After a thrilling few weeks of action, the knockout rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup are finally upon us.
One of the best national sides in the world, Argentina now steps into the elimination stage with intent of going all the way. Leo Messi and his teammates start their journey back to the final with a matchup against Cape Verde in the Round of 32, but the underdog challenger may not be a cakewalk to play against.
Here are the opening betting odds and lines on DraftKings Sportsbook for Argentina vs. Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32.
Opening odds for Argentina vs. Cape Verde on DraftKings Sportsbook
The Argentinian side is a hefty favorite to win this Round of 32 contest on DraftKings Sportsbook, holding -650 odds on the Moneyline. Cape Verde is a long-shot underdog with +1900 odds to pull off the improbable upset. For bettors who favor a draw, that outcome is listed at +750 value.
As things stand at the time this article was written, betting splits show that 94% of bets placed on an outright winner favor Argentina.
Argentina is one of the standout squads in this field, sitting No. 2 in the latest FIFA world rankings. They look every bit of the champion threat they were projected to be, sitting at the top of odds to win the World Cup at +360 on DraftKings Sportsbook. The squad finished with nine points in Group J after ripping off wins of 3-0, 2-0 and 3-1 against Algeria, Austria and Jordan. Messi is in the form of his life, looking like a Golden Boot candidate with an eye-popping six goals in those three games, one of which saw him work as a substitute. Between he and the remainder of the surrounding talent like Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister and more, they’re a force to be reckoned with.
The World Cup could end today and still be considered a smashing success for Cape Verde. The nation had never competed on this stage until this year’s event, so expectations heading into Group H play were understandably tempered. It hasn’t been a high-scoring affair by any means, but three consecutive draws to earn three points and advance to the knockouts feels like a win for a team that’s making its first-ever appearance in the World Cup. Those three fixtures included 0-0 results against a far superior Spain side and Saudi Arabia, plus a 2-2 draw against Uruguay. This may be the end of the road, but Cape Verde and its people can be proud of the effort thus far.
Bettors looking to get in on some alternative markets than traditional Moneylines have options.
On the spread, Argentina -2.5 is listed at +130 odds, with Cape Verde at -170 on the +2.5 line. As for the match total, over 2.5 is favored at -165 odds with the under set at +135 value.
Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. ET on Friday, July 3 in Miami, Florida.
More World Cup Coverage
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