First place in Group A will be on the line Thursday night after both Mexico and South Korea opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup with huge wins. Mexico opened its World Cup campaign with a dominant 2-0 win over South Africa at Mexico City Stadium last week. Julin Quiones quickly got things started with a goal in the ninth minute, which was followed by Ral Jimnez's first career World Cup goal in the 67th minute after a South Africa red card. El Tri is now -160 to win Group A, a jump from the -125 number it was at before the tournament began. Mexico's crucial match against South Korea will be its 11th World Cup match at home, but first ever in Guadalajara. Just how important is Thursday's showdown? Here are the key Group A clinching scenarios: Can Mexico build off its opening match and make a deep run in this tournament? Let's check out the updated odds for El Tri as of June 18. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Team Mexico Stage of Elimination Last 32: +130 (bet $10 to win $23 total)Last 16: +155 (bet $10 to win $25.50 total)Quarterfinals: +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total)Semifinals: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)Runner-up: +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total)Group stage: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)Outright winner: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total) Mexico to Qualify from Group A: -10000 (bet $10 to win $10.10 total) Mexico Group A Winner: -160 (bet $10 to win $16.25 total) Mexico Top Goalscorer Ral Jimnez: -115 (bet $10 to win $18.70 total)Julin Quiones: +150 (bet $10 to win $25 total)Santiago Gimnez: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)Armando Gonzlez: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)Roberto Alvarado: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)Guillermo Martnez: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)Alexis Vega: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)Gilberto Mora: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total) What to know: Mexico has made a habit of being in the running, but never really being in the running. Make sense? Consider this: El Tri made it out of the group stage in seven consecutive World Cups (1994-2018), but never made it past the Round of 16 in any of those years. In 2022, Mexico failed to make it out of the group stage, and it will look to get back to its winning ways in 2026, as it is favored to win Group A after its opening win against South Africa. Mexico will face South Korea and the Czech Republic in its final two group games. Prior to the tournament, Jimnez was the clear favorite to lead Mexico in goals this summer at +220. Now, after his 67th minute header that found the back of the net vs. South Africa, he is -115. Quiones, who many believe can be one of the breakout players of the tournament, has surged from +750 to 150 after his goal on Thursday.

We've put together four World Cup anytime goalscorer prop picks for Wednesday, June 15

Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for SiriusXMStephen A. Smith has built a career on speaking confidently across the sports world, but his latest World Cup comment about France gave soccer fans an easy target.The ESPN analyst was discussing France during the 2026 World Cup after Didier Deschamps side opened with a 3-1 win over Senegal.France looked like one of the early tournament favorites again, but Smiths wording made it sound as if the national team were still chasing a breakthrough that had never arrived. That is where the backlash began.Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for SiriusXMStephen A. Smith gets France World Cup history badly wrongThe clip shared by Awful Announcing on X showed Smith asking a question that immediately confused soccer fans.Im wondering what France is going to do, could this be the year that they finally get it done and they win the World Cup? Smith said.The problem is that France have already got it done recently. They won the 2018 World Cup in Russia, beating Croatia 4-2 in the final, and then reached another final in 2022 before losing to Argentina on penalties after a 3-3 draw.France also won the World Cup in 1998, meaning they are not a country waiting for a first title. In the current era, they have been one of the strongest tournament teams in international soccer, with Kylian Mbappe central to both their 2018 triumph and their 2022 run.That made Smiths use of finally difficult to defend. France are trying to win another World Cup in 2026, not prove that they can win one for the first time.Fans rip Stephen A. Smith over France commentThe reaction online was immediate and blunt, with many fans arguing that Smiths comment showed exactly why soccer coverage needs people who know the sports basic history.One fan wrote, Hes such a g______ moron. Hes always been a moron. Another said, He can b_______ NBA topics but not soccer.Others focused on how far off the comment sounded for a World Cup discussion. One reaction read, Stephen A probably thinks the World Cup happens every year.The criticism also turned toward the wider sports media landscape. One fan wrote, That this guy gets paid millions of dollars a year to talk sports is a total indictment of the sports media industry.Another summed up the frustration by saying, This is the thing about Stephen A., let him talk about basketball. Hes embarrassing when he steps out.Smith does not need to be a lifelong soccer voice to discuss the World Cup, but Frances recent history is not obscure. That is why the clip spread so quickly, and why the response from fans was so unforgiving.Read more:Stephen A. Smiths embarrassing World Cup take linked to Wemby NBA finals defeatStephen A. Smith tells Kendrick Perkins he cant have his latest opinion on Victor WembanyamaStephen A. Smith wants rare honor for Spike Lees over $10 million Knicks spend after 2026 NBA title

The Aces will head to the WNBA Commissioner's Cup championship game for the third time thanks to an 86-76 win over the Mercury on Wednesday night.

Fremantle is eyeing revenge for its lone loss of the 2026 season, in a potential Grand Final preview against Geelong tonight in the west.

The former Wallabies star tore into the NRL in the comments section after his wife's stunning post.

Declan Rice has eased fears over his fitness after admitting he has been dealing with a niggling problem for weeks following England's dramatic 4-2 victory over Croatia at the World Cup.The Arsenal midfielder was substituted with 18 minutes remaining in Dallas after appearing to struggle physically during England's tournament opener, prompting concerns among supporters and manager Thomas Tuchel alike.Rice, whose father Sean and partner Lauren Fryer watched from the stands, left the field limping and was replaced by Morgan Rogers as England closed out an entertaining contest.Despite the worrying scenes, the 27-year-old insists there is no major issue and expects to be available when England return to action against Ghana in their second Group L fixture next Tuesday.TRENDINGStoriesVideosYour Say"All good. Good as gold," Rice told ITV after the match."Just what I've been nursing probably in the second half of the season at Arsenal."Little neural pains here and there. But yeah, I'm all good. All fine, just precaution. I'll be back out there against Ghana."Rice played a key role in England's victory, registering an assist as Harry Kane struck twice, while Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford also found the net.However, Tuchel revealed he was unwilling to gamble with one of his most influential players despite Rice reassuring him that the discomfort was not serious."Let's see, I hope they are okay," Tuchel said when asked about England's fitness concerns."Normally I would never take Declan out but I didn't want to take any risk."The England boss later explained that Rice had reported pain in several areas.LATEST SPORTS NEWS:Thomas Tuchel left furious after national anthem incident in England World Cup win over CroatiaPremier League club at risk of points deduction before season even startsWayne Rooney's new look astonishes football fans during BBC World Cup coverage"Declan pointed to his lower back, upper hamstring and feels some discomfort," Tuchel added."I didn't want to take any risks."It was a moment to protect him. I hope it's nothing more. Declan reassured me at the end it's good. It's nothing big to worry about."England endured a difficult opening 45 minutes against Croatia, producing a disjointed display before Tuchel's half-time intervention inspired a remarkable turnaround.Winger Anthony Gordon lifted the lid on the manager's dressing-room message, revealing Tuchel urged his players to play with greater freedom."He said, 'Loosen up'," Gordon told talkSPORT."He said, 'This is not what I see in training'."The training sessions have been so intense - the highest level. So it wasn't what we'd done in training and he said that."He said, 'What's the worse that can happen - we lose the game? So what! Let's go out and be ourselves'."And that really kicked us into gear because we came out strong."With Rice now insisting he is fit and Tuchel hopeful the problem is only minor, England will be optimistic their midfield talisman will be ready to face Ghana as they look to secure their place in the knockout stages.After that, they'll do battle with Panama on June 27. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter