmid, Siewald and Schlager make them really good choices for your fantasy football selection.
France – Iraq
I have been watching France and advising on which of their players to pick for fantasy football for a long time. I am surprised by how motivated they are at the start of this World Cup.
You’ll need some familiar faces here: Mbappe, Olise, Rabiot. The only thing that can spoil things is Deschamps’ predictable squad changes and rest of players like Doue.
I have been writing fantasy football guides for over 8 years. If you’re looking for affordable Iraqi players, Alammari and Doski could be your options.
England – Ghana
England was impressive against Croatia in Matchday 1. But in my considerable experience analysing football games, this confidence can prove deceptive throughout an entire tournament.
Regardless, stars Kane and Bellingham should be in contention for this one. I think that Rice and Anderson are excellent midfield options. And I’m choosing Pickford as the best goalie option for this fantasy football round.
The “Enablers” – Players that Might Surprise You
Norway – Senegal
This is a game between two strong teams who both dream of making far in the tournament. My experience tells me that you have good picks on both sides.
Haaland is going for the Golden Boot trophy and thus might be the best striker you can get in Matchday 2.
However, Berge, Nusa, Ryerson, and Moller Wolfe, while not essential, could produce some surprises here, I think.
Senegal’s got a good side. You need Niakhate, Diouf, and veteran Koulibaly in your side, in my professional opinion.
Portugal – Uzbekistan
I called it. Portugal is weaker than most pundits expect, and Uzbekistan is stronger than last week’s result suggests.
Khusanov and Shomurodov can play very well against this slow, uninspired Portuguese side. You can also pick Fayzullaev and Shukurov for this one.
Meanwhile, J. Neves and B. Fernandes are the only Portuguese players that I would pick.
Panama – Croatia
Croatia is impressive. Besides, this team has a number of exciting young talents that are just right for your fantasy football team. In all my years of writing these sorts of guides, it’s these kinds of players that can make the difference.
Sucic should be in. Baturina might be worth the investment. And Musa is one of the best players that you can get across this World Cup group stage. Perisic is a luxury pick.
Cordoba and Bercenas are the Panamanian players worth your consideration.
Colombia – Congo DR
J. Rodriguez and L. Diaz should be considered throughout the tournament.
But, Puerta, who made 42 successful passes and 5 clearances in the last game, can be the secret weapon that will improve your fantasy football team.
Congo’s defenders Masuku, Mbemba and Kapuadi can certainly be on your radar for this fantasy football World Cup selection.
The “Hail Marys” – Players You Don’t Need, but Cannot Rule Out Entirely
Jordan – Algeria
Both these teams look a little unready for the stakes of the World Cup. Algeria, however, looks to have a stronger squad.
Mahrez and Ait Nouri will be vital. But do they deserve to dislodge someone else out of your fantasy football team? You’ll have to decide.
The “Traps” – Players You Should Avoid
It’s a long tournament. There will be many shifts and turns. However, Lautaro Martinez isn’t in great form yet. Meanwhile, Alvarez isn’t starting for now. Romero, to my mind, has a way to prove his worth once again.
Doue is likely to be rested. Tchouameni is injured. And Kounde isn’t very good.
Ghana has been disappointing. I don’t think Partey, Semenyo or Ayew warrant selection this time.
Can we really give Ronaldo a chance after what happened against DR Congo? I wouldn’t!
Wouldn’t avoid Modric at this particular moment either. But his services may come in handy later in the tournament. I think Croatia will make it out of the groups.
