World Cup DFS Picks & Strategy: Monday, July 6th

by Zach Thompson (zt_sports) Last Updated 2026-07-06 12:25:45 Premium Content Part of the product Soccer Premium

The Round of 16 has already produced plenty of thrilling finishes and drama, with half the spots in the Quarterfinals filling over the weekend. Today, 2 more teams will advance before the final 8 are locked in on Tuesday. Today’s slate features Spain and Portugal clashing at 3:00 PM ET in Arlington, Texas, which will be followed by the spotlight matchup between Belgium and the United States at 8:00 PM ET in Seattle. DraftKings has another day of big prize pools posted in both Classic and Showdown formats. This article will focus on the featured 2-game slate.

According to the odds on DraftKings Sportsbook, Spain is the heaviest favorite of the day, with the United States slightly favored to advance as well. Spain and Portugal are very familiar foes since they share the Iberian Peninsula. They have met 41 times (12 competitive) since 1921. Most recently, they squared off in the 2025 UEFA Nations League Finals, and Portugal won in penalty kicks. They played in the Group Stage of the last World Cup, finishing in a 3-3 draw.

Belgium and the United States also have a long history, with the USA going 1-0-6 against Belgium. They played all the way back in 1930 in the Group Stage of the World Cup, with the USA winning 3-0. In 2014, they met in the Round of 16, with Belgium emerging with a 2-1 victory in extra time. They also met in a Friendly earlier this year, with Belgium winning 5-2.

Since we have reached the Knockout Stage, it’s important to remember that every match is an elimination game for each team. These matchups are part of the Round of 16, with teams just 4 wins from hoisting the World Cup. Extra time will be played if the game is tied at the end of regulation, with two 15-minute halves plus stoppage time. There is no “Golden Goal,” and the entire period will be played even if a team scores. If there is no winner at the end of extra time, the teams will have a penalty shootout to determine the winner. As we’ve already seen from a few matches, penalty conversions and saves are important fantasy opportunities to keep in mind during this 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.

Forwards

Top Play: Mikel Oyarzabal, Spain ($9,000)

Oyarzabal’s teammate, Lamine Yamal ($8,900), came in with more hype and attention, but so far, it’s been Oyarzabal who has been the star in Spain’s offense. The 29-year-old Oyarzabal has spent his entire professional career with Real Sociedad, making more than 400 appearances and scoring over 130 goals. He helped his team claim the Copa del Rey and racked up 18 goals in 40 appearances across all competitions.

Oyarzabal has continued his impressive run in the World Cup. After a scoreless opener against Cape Verde, he got La Roja on track by scoring 2 goals and adding 1 assist against Saudi Arabia on his way to 36.3 DraftKings points. He only played 45 minutes in that impressive showing.

He had a quiet game against Uruguay, but he brought the fire again in the last round against Austria. He scored a pair of goals and finished with 6 shots (4 on goal) and 1 cross.

Oyarzabal has been the most productive of Spain’s many talented forwards, so paying up for him as your forward makes sense if you have the salary available.

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