The 2026 World Cup has a four-match slate on Monday, with the nightcap featuring New Zealand versus Iran in Group G play. Iran are slotted 20th in FIFA rankings as they seek to advance past the group stage for the first time in their seventh tournament appearance. New Zealand are the lowest-ranked team in the World Cup 2026 as FIFA has them 85th, and they’ve failed to win any of their prior six World Cup matches. Belgium are -250 favorites to win Group G, with Iran at +700 and the Kiwis at +2500.

Kickoff is 9 p.m. ET from Los Angeles Stadium. This is the teams’ first meeting since 2003. The latest Iran vs. New Zealand odds from FanDuel Sportsbook list the Iranians at -130 (risk $130 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line, with New Zealand at +400 and a draw at +240. The over/under for total goals is 2.5. Before locking in any New Zealand vs. Iran picks or World Cup 2026 predictions, check out the Iran vs. New Zealand predictions from SportsLine’s Jon Eimer.

Eimer is a high-volume bettor who has vast knowledge of leagues and players across the globe. Since joining SportsLine, he has covered the English Premier League, Champions League, Serie A, the FA Cup, and much more. He’s been red-hot on his soccer betting picks in 2026, posting a 31-13-2 record and returning over $1,200 of profit on his Champions League picks. He’s also off to a fast start in the World Cup, entering Monday on a 12-5-2 run on WC picks (+407.5). Anyone wanting to follow his World Cup betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could see big returns.

Now, Eimer has studied New Zealand vs. Iran and just revealed his 2026 World Cup picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several World Cup odds and soccer betting lines for Iran vs. New Zealand:

Top Iran vs. New Zealand predictions

After examining New Zealand vs. Iran from every angle, Eimer is leaning Under 2.5 total goals. New Zealand enter the 2026 World Cup failing to score in four of their last five matches. They are the lowest-ranked team in this tournament, and the Kiwis last World Cup appearance saw all three of their group matches have under 2.5 total goals.

As for Iran, they don’t typically engage in high-scoring affairs in this competition, which is the fourth in a row that they’ve qualified for. Nine of the Iranians last 11 World Cup matches have seen under 2.5 total goals. With the undermanned New Zealanders expected to attempt to control possession and notch a late goal, backing the Under is the value play. See Eimer’s best bets for Iran vs. New Zealand at SportsLine, and you can bet the Under in New Zealand vs. Iran at FanDuel here:

How to make New Zealand vs. Iran picks

After studying the Iran vs. New Zealand matchup from every angle, Eimer has locked in another two best bets, including one plus-money pick. You can head to SportsLine to see what they are. 

So what are the best bets for New Zealand vs. Iran? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for Iran vs. New Zealand, all from expert on an 31-13-2 roll on UCL picks, and find out.

Belgium and Egypt drew 1-1 in their World Cup opener on Monday after a second-half Belgian equalizer spoiled Mohamed Salah’s 34th birthday. Emam Ashour opened the scoring early in the first half in Seattle, before Romelu Lukaku came off the bench after the hour to force Egypt’s Mohamed Hany into an own goal. With the draw, seven-time Africa Cup of Nations champions Egypt’s wait for a first victory at a World Cup goes on. This is their fourth participation in the global showpiece and with Group G fixtures to come against Iran and New Zealand, they will hope to break that hoodoo in North America.

For Belgium, this tournament is likely the last chance for the remnants of their golden generation to better their third-placed finish in Russia eight years ago and finally win silverware.

Veterans Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois and Lukaku are the main protagonists of that group still involved in Rudi Garcia’s squad. 

With all eyes in the Pacific Northwest on Salah and De Bruyne, it was the ex-Manchester City playmaker that created the first moment of note in the match when he dragged a sharp effort narrowly wide in the seventh minute.

However, it was Ashour who upstaged the pair just before the hydration break when he received the ball in a similar position to De Bruyne but his sweetly-struck effort left Courtois no chance as it whistled into the bottom-right corner.

It was just the second time in their history that Egypt had taken the lead in a World Cup match — after Salah opened the scoring in a 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in 2018.

De Bruyne came within inches of levelling early in the second period when he whipped a close-range free-kick over the Egyptian wall, only to see it rocket off the outside of the post.

Salah responded at the other end as he ghosted into the box but had his downward header punched away by Courtois with Ashour getting his follow-up effort all wrong.

The match became stretched as both sides came close on a couple of occasions, including a screaming left-footed volley by Belgian captain Youri Tielemans.

With 65 minutes gone, Rudi Garcia decided to send on Lukaku.

The change immediately paid dividends as Belgium’s all-time top goalscorer showed his predatory instincts to dash in on a Thomas Meunier cross, with his presence enough to destabilize Hany who put through his own net.

Salah departed the field with 15 minutes remaining as Egypt sought to shut up shop and ultimately held out for a point.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Having taught in the Hamptons for many years at Atlantic Golf Club and Sebonack, I had the opportunity to play many of Long Island’s great golf courses, including Shinnecock Hills. With so many outstanding courses in the area, Shinnecock always stood out as one of the most challenging and rewarding. It is always exciting to watch the U.S. Open there and see both the course and the players put on a great show.

Here are five shots and skills the winner will need to master to score well at Shinnecock.

1. Fairway-finder tee shot

The rough at Shinnecock can be brutal. Finding the fairway off the tee provides a huge advantage and makes approach shots significantly easier.

A controlled tee shot with a slight fade is often an effective fairway-finding shot. To produce this shape, the trail-hand grip can be positioned slightly more on top of the club, which tends to open the forearms and shoulders slightly and encourage a controlled fade.

2. Rough escape

The rough and fescue at Shinnecock are demanding but manageable with the right technique.

Club selection is critical. Using a club with sufficient loft helps combat the thick grass, which can grab the hosel, twist the clubface, and make it difficult to launch the ball high enough to advance it back into play.

At address, tilting the upper body slightly forward so the lead shoulder sits lower than the trail shoulder and favoring the lead foot can help create a steeper angle of attack. This allows the clubhead to strike the back of the ball more directly before entering the turf, reducing the amount of grass trapped between the clubface and the ball.

3. Flighted wedge

Wind is one of Shinnecock’s greatest defenses. Long Island often experiences strong coastal winds, making trajectory control essential.

The ability to flight wedge shots lower allows players to better manage both distance and direction. Moving the ball slightly back in the stance can help produce a lower trajectory. Players can also favor the lead foot throughout the swing while dropping the lead foot slightly back to align the shoulders and maintain forward pressure.

A three-quarter swing both back and through helps keep the ball flight down and minimizes the wind’s influence.

4. Touch on the greens

Fast hardly does justice to the speed of Shinnecock’s greens, especially when combined with their significant undulation.

Avoiding three-putts will be critical, making distance control one of the most important putting skills throughout the week. While tour professionals generally excel in this area, it is also one of the skills recreational golfers can improve the most through focused practice and distance-control drills.

5. Par-3 tee shots

Shinnecock’s par 3s are both beautiful and demanding. The 11th hole immediately comes to mind.

Hitting the green should be the primary objective. The elevated putting surface requires exceptional distance control, particularly when the wind is blowing. There is nothing wrong with aiming for the center of the green and prioritizing a safe target, given how easily shots can roll away when they miss the surface.

Germany’s opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup produced plenty of headlines.

Julian Nagelsmann’s side thrashed Curaçao 7-1, Felix Nmecha scored one of the fastest goals in tournament history, and Germany immediately established themselves as one of the favourites for the title.

Yet one of the most discussed moments came after the final whistle.

As players from both teams gathered at the centre circle inside Houston’s NRG Stadium, Germany midfielder Felix Nmecha and defender Jonathan Tah joined several Curaçao players in a prayer circle.

The image quickly went viral across social media.

For many fans, it was a rare reminder that football’s fiercest battles often give way to mutual respect once the game is over.

Nmecha explains the moment

Speaking after the match, Nmecha revealed why the players came together despite representing opposing nations.

“In the game we are opponents, but after the game we are all Christians and we are all brothers,” Nmecha said.

He added that the group wanted to give thanks after the match.

“We just did a little prayer together because we are still very grateful.”

The Borussia Dortmund midfielder also explained that the players believed their faith was bigger than the result itself.

“From the result it is of course nice for us, but we all believe that Jesus is glorified through the game. That’s why we came together and prayed together.”

A player unafraid to express his faith

For those who follow German football closely, the scene was not surprising.

Nmecha has never hidden the role Christianity plays in his life and career.

The Germany international has frequently spoken about his faith and has often described football as a platform to honour God rather than simply a profession.

Ahead of the World Cup, images of Nmecha carrying a Bible while travelling with the German national team also attracted attention online.

Reports from Germany have highlighted how openly he practices his faith, with teammates and supporters often noting the importance of religion in his daily life.

Making headlines on and off the pitch

The prayer circle came on a memorable night for the 25-year-old.

Nmecha scored Germany’s opening goal in their 7-1 victory over Curaçao, helping his country secure its biggest opening-match World Cup win in years.

The goal was particularly significant given the midfielder’s journey back from injury earlier in 2026.

After fighting his way back into fitness and earning a place in Germany’s squad, he repaid coach Julian Nagelsmann’s faith with a commanding performance on football’s biggest stage.

Now he is attracting attention for more than just his football.

More than a football story

In an era when post-match scenes are often dominated by shirt swaps and social media clips, the sight of players from both teams joining together in prayer stood out.

Whether fans share Nmecha’s beliefs or not, the moment offered a glimpse of the values that continue to shape many footballers around the world.

For Nmecha, the World Cup is not only about representing Germany.

It is also an opportunity to publicly live out his faith.

And after Germany’s emphatic victory over Curaçao, that message may have travelled just as far as the result itself.

With 10 games on Monday’s MLB schedule and with higher temperatures, humidity and windy conditions in some spots, it’s a good time to try MLB betting and home run prop betting. With 20 teams in play, there are plenty of options, and weather, pitching matchups and ballpark characteristics are just some factors to consider when choosing a best bet to hit a home run today. Monday’s nightcap looks like the most intriguing game of the day, with the Rays visiting the Dodgers for an inter-league matchup at 10:10 p.m. ET. Anyone who wants to wager on the best home run bets today needs to see who SportsLine MLB expert Angelo Magliocca is backing to go yard.

Bet on MLB home run props and more MLB at FanDuel and earn $350 in bonus bets if you bet $5 for 7 days:

Magliocca, also known as “Amags,” is a hugely profitable MLB capper who uses his deep knowledge of baseball to find value on player props, sides and totals. He is coming off another strong season at SportsLine. Over the 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 MLB seasons, Amags is up 133.4 units on straight bets and parlays while winning an additional 25.3 units on ladder plays.

Best Home Run picks for Monday

James Wood, Nationals (+393)

Wood now has three home runs in his last four games after a lead-off bomb Sunday that went 413 feet and was hit at 110 mph exit velocity. He has some of the best underlying metrics in all of baseball for home run power, with a barrel rate at 25% which puts him in the 100th percentile, and the same goes for his exit velocity and hard hit rate. In essence, he hits the ball hard in the air a lot, with many of those batted balls being on a line, affording him more opportunities for home runs and making him generally a good bet for a long ball. 

He’ll face Mitch Spence, who was terrible in his only appearance at the MLB level this year and has struggled in Triple-A with an ERA over 6.50. He’s allowed six home runs in 42 innings, so it’s not like he’s been plagued by the long ball. However, if he’s bounced early or has his start is cut short due to workload restrictions, he’s backed up by a bullpen that is one of just five in MLB that has allowed 40+ home runs thus far.

Bet on MLB home run props at DraftKings, where new users get $200 in bonus bets after placing a $5+ wager:

Ian Happ, Cubs (+344)

Michael Lorenzen has some disgustingly bad stats against left-handed hitters this year, but he managed to stifle this Cubs lineup in his last start at Coors Field, allowing just two hits and no home runs. That came just one start after he allowed eight runs on 10 hits in just 3.1 innings against the Angels, so things have been very up and down for Lorenzen of late. 

I think this Cubs lineup gets to him the second time around, and they’ll have the benefit of some hot weather with the wind blowing out in Wrigley Field. Lorenzen has surrendered eight home runs to lefties in just 27 innings, with 56 total hits and 13 walks allowed in that time. Just stunningly bad. Happ will bat from the left side, where he has hit 12 of his 16 home runs this year. He is hitting .254 with an OPS over .900 left-handed, which is significantly better than the other side of his split.

Junior Caminero, Rays (+243)

I don’t love the price here, but Caminero ranks as one of the best home run options on the slate tonight and for good reason. We get him near the top of the Rays order, and they are the away team, giving us good potential for a fifth at-bat. Eric Lauer is starting for L.A., and he has given up 11 home runs in 44 innings this year when facing right-handed batters. Lauer is also someone who’s more familiar to Caminero and the Rays than most inter-league pitcher matchups. He came over from the division rival Toronto Blue Jays earlier this year. 

Caminero has hit three of four batted balls hard against Lauer over the last couple of matchups, and I think the Rays slugger actually has some room for improvement against lefties moving forward. He had 13 home runs in 176 at-bats against southpaws last year but has just three in 70 at-bats this year. Lauer won’t overpower you, and he throws the fastball more than 40% of the time to righties, which is the pitch that Caminero has two home runs vs. lefties on this year.

Worth Noting: I was on Michael Busch to hit a home run last time the Cubs faced off with Lorenzen, so I’m going to play him again, along with Pete Crow-Armstrong, who was one of the only hitters with success last time in this matchup. The value has been sucked out of both of their home run props, so I’m using various boosts across major sportsbooks to back some of the Cubs hitters for a home run in these positive conditions tonight.

Belgium and Egypt will begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a high-stakes Group G encounter at Seattle Stadium on June 16, with both teams aiming to take an early step towards the knockout stage.

Widely considered the two strongest sides in a group that also features Iran and New Zealand, this fixture could prove decisive in determining who finishes top of the standings. With several favourites already facing stern tests from lower-ranked opponents in the tournament, neither side can afford to drop points in their opening match.

Belgium arrive as slight favourites despite the gradual transition from their celebrated golden generation. Led by coach Rudi Garcia, the Red Devils still possess a wealth of experience and will be eager to erase memories of their disappointing group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Belgium vs Egypt broadcast details

FIFA World Cup 2026 Belgium vs Egypt: Live streaming and live telecast details

When will the Belgium vs Egypt match in the FIFA World Cup 2026 take place?

The Group G match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 between Belgium and Egypt will take place on Tuesday, June 16.

What time will the Belgium vs Egypt match in the FIFA World Cup 2026 begin?

The Group G match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 between Belgium and Egypt will begin at 12.30 am IST on June 16.

What will be the venue for the Belgium vs Egypt match in the FIFA World Cup 2026?

Seattle Stadium in Seattle will host the Group G match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 between Belgium and Egypt on June 16.

Where to watch the live broadcast of the Belgium vs Egypt match in the FIFA World Cup 2026 in India?

The broadcast of the Group G match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 between Belgium and Egypt will be available on Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2, and Unite8 Sports 2 HD TV channels for Indian fans.

Where to watch the live streaming of the Belgium vs Egypt match in the FIFA World Cup 2026 in India?

The live streaming of the Group G match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 between Belgium and Egypt will be available on the Zee5 app and website for Indian fans.

Clement Turpin will referee England vs Croatia in the World Cup 2026.

The French official once riled Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel three years ago during his time as Bayern Munich boss.

So much so that Tuchel branded Turpin “Grade E” after receiving two yellow cards in the German club’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Manchester City in 2023.

Tuchel was especially upset after Turpin brandished five yellow cards in the first half at Allianz Arena, while also handing Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano a straight red card as the last man for a challenge on Erling Haaland, though the French defender survived after VAR reversed the call due to offside.

Tuchel said of Turpin: “Two things couldn’t keep up with the level – the pitch wasn’t in good condition and also the referee, unfortunately, was Grade E. I’d give him a one out of 10. He was absolutely terrible. It’s unbelievable at this level.

“He was whistling for everything and anything. Everything was against us. In the end, we were never in a position to turn things around with three men against us. That’s a fact.”

Despite this disagreement, Turpin is widely respected in Europe and has forged a reputation as one of the continent’s finest officials with a wealth of experience on the biggest stages in football.

Turpin has experience dealing with Jude Bellingham, too, with the official firmly dealing with the Real Madrid superstar after his attempts to unsettle Harry Kane around the penalty spot in the Champions League.

Major assignments in Turpin’s career to date include the 2021 Europa League final and 2022 Champions League final. While the Three Lions had their goalless draw with Slovenia at Euro 2024 officiated by Turpin too.

Belgium and Egypt drew 1-1 in their World Cup opener on Monday after a second-half Belgian equalizer spoiled Mohamed Salah‘s 34th birthday.

Emam Ashour opened the scoring early in the first half in Seattle, before Romelu Lukaku came off the bench after the hour to force Egypt’s Mohamed Hany into an own goal.

The draw leaves both teams level at the top of Group G, ahead of the match between Iran and New Zealand.

Read moreWorld Cup 2026: All the fixtures

The result means seven-time Africa Cup of Nations champions Egypt’s wait for a first victory at a World Cup goes on.

This is their fourth participation in the global showpiece and with fixtures to come against Iran and New Zealand, they will hope to break that hoodoo in North America.

For Belgium, this tournament is likely the last chance for the remnants of their golden generation to better their third-placed finish in Russia eight years ago and finally win silverware.

Veterans Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois and Lukaku are the main protagonists of that group still involved in Rudi Garcia’s squad.

Ashour’s belter

With all eyes in the Pacific Northwest on Salah and De Bruyne, it was the ex-Manchester City playmaker that created the first moment of note in the match when he dragged a sharp effort narrowly wide in the seventh minute.

However, it was Ashour who upstaged the pair just before the hydration break when he received the ball in a similar position to De Bruyne but his sweetly-struck effort left Courtois no chance as it whistled into the bottom-right corner.

It was just the second time in their history that Egypt had taken the lead in a World Cup match — after Salah opened the scoring in a 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in 2018.

De Bruyne came within inches of levelling early in the second period when he whipped a close-range free-kick over the Egyptian wall, only to see it rocket off the outside of the post.

Salah responded at the other end as he ghosted into the box but had his downward header punched away by Courtois with Ashour getting his follow-up effort all wrong.

The match became stretched as both sides came close on a couple of occasions, including a screaming left-footed volley by Belgian captain Youri Tielemans.

With 65 minutes gone, Rudi Garcia decided to send on Lukaku.

The change immediately paid dividends as Belgium’s all-time top goalscorer showed his predatory instincts to dash in on a Thomas Meunier cross, with his presence enough to destabilize Hany who put through his own net.

Salah departed the field with 15 minutes remaining as Egypt sought to shut up shop and ultimately held out for a point.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, Reuters)