European World Cup Qualifiers Betting Preview – Saturday 6 September
Saturday brings more World Cup qualifying action from Europe, with two fixtures that promise plenty of goalmouth drama. Armenia host Portugal in Yerevan, where the reigning UEFA Nations League champions will be eager to launch their Group F campaign on a high. Meanwhile, England welcome Andorra to Villa Park, aiming to extend their perfect run in Group K and deliver a dominant performance in front of their home fans. Here are my thoughts, along with suggested bets to consider.
Looking at the early outright markets for the 2026 World Cup, Spain lead the way at 5/1, followed closely by France and Brazil at 13/2. England are trading at 7/1, defending champions Argentina at 8/1, and Germany at 10/1. Beyond the favourites, a host of outsiders priced at 11/1 and upwards may also present value for those seeking bigger returns.
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ARMENIA v PORTUGAL – Click here to bet
Armenia host Portugal at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium this Saturday, looking to make an impact in their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. The Armenians endured a tough 2024/25 UEFA Nations League, finishing second in League C, Group 4 behind North Macedonia. Their group campaign produced two wins, one draw, and three defeats, showing competitiveness but also exposing flaws. That runner-up finish earned them a place in the play-offs, where they were comprehensively beaten by Georgia 9-1 on aggregate, ensuring they remain in League C. Since then, Armenia have featured in a couple of friendlies to prepare for the qualifiers – a 5-2 defeat to Kosovo followed by a 2-2 draw against Montenegro. There is fresh optimism with Yeghishe Melikyan newly appointed as head coach, but he will be under no illusions about the scale of the task in their opener against the Portuguese.
Portugal arrive in Yerevan as freshly crowned UEFA Nations League winners, having lifted the trophy earlier this year. Roberto Martinez’s side topped League A, Group 1 ahead of Croatia, Scotland, and Poland, progressed through the knockout rounds with assured performances, and ultimately overcame Spain on penalties in the final after a 2-2 draw to claim their second title. In naming his squad for these qualifiers, an emotionally charged Martinez paid tribute to Diogo Jota, while also making notable omissions: Rafael Leão, sidelined with a calf injury, and Rodrigo Mora both miss out. Despite not playing since their Nations League success, Portugal’s depth, experience, and recent silverware make them overwhelming favourites. Still, Martinez will be wary of avoiding any complacency as his team look to stamp their authority on Group F from the outset.
Head-to-Head
The sides have met six times previously, with Portugal unsurprisingly dominating, winning four and drawing two. Their most recent encounter came in the UEFA European Championship in 2015, with Portugal edging a 3-2 victory over Armenia.
Betting
Armenia 20/1
Draw 15/2
Portugal 1/7
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Verdict
A tricky one to find value in, but that 9-1 aggregate hammering by Georgia in their last competitive outing really highlights Armenia’s gulf in class when taking on the UEFA Nations League champions this weekend. Against an emotionally charged Portuguese side, it’s hard to see them coping. With pedigree on their side, Portugal should cruise to a comfortable win.
Suggested Bet: Winning Margin – Portugal by 3+ at 11/10
ENGLAND v ANDORRA – Click here to bet
England, currently top of Group K with nine points, host Andorra at Villa Park this Saturday, aiming to maintain their perfect start to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Thomas Tuchel’s side opened the campaign with wins over Albania (2-0), Latvia (3-0), and a narrow 1-0 victory away to Andorra in June. Their most recent outing, however, was a 3-1 friendly defeat to Senegal at the City Ground earlier this summer, a result that caught many by surprise and highlighted areas for improvement. Tuchel has since pointed to energy levels and off-the-ball movement as issues to address, while squad selection has also drawn attention, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jack Grealish, and Phil Foden omitted, and Elliot Anderson and Djed Spence earning their first caps. Even so, with home advantage and the quality at their disposal, England will expect to claim maximum points on Saturday.
Andorra, meanwhile, are rooted at the bottom of Group K with zero points and continue to struggle against stronger opposition. The 174th-ranked side have been on the back foot in every match, losing narrowly to both Latvia and England (0-1) and suffering 3-0 defeats to Albania and Serbia. Since their UEFA Nations League campaign, morale has been low, and although they can be defensively organized at times, they have struggled to create meaningful chances or trouble the top teams. Manager, Koldo Álvarez will be aiming to keep the scoreline respectable and frustrate the hosts for as long as possible, though it is unlikely Andorra will take anything from this weekend’s clash on English soil given their current run of form.
Head-to-Head
The two sides have met seven times in total, in what has been a dominant, one-sided affair, with England winning all seven encounters without conceding a single goal. Their most recent meeting came earlier this year, when the Three Lions secured a 1-0 away victory away to Andorra.
Betting
England 1/100
Draw 30/1
Andorra 50/1
Verdict
England face a relatively straightforward task at home against a side yet to register a point in Group K. While their trip to Andorra in June was tighter than expected this time around the Three Lions should dominate. The question isn’t whether England will win, but by how many goals.
Suggested Bet: Multiscores – 4:0, 5:0 or 6:0 at 9/10
Click here for betting on all of this weekend’s international matches
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
