It is still all to play for tonight in Group B with all four teams still able to make it through to the knockout stages of the World Cup. Both games kick off at 7pm (GMT).
Wales vs England, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
England can advance to the round of 16 with a draw. A win, though, would cement top spot in Group B.
If Gareth Southgate’s men can hold off a four-goal loss from Wales. They will go on to face a Group A challenger in either the Netherlands, Ecuador or Senegal in the knockout stage at the weekend.
Although Wales are still able to make it through to the knockouts with a win, history isn’t on the Welsh side with England victorious in the last six contests between the teams. Most recently with a 3-0 win in a friendly match in 2020.
The two teams have played a total of 103 matches since first squaring off in 1879. England has been victorious in 68 of those games, losing just 14 matches to the Welsh. Of those matches, 21 resulted in draws.
Should Wales pull out a win this evening, it will be their first over England since 1984 and even then, their qualifying hopes would rest on the outcome between the USA and Iran.
Players to watch:
Phil Foden has been called “the best footballer England have” by ex-captain Wayne Rooney. “I think if you have a talent like Foden, you simply have to play him,” Rooney wrote in his column for The Times.
Welsh stars Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey have failed to deliver in Qatar and will be eager to redeem themselves.
Prediction
Wales -2 England – Keiffer Moore – Harry Kane, Phil Foden
Iran vs USA, Al Thumama Stadium, Al Thumama
The USA is faced with the first knockout game of the tournament this evening. “We win or we’re out of the World Cup” USA coach Gregg Berhalter said.
Favourites to win the game USA, who sit third in the group, are still looking for their first win in Qatar following two consecutive draws.
Iran, who have never made it out of the group stages at a World Cup will be looking to follow up on their victory against Wales with victory against the USA in what will just add to the political friction between the two nations.
Player to watch:
Christian Pulisic — the most expensive American footballer in history — is the one player expected to help lift the USA into the knockout stages.
Prediction
Iran 0-1 USA – Weston McKennie
