Portugal Moneyline: Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, João Félix, Rafael Leão. There is way too much attacking talent in this Portuguese side for them to be struggling as much as they have so far in this tournament. The game against Uzbekistan aside, Portugal only scored one time in the other two games combined. That’s not good enough for a team with this much quality, but I think they will figure it out against an experienced but aging Croatia team.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup continues on Thursday as Portugal faces Croatia in the Round of 32. Below Ciaran Doyle will give his best bet for the match on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Portugal are currently ranked eighth in the FIFA rankings, while Croatia sits at 13th in the world.
Portugal finished second in Group K with five points from three matches. They were shocked in the opening round, drawing 1-1 to DR Congo. They put things right in the second match against Uzbekistan, as Cristiano Ronaldo announced that he’s back in the 5-0 win. They came back down to earth in the final game against Colombia, drawing 0-0. I expect more from this team, who are capable of beating any team on the planet on their day. They have a great midfield, a decent defense and plenty of attacking options.
Croatia are a decent team, with plenty of experience. They have reached at least the semi-final in each of the last two World Cups. However, this is a team that is getting older, and the legs they once had across the pitch are a thing of the past. Croatia finished second in Group L. They lost 4-2 to England in the opening match before beating Panama and Ghana in the last two matches.
Portugal should present a similar level of challenge to England, and I think it will be too much for Croatia to deal with. I expect a tight game in this one, but Portugal will find a way to win inside the 90 minutes.
Best Bet: Portugal Moneyline (-125)
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