The opening round of the World Cup has given us a real first look at teams, providing insane results and tons of goals, but our Sofascore Fantasy managers know the real work is only beginning. With Matchday 2 bringing a fresh set of fixtures, the focus shifts to finding players who can deliver consistent points while identifying the early tournament differentials who could separate your team from the competition.

Some big names have already announced themselves, while others have left managers searching for replacements. With limited transfers and every decision becoming more important, choosing the right combination of reliable stars and high-upside picks will be crucial.

Here are our top FIFA World Cup Fantasy picks for Round 2.

Formation: 3-5-2

Alisson (Brazil vs Haiti) – €6.0m

After a difficult opening fixture, Alisson becomes a much more attractive option for Round 2 as Brazil face massive underdogs, Haiti. The Brazilian goalkeeper combines elite shot-stopping ability with the possibility of a clean sheet as his team faces a very favourable matchup, in which only a victory with a large margin would satisfy their public and nation, desperately waiting for a 6th trophy. With Round 1 offering plenty of underdog surprises, Brazil’s defense will be 100% ready and focused, already witnessing Spain, Uruguay, Switzerland, and Belgium all falling short of three points that were already “won” ahead of their matches.

Piero Hincapié (Ecuador vs Curaçao) – €6.0m

Ecuador’s defence is built around structure, aggression, and elite individual quality, and Piero Hincapié is at the centre of it. After a tough opening test against a very good Ivory Coast side, this is a far more favourable fixture for Ecuador, who will be expected to dominate possession and play higher up the pitch against Curaçao, absolutely needing three points as they face Germany in the final group stage match. Curaçao struggled defensively in their opening match against Germany, and while Ecuador are not a pure attacking powerhouse, this matchup offers one of the clearest clean sheet opportunities in the whole round. If Ecuador controls the game as expected, Hincapié becomes a strong pick among defenders with upside on both ends of the pitch.

Ramy Bensebaini (Jordan vs Algeria) – €6.0m

Now, while it may not be the most popular move, selecting a defender whose team just lost 3-0 in the opening round, luckily for Bensebaini and Algeria, Messi is the greatest player of all time, and he does not play for Jordan. There’s no shame in conceding three goals to Messi and Argentina, so for Algeria, it’s only uphill from now. Bouncing back against Jordan is a must if Petković’s side wishes to be in the fight for second place with Austria. Borussia Dortmund’s centre-back has had a phenomenal campaign in all club competitions this season, so he’s definitely a very good defensive choice ahead of a matchup where Algeria enters as the dominant side.

Richie Laryea (Canada vs Qatar) – €4.5m

Richie Laryea is one of those Fantasy picks who doesn’t stand out, but consistently delivers value through activity and involvement. Against Qatar, Canada will expect to control large portions of the match, and that should suit Laryea’s high-energy, forward-thinking role on the flank. In the opening round against Bosnia & Herzegovina, Canada showed flashes of attacking quality but also relied heavily on their wide players to progress the ball and create overloads. Laryea fits that profile perfectly, as he was Canada’s highest-rated player with an 8.1 Sofascore Rating. For Fantasy managers looking beyond the obvious premium and expensive picks, Laryea will offer a lot, especially against a side like Qatar.

Emam Ashour (New Zealand vs Egypt) – €5.0m

Emam Ashour continues to emerge as one of Egypt’s most important creative outlets, and the New Zealand fixture offers another strong opportunity for Fantasy returns. Operating as a dynamic midfielder, he thrives between the lines, linking play and arriving late into attacking areas where he can cause real damage. He scored a fantastic goal to put Egypt 1-0 up against Belgium, with the Pharaohs holding on to a crucial point ahead of much easier opposition in Round 2. If Egypt finds space against a compact defensive block, his movement from midfield could be key in unlocking chances, either through direct involvement or secondary assists. After all, Salah’s side is still chasing their first-ever World Cup win.

Pedri (Spain vs Saudi Arabia) – €9.0m

Pedri was one of the rare Spanish players who did not disappoint in their shocking 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, as the fixture against Saudi Arabia presents a perfect setup for La Roja to ruthlessly bounce back, dismissing all of their potential critics after a slow World Cup opening. Barcelona’s midfield star was at the centre of all of the action last Monday, with a 9.2 Sofascore Rating, 1.23 expected assists, 5 key passes, 3/3 successful dribbles, and 6/8 duels won against Cape Verde. What makes him especially appealing in Fantasy is his consistency, playing like a thirty-year-old at the age of 23. He rarely disappears from matches, as picking Pedri is as safe a pick as it gets.

Bilal El Khannouss (Scotland vs Morocco) – €6.5m

Bilal El Khannouss is quickly establishing himself as one of Morocco’s most exciting creative midfield options in a highly talented side. After a brilliant season for Stuttgart, the twenty-two-year-old showed some of his world-class talent against Brazil, with 2 key passes, 2/2 successful dribbles, 3/4 tackles won, and 7/9 ground duels won. Operating as an advanced playmaker, his influence grows in games where Morocco presses their opponents frighteningly well, dominating possession and imposing a rigorous tempo. The most frightening part of Morocco is that they looked much better in their opening match against Brazil than they did four years ago, when they made it all the way to the semifinal. El Khannouss will be at the core of their success this time around.

Ritsu Doan (Tunisia vs Japan) – €6.0m

Despite a relatively disappointing performance on an individual level for Japan’s captain and number 10, Ritsu Doan will be full of confidence after seeing the Samurai Blue pull off a crucial 2-2 draw against the Netherlands, going twice a goal down. Doan remains one of Japan’s most dangerous wide creators, and the upcoming fixture against Tunisia, sacking Lamouchi and bringing Renard after a five-goal rout, will provide his team the ideal opportunity to keep their positive momentum going. Japan’s attacking system relies heavily on quick transitions and wide overloads, and Doan is often the player who turns defensive recoveries into immediate attacking momentum. Against a Tunisia side that is likely to sit compact and defend deep, still recovering from their trauma against Sweden, his ability to break lines one-on-one becomes even more important.

Vinícius Júnior (Brazil vs Haiti) – €11.0m

If it wasn’t for Vinícius’ magic against Morocco, Brazil would be in quite a pickle after Round 1, as their players offered absolutely nothing going forward except for Real Madrid’s star. With Igor Thiago, Raphinha, and Paquetá all disappointing, Viní’s individual quality, in a moment where Morocco’s backline wasn’t fully concentrated, brought Brazil a crucial point. Against Haiti, the question isn’t really if he creates chances, but how many he turns into decisive returns before Brazil inevitably takes control of the match. For managers willing to chase ceiling over security, he’s one of the most dangerous picks in the round.

Patrik Schick (Czechia vs South Africa) – €7.0m

Only football geniuses see the vision in our first of two attacking picks. Czechia vs South Africa in Round 2 will see both of the losers go head-to-head, except there is a crucial difference between the two. While Czechia might be an average side in the wider context of a World Cup, South Africa is at the very bottom of the barrel. Their defensive performance against Mexico was nothing short of a disaster class, especially from Sithole and Modiba. Czechia may not dominate possession in every spell, but when they do get into advanced areas, Schick is almost always the focal point. His appeal is simple: efficiency. Schick isn’t a high-volume dribbler or a player who racks up constant touches. Instead, he lives for decisive moments. Penalty-box positioning, first-time finishing, and a strong aerial presence all make him especially dangerous against sides that struggle to defend crosses and second balls, which is exactly what South Africa are.

Omar Marmoush (New Zealand vs Egypt) – €7.5m

Who would have known that our only nation, alongside Brazil with more than one player in our Round 2 picks, would be Egypt. Despite their opposition playing a significant factor in selecting these two players, Egypt highly impressed in their opener against Belgium, almost snatching the win. Omar Marmoush brings a different kind of edge to Egypt’s attack, with world-class finishing but less predictability and more chaos. Against New Zealand, he enters Round 2 in a fixture that suits his direct style and willingness to attack space early rather than wait for structured buildup. Moreover, against Belgium and a very tough defense, he showcased the electric pace that often separates him from the rest.