The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup is soon upon us, adding to the long list of sports happenings this summer (Go Spurs!). And as your editor, I feel like it is my duty to give you my expert unsolicited predictions on who will win each game, starting with this weekend’s opening fixtures.

Note: All kick-off times in EST; check your local TV listings for games. Food and drink recipes not included in this column this week, sorry. And of course I didn’t use AI to make these predictions; I just used my imagination, a napkin, colored gel pens and time spent during my lunch break, as God intended.

Group A

Mexico v. South Africa (Thurs., June 11; 3:00 p.m.):

Editor’s prediction: Mexico 3, South Africa: 0

South Africa v.s. Czechia (Thurs., Jun. 11; 10:00 p.m)

Editor’s prediction: South Africa: 1, Czechia: 2

Group B

Canada v.s. Bosnia and Herzegovina (Fri., June 12; 3:00 p.m.)

Editor’s prediction: Canada: 2, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1

Qatar v.s. Switzerland (Sat. Jun. 13, 3:00 p.m.)

Editor’s prediction: Qatar 0, Switzerland 3

Group C

Brazil v.s. Morocco (Sat. Jun. 13; 6:00 p.m.)

Editor’s prediction: Brazil, 3, Morocco 1

Haiti v.s. Scotland (Sat. Jun. 13; 9:00 p. m.)

Editor’s prediction: Haiti 0, Scotland 2

Group D

USA v.s. Paraguay (Fri., Jun. 12; 9:00 p. m.)

Editor’s prediction: USA 1, Paraguay 0

Australia v.s. Türkiye (Sun, Jun. 14.; 12:00 a.m.)

Editor’s prediction: Australia, 1 Türkiye, 3

Group E

Germany v.s. Curaçao (Sun. Jun. 14; 1:00 p.m.)

Editor’s prediction: Germany 5, Curaçao 0

Ivory Coast v.s. Ecuador (Sun. Jun. 14; 7:00 p.m.)

Editor’s prediction: Ivory Coast 2, Ecuador 2

Group F

Netherlands v.s. Japan (Sun, Jun. 14; 4:00 p.m.)

Editor’s prediction: Netherlands 2, Japan 3

Sweden v.s. Tunisia (Sun., Jun. 14; 10:00 p.m.)

Editor’s prediction: Sweden 3, Tunisia, 1

Song of the Week - Antigravity by Metric This song is from Metric’s tenth (tenth!) studio album Romanticize the Dive, which I am absolutely obsessed with at the moment, so much so that I recently bought it in CD format to play in my car. Metric has been one of my favorite bands since middle school, back when I was stupidly obsessed with Scott Pilgrim v. the World and in particular the song “Black Sheep”, which was covered by the character Envy Adams (played by Brie Larson!) in the film. Metric and their discography has since become a staple in my life, and this new album of theirs feels like a fun “homecoming” of sorts, with songs that sound both fresh and familiar to their sound.

Andrea Gutierrez is the managing editor of the Bryan County News. She may or may not subject herself to watching the Australia/Türkiye soccer game at 12 a.m. just because.