TAB WEEKEND SOCCER HIGHLIGHTS: 03 – 05 JULY 2026
CANADA-MOROCCO CLASH KICKS OFF ROUND OF 16
Matches are coming thick and fast now as the 2026 World Cup gathers momentum and the three remaining round-of-32 clashes will be decided through the course of tonight with the first last-16 game between Canada and Morocco kicking off at 19:00 tomorrow.
CARRYOVER SOCCER 10 SET TO TOTAL OVER R2 MILLION
All three of the remaining last-32 matches are included in tonight’s R200,000 carryover Soccer 10, which is set to generate a bonanza pool of over R2 million. And the even better news is that two of the three contests offer potential bankers.
Cape Verde have been the revelation of the tournament and drew all three group matches against Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. But now Cape Verde come up against one of the big guns in Argentina, who have been virtually flawless in defence and have conceded just two goals in winning their last 10 matches in succession.
That Cape Verde held Spain to a goalless stalemate will give them some hope here, but it’s hard to envisage them containing Lionel Messi for 90 minutes.
The other banker bet is Colombia to beat Ghana. Colombia, ranked 11th in the world, are classy and came out tops in a tough group that included Portugal. Ghana, on the other hand, have reached the knockout stages by virtue of being one of eight best third-placed finishers and are only 65th in FIFA’s latest world rankings, which highlights the difference in quality between them and Colombia.
Tonight’s range of TAB soccer bets also included a R100,000-added Soccer 6 containing six of the 10 games in the carryover Soccer 10.
2 BANKER BETS IN SATURDAY’S CARRYOVER SOCCER 10
Tomorrow’s carryover Soccer 10 contains two of the last-16 clashes and both offer potential bankers. Morocco should be too good for co-hosts Canada and tournament favourites France should put Paraguay to the sword.
The early hours of Monday morning could see one of the tournament favourites England on an early flight home after their clash with co-hosts Mexico at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
So far England have done little to suggest they can go all the way. They did produce a good second-half display to beat Croatia 4-2 in their opening match, but failed to carry that momentum into the next game against Ghana.
England then battled to break down Panama in their final group game and only won 2-0 thanks to second-half strikes from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane.
It was even worse against DR Congo in their last-32 game. Once again Bellingham and Kane dominated for England with Kane coming to their rescue and scoring twice in 11 minutes late on to secure a comeback 2-1 win.
Now England have to play in front of the hosts’ passionate support base at the Azteca, which is some 2200m above sea level, and don’t have enough time to acclimatise to the high altitude.
Plus their rivals have played like a slick, tightly-knit unit so far, winning all three group games and following with a comfortable 2-0 win over Ecuador in the last 32.
Bellingham and Kane are brilliant but two men don’t make a team and unless England can get their act together quickly they are likely to be outpointed by Mexico.
MATCH PREVIEWS OF R200,000-ADDED SOCCER 10 POOLS
Friday 3 July – S10 V3
M1 Australia vs Egypt: R200,000 carryover pool to kick off the weekend action. Australia have won six of their last 10 games and Egypt have come through their three group matches unbeaten. Egypt could have the edge in what should be a hard-fought contest.
M2 Derry City vs Waterford FC: Irish Premier Division. Both winless in seven of their last 10 games and their last meeting ended 2-2. But Derry are sixth with 29 points, 12 more than Waterford.
M3 Drogheda United vs Bohemians: Bohemians have won six of their last nine games and are second on the log, 18 points ahead of Drogheda in eighth. Bohemians won the last meeting between them 2-1, but are away now.
M4 Larne vs Coleraine FC: Charity Shield clash in Northern Ireland. League winners Larne, unbeaten in their last six games, take on cup winners Coleraine, victorious in their last seven. Coleraine won the last meeting 4-1 away in April.
M5 Sligo Rovers vs Shamrock Rovers: Shamrock, successful in six of their last 10 matches, head the Irish Premier League and are 27 points ahead of Sligo, who are winless in their last four.
M6 St Patrick’s Athletic vs Galway United: St Pat’s have won four of their last eight games and are third with 38 points. Galway haven’t won in eight of their last 10 league games and are seventh with 24 points. Last meeting ended 2-2.
M7 Shelbourne vs Dundalk: Shelbourne are unbeaten in nine of their last 10 games, whereas Dundalk have won three of their last four. Shelbourne won the last meeting 2-1 away but are four points behind Dundalk in the league.
M8 FH Hafnarfjordur vs Stjarnan: FH have lost six of their last 10 games and Stjarnan five of their last 10. Stjarnan are eighth in Iceland’s top league and seven points ahead of FH in 11th.
M9 Argentina vs Cape Verde: Last-32 World Cup clash. Argentina are on seven-game winning streak and Cabo Verde are unbeaten in their last six. Argentina should have far too much quality for their rivals.
M10 Colombia vs Ghana: Colombia are unbeaten in their last five games, while Ghana lost four of their last seven. Colombia will start firm favourites and with good cause
Saturday 4 July-– S10 V2
M1: Canada vs Morocco: World Cup clash kicks off this R200,000 carryover pool. Canada unbeaten in nine of last 10 games and progressed to the last 16 with a last-gasp winner over SA. Morocco, unbeaten in last 10, had a much tougher test against Holland and came from a goal down to win on penalties. Morocco will start hot favourites and should win.
M2 Almagro vs Atletico Rafaela: Second division in Argentina. Almagro unbeaten in their last four games and Rafaela winless in last four. Rafaela are fourth on the log with 27 points, five more than Almagro in 12th (22 pts). Last clash ended scoreless.
M3 Almirante Brown vs Los Andes: Brown on two-game winning streak and Los Andes unbeaten in nine of last 10. Los Andes are third with 29 points, three more than Brown in seventh. Last meeting ended 0-0.
M4 Ciudad Bolivar vs Godoy Cruz: Bolívar are winless in their last four games and are sixth in the table with 27 points. Godoy Cruz, two points behind in ninth, have lost their last two. The last meeting between them ended 1-1 in February.
M5 Defensores Belgrano vs Deportivo Moron: Moron head the table, 14 points ahead of 12th-placed Belgrano, but lost last time after reeling off four wins in a row. Belgrano have lost six of their last 10, but held Moron to a draw in February.
M6: Nueva Chicago vs Club Guemes: The hosts won 1-0 away when they last met in February. Chicago haven’t won in nine of their last 10 games and are 11th with 22 points, three more than Guemes who have lost six of their last nine.
M7 Longford Town vs UC Dublin: Irish Division One. UCD are second and 11 points ahead of seventh-placed Longford who have lost their last two. UCD won last meeting 2-0.
M8: Temperley vs Tristan Saurez: Temperley are unbeaten in their last five games and Suarez in their last six. Suarez are third on the Argentine second division log and three points ahead of fifth-placed Temperley. Last meeting ended 0-0 in February.
M9: Quilmes vs Atletico Atlanta: The visitors are second and 12 points ahead of 13th-placed Quilmes. Atlanta have won seven of their last 10 games and Quilmes only two. Atlanta won the last meeting 1-0 in February.
M10: Paraguay vs France: Paraguay caused a major shock when beating Germany on penalties in the last 32, but now square off against tournament favourites France whose quartet of Mbappe, Dembele, Barcola and Olise have looked unstoppable at times.