World Cup DFS Picks & Strategy: Friday, June 19th

by Zach Thompson (zt_sports) Last Updated 2026-06-19 11:34:42 Premium Content Part of the product Soccer Premium

Group Play continues this Friday with the second games for each team in Group C and Group D. The United States gets the action started at 3:00 PM ET, looking to build on their impressive victory to start the tournament. The other three games fill up the rest of the day, with the final kickoff at 11:00 PM ET between Turkey and Paraguay. DraftKings has some great contests on the board in both Showdown and classic formats, so let’s dive in and break down some of the top plays from across the board this Friday.

The United States and Australia both won their opening games and will face off in Seattle in the first game of the day, with the U.S. favored at -170 on the moneyline. The other game from Group D is the final one of the day. It is a very evenly matched game between Turkey and Paraguay, with Turkey the slight favorite, and a draw is a strong possibility according to the odds.

Between those Group D games, Group C has two games, starting with Scotland taking on Morocco in Foxbourough, MA at 6 PM. Scotland defeated Haiti 1-0 in their first game of the tournament, while Morocco earned a tough draw against Brazil. Despite the results of those games, Morocco is favored in this matchup. Brazil is the heaviest favorite of the day; they take on Haiti at 8:30 PM in Philadelphia.

Just a reminder that the tournament has been expanded this year to include more teams in both the Group Stage and Knockout Round. As a result, the top 2 teams will be moving on from each group, and the top 8 3rd-place teams will earn a spot in the Round of 32 as well. Picking up points in matchups on Friday will be critical for teams as they try to secure their spots in the next stage.

If you’re new to soccer DFS, don’t worry! We have you covered with my Beginner’s Guide to Daily Fantasy Soccer, our soccer player projections, and our soccer optimizer (LineupHQ). And last but not least, don’t forget to check out our World Cup DFS Simulation tool. So you should be set if you are wanting to sweat any or all of the 104 matches in the 2026 World Cup.

Forwards

Top Play: Vinicius Junior, Brazil, $9,700

Junior scored the Brazilian goal in their 1-1 tie with Morocco, and he finished with 17.1 DraftKings points, with 3 crosses and 2 chances created in addition to scoring his lone shot on goal.

The Real Madrid star may have to carry even more of the workload for his team against Haiti; Neymar (calf) is not traveling with the team, and Raphinha ($9,500) is dealing with blisters. While Raphinha may still start or come off the bench, Junior could help fill in more of an active role as the healthiest star in the team’s offense in a matchup they should dominate against Haiti.

The 25-year-old player had 22 goals across his 53 appearances in all formats for Real Madrid this last season, and he brings a very high ceiling. He ranked second on the team in crosses, shots, and shots created behind Raphinha, and with Raphinha’s workload monitored closely, Junior should get a chance to step up even more Friday night.

Ultimately, he has a more favorable matchup than Folarin Balogun ($9,200) of the United States, who is the other elite pay-up play to consider. Balogun also seemed to leave with a bit of an injury after his 2-goal opener against Paraguay.

To read more and also unlock the full capability of the above projections tool, sign up for Soccer Premium!

-

-

-