TAB WEEKEND SOCCER HIGHLIGHTS: 26 – 28 JUNE 2026
HIGH-OCTANE ACTION AND FIVE CASH-BOOSTED POOLS
TAB football customers are in for a grand weekend with the final group games in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and a series of cash-boosted pools, notably two R200,000-added Soccer 10 bets, two carryover pools and a R17-million Soccer 13 jackpot if there’s only one winner of the bet this Saturday.
BAFANA HAVE A SHOT AT MAKING THE LAST 16
It has been an exciting week highlighted by Bafana Bafana’s heroic performance against South Korea in their final Group A game in the early hours of Thursday morning. Against all expectations after a miserable start to the tournament, South Africa took second place in the group thanks to Thapelo Maseko’s 63rd-minute rocket that now sees SA take on Canada in the first of the last-32 clashes in Los Angeles at 21:00 on Sunday.
Canada, ranked 32nd in the world by FIFA, are 7-10 favourites to beat 55th-ranked Bafana (4-1), but this is a contest that can go either way with the only safe bet being bet that millions of South Africans will be in front of TV sets come Sunday night.
There are several high-octane matches to watch before that, starting tonight with the Norway-France game in Boston that will decide first and second in Group I. France, spearheaded by Kylian Mbappe, are 4-1 favourites to win the World Cup and have looked slick in their two group games, but Norway will hope that the likes of Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard can pull a couple of rabbits out the hat.
SENEGAL NEED CLEAR WIN AND LOADS OF LUCK
The other remaining clash in Group I kicks off at the same time and Senegal, tipped by many as Africa’s best shot at winning this World Cup, find themselves bang on track for an early flight home after defeats at the feet on France and Norway. They need to beat Iraq by a wide margin to have any chance of making the last 32 and even that will not be enough if a couple of other results don’t go their way.
Senegal showed good signs in the first half against France, but defensive frailties have let them down and probably put paid to their chances of progressing beyond the group stages. Make them a banker to win in tonight’s R200,000-added Soccer 10, as well as victories for Belgium and Spain against New Zealand and Uruguay respectively.
As things stand Belgium are out after draws in their first two games and must beat New Zealand to avoid an embarrassing early exit. Uruguay have looked very ordinary so far and Spain should put them to the sword without much ado.
Banker bets are harder to come by in tomorrow’s R200,000-added Soccer 10 but England should be able to outgun Panama, while Congo DR should have too many skills for Uzbekistan.
MATCH PREVIEWS OF R200,000-ADDED SOCCER 10 POOLS
Friday 26 June – S10 V2
M1 Derry City vs Drogheda United: Challenging mix of matches in this R200,000-added Soccer 10, which could pay big. Derry are winless in eight of their last nine and Drogheda in their last six. Derry are sixth in the Irish Premiership and two points ahead of Drogheda in eighth. Drogheda won last meeting 1-0, but in the last 15 meetings they have won four to Derry’s five.
M2 Dundalk vs Waterford FC: Dundalk are on a three-game winning streak and are fourth with 35 points. Waterford, however, are winless in eight of their last 10 and are bottom of the log, 21 points behind Dundalk. Last clash ended 3-3 in May.
M3 Bohemians vs St Patrick’s Athletic: St Pat’s are on a two-game winning streak, while Bohemians have lost their last two. St Pat’s won last meeting 3-1 and are second with 38 points, one ahead of third-placed Bohemians who have played two games more.
M4 Norway vs France: This clash will decide who tops Group I at World Cup. Both have won their two group matches to date and this will be their first meeting since 12 years ago when France won 4-0.
M5 Senegal vs Iraq: There were high hopes for Senegal at this World Cup but, like Iraq, they have lost both their group games and are now in danger of not making the last 32. They need to win this by a good margin to keep their hopes alive.
M6 Novorizontino vs Vila Nova: Vila Nova lead Serie B and are four points ahead of fourth-placed Novorizontino. Vila Nova have won five of their last six, while Novorizontino are unbeaten in their last five. They drew 1-1 when they last met.
M7 Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia: Cabo Verde are unbeaten in their last five games and have drawn both Group H matches so far, whereas Saudi Arabia have lost six of their last 10 and have one point from their two group games. A win by either should see the victor qualify for the last 32.
M8 Uruguay vs Spain: Uruguay are winless in their last seven games and have drawn both their group games, whereas Spain head Group H with a win and a draw from their two matches. Spain have the class to dominate.
M9 Egypt vs Iran: Egypt unbeaten in eight of last 10 games and head Group H with four points from two games, while Iran have drawn their two and are joint second. Egypt have already qualified.
M10 New Zealand vs Belgium: Belgium are unbeaten in their last 10 games and have drawn both their Group H matches, while NZ have one point from their two. Belgium should be too classy for NZ, who they play for the first time, and need at least a point to have a chance of making the last 32.
Saturday 27 June – S10 V1
M1 AC Oulu vs Lahti: This R200,000-added Soccer 10 presents a testing combo of games. A Finnish top division game gets the show on the road and Oulu, unbeaten in their last five games, are second on the log, 14 points ahead of ninth-placed Lahti who are on three-game losing streak. Lahti did win the last meeting with Oulu 2-1 in April.
M2 Sogndal vs Egersund: Norwegian second division. Sogndal have lost their last two and Egersund six of their last nine, although they did win 5-2 last time. Egersund are ninth in the table and four points ahead of 12th-placed Sogndal.
M3 Sligo Rovers vs Shelbourne: Rovers are on a three-game losing streak, while Shelbourne are unbeaten in nine of their last 10. Last meeting ended 0-0, but Shelbourne are fifth in the Irish Premier League and 11 points ahead of Shelbourne.
M4 Criciuma vs Sao Bernardo: Criciuma unbeaten in last eight games and Sao Bernardo undefeated in nine of last 10. Sao Bernardo are second in Brazil’s Serie B, four points ahead of eighth-placed Criciuma.
M5 Paysandu SC vs Santa Cruz: Paysandu have won five of their last eight games and are third in Serie C, five points ahead of Santa Cruz who are winless in seven of their last 10 league fixtures.
M6 Croatia vs Ghana: Croatia have won seven of their last 11 games, but lost 4-2 to England in their World Cup opener before edging Panama 1-0. Ghana kicked off their campaign with a 1-0 win over Panama and then held England to a goalless draw. Croatia’s class will see them start hot favourites.
M7 Panama vs England: England were a revelation in their World Cup opener, playing with much more freedom than normal and posting a 4-2 victory over Croatia. Disappointing when held 0-0 by Ghana subsequently but they look likely to be too good for Panama, who have lost both matches and are already eliminated.
M8 Colombia vs Portugal: Colombia have won both group matches to date, while Portugal are unbeaten in their last seven and slammed Uzbekistan 5-0 last time after a disappointing draw in their World Cup opener. Colombia won their first group match 3-1, but will find Portugal tougher rivals than Uzbekistan.
M9 Congo DR vs Uzbekistan: Congo are winless in their last three games and Uzbekistan have lost their last three. Congo need three points here to secure a last-32 berth, while Uzbekistan will have an outside chance of qualifying if they win.
M10 Algeria vs Austria: Algeria have won seven of their last 10 games and beat Jordan 2-1 in their second group game after losing the first 3-0 to Argentina. Austria lost 2-0 to Argentina but beat Jordan previously. As things stand, both need a least a point here to qualify for the knockout stage.