FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Betting Guide

The biggest show on Earth is about to begin, and we’ve prepared a comprehensive betting guide in preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2022. With almost a month of non-stop football action ahead of us, make sure you don’t skip a beat with our FIFA World Cup 2022 Predictions.

The FIFA World Cup occurs every four years and is hands down the most prestigious football competition in existence. This year’s event will take place in sunny Qatar from November 20th to December 18th. The event is divided into two stages: Groups and the Knockout Stage. It features a total of 32 national teams (out of the 211 eligible) from five different football confederations. All those teams are looking to do just one thing – etch their name in history by winning the World Cup. France is the defending champion following their 4-2 victory over Croatia in the 2018 World Cup Final.

When it comes to the actual betting part of the World Cup, bookmakers have given plenty of options. Pre-match betting is certainly going to be the most popular option due to the number of matches. The amount of different outright betting markets is absolutely astonishing. Aside from picking the tournament or group winners, there is a diverse range of team and individual bets to consider. Sportsbooks will give you the option to choose the winner of the Golden Glove, Golden Ball, Golden Boot, and even the tournament’s best young player. Last but not least, there is also live match betting which is always a popular option with punters.

Without further ado, let’s take a closer look at the tournament format, groups, odds, and dissect the different types of wagers you can place with our FIFA World Cup 2022 Betting Guide.

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Format & Schedule

As previously stated, the FIFA World Cup 2022 will take place in Qatar. This year’s event marks the first time the World Cup has not been held during the summer. Due to Qatar’s climate, the 2022 World Cup has been moved to autumn instead. Additionally, it will be played in a somewhat reduced timeframe when compared to previous iterations.

The Group Stage kicks off on November 20th and will last until December 2nd. The thirty-two participating teams have been drawn into eight separate groups, with the seeding done according to their overall FIFA rankings. Two of the top teams from each respective group will advance to the Knockout Stage. The bottom two teams from each group will be eliminated from the tournament. FIFA has also announced the tie-breaker criteria in case any of the teams finish with the same amount of points. Qatar and Ecuador will be playing the opening match of the tournament.

• FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Opening Ceremony – November 20th
• FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group Stage – November 20th – December 2nd
• FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Knockout Stage – December 3rd – December 18th
• FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Third Place Match – December 17th
• FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final – December 18th

The following venues have been designated for Group Stage matches:

• Groups A, B, E, and F Will Be Played at Al Bayt Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Thumama Stadium, and Ahmad bin Ali Stadium
• Groups C, D, G, and H Will Be Played at Lusail Iconic Stadium, Stadium 974, Education City Stadium, and Al Janoub Stadium

The Third-Place match will be played at Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan. Ultimately, the FIFA World Cup Final will be played at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail (pictured below).

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Groups & Odds

A first glance at the groups reveals that after quite a long time, we haven’t got any “groups of death” at the tournament. With the groups seemingly more even than they’ve been in recent memory, we could see some potentially shocking outcomes during the group stage. As a part of our FIFA World Cup 2022 Betting Guide, let’s dissect each of the eight groups, and see just what they might have in store for us.

Group A

Group A is comprised of the host nation Qatar, as well as the Netherlands, Senegal, and Ecuador. The absolute favorite to come out on top is the Dutch national team, who will be making a return to the World Cup after missing out in 2018. Head coach Louis van Gaal has managed to set the Dutch national team back on track, with its squad featuring a good balance of experienced players and up-and-coming talent. That balance can also be felt in the team’s starting eleven. The Netherlands has an absolutely stacked backline featuring Virgil van Dijk, Matthijs de Ligt, and Nathan Ake. Their midfield will be led by Frenkie de Jong, with the focal point being Barcelona forward Memphis Depay.

The Battle For Second Place

The two teams that will most likely end up competing for second place are Ecuador and Senegal. It could very well be a toss-up between the two squads. Ecuador surprised many with the stellar attacking football they showed at the CONEMBOL qualifiers. Even so, Senegal is individually the stronger team. Ecuador will have the services of its newly discovered gem Michael Estrada. Estrada burst onto the football scene with his eight goals tally during the South American qualifiers. On the other hand, Senegal has the privilege of fielding arguably the world’s winger in the form of Sadio Mane. Senegal’s backline seems much more sturdy with the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly, Abdou Diallo, and Idrissa Gueye as well as Édouard Mendy on goal.

When compared to the three previous teams, it’s no wonder that Qatar seems like the odd team out. The host nation will have to dig deep if they want to stand a chance of qualifying for the next round. Qatar’s Spanish skipper Félix Sánchez has done an admirable job so far, but the difference in quality is more than obvious.

FIFA World Cup 2022 Group A Winner Odds

Odds By GGBET

Group B

Group B’s balance of powers heavily resembles the one seen in Group A. Looking at the teams, it’s no wonder England is the heavy favorite. In contrast, it appears that Wales, the United States, and Iran will compete for second place. Funnily enough, USA’s national team has up till now been England’s kryptonite, seeing as the latter has failed to beat them in their previous two World Cup outings.

Be as it may, England has an absolutely stacked squad heading into Qatar. Out of the ungodly amount of world-class talent, last World Cup’s Golden Boot winner Harry Kane stands above the rest. Kane will be captaining England for the second World Cup in a row, and hoards of fans are hoping that the Spurs striker to “bring it home”.

Gareth Bale’s Last Dance?

Out of the rest of the bunch, it seems like Wales and the USA will be fighting for second place. While Gareth Bale managed to end Wales’ 64-year-long World Cup drought, can he lead his team deeper into the tournament? At 33 years old, the former Real Madrid striker isn’t getting any younger as he slowly enters the twilight of his storied career.

Wales’ biggest competition will most likely come in the form of the up-and-coming USA squad. The emergence of players such as Christian Pulisic, Sergiño Dest, and Giovanni Reyna has slowly started talks about a possible golden generation. On paper, the United States’ squad is loaded with talent. However, it remains to be seen how well this inexperienced group will perform under the brightest lights.

Somewhat similar to Qatar, Iran is looking like the complete outsider in Group B. Although the Middle-Eastern nation will have the services of all three of its top strikers (Sardar Azmoun, Karim Ansarifard, Mehdi Taremi), the rest of its squad leaves a lot to be desired.

FIFA World Cup 2022 Group B Winner Odds

Odds By GGBET

Group C

Group C has a striking parallel to another farewell tour we’ve seen in the previous group – Leo Messi’s last opportunity to strike gold with the Argentinian national team. Looking at Group C’s makeup, Argentina is the absolute favorite to come out on top. In a recurring theme, we’ve also got Mexico and Poland as the likely contenders for second place, with yet another middle eastern team in Saudi Arabia as the overwhelming underdogs. The amount of attacking prowess Argentina has in its roster is truly frightening. Both Argentina and Messi have a lot writing on this year’s World Cup. One of the greatest to ever do it is 35 years young, with the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar almost definitely being his last one with the national team. And truth be told, this year could be the best shot Argentina has ever had at winning.

When Veterans Clash

As previously discussed, the battle for second will more than likely be a show-off between Poland and Mexico. When it comes to Poland, the European team will be spearheaded by world-class striker Robert Lewandowski. The bulk of its roster is made up of veteran players in their thirties, and age is slowly catching up with them. Poland will be looking toward its attack trio made up of Lewandowski, Arkadiusz Milik, and Krzysztof Piątek to propel them into the Knockouts.

Mexico is in a similar situation to Poland, with a change of generations all but certain following the World Cup. Apart from the out-of-form striker Raúl Jiménez, and 36-year-old captain Andrés Guardado, the player that mostly stands out is the goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. Ochoa’s performances at the World Cup have become legendary, and as the sayings go, “the streets will never forget”.

Lastly, we’ve got Saudi Arabia which is looking like one of the weakest sides in the tournament. Captain by midfielder Salman Al-Faraj, and coached by French skipper Hervé Renard, they are looking out of depth when compared to the other three teams in Group C.

FIFA World Cup 2022 Group C Winner Odds

Odds By GGBET

Group D

Truth be told, there is more to Group D than what meets the eye at first glance. France is the top dog for good reason, but the defending champions are missing a couple of key players. Denmark is looking like a team primed to spoil France’s plans, with two consecutive victories this year against them in the Nations League. Australia and Tunisia are both looking like the odd teams out. Despite that, both teams have the quality to surprise any of the two European favorites, emerging as potential dark horses for Group D.

An in-depth look into the squads confirms one thing – France has got the scariest attack in the tournament. Spearheaded by current Ballon d’Or 2022 winner Karim Benzema and PSG starlet Kylian Mbappé, the depth France has is absolutely frightening. The only part of its formation France will find lacking is its midfield. Both N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba are absent due to injuries, and replacing them will be nearly impossible.

Can Denmark Make It Three In A Row?

As previously stated, if there is one thing that seemingly has France’s number, it’s Denmark. And neither one of those wins looked like a fluke. Most importantly, Denmark will have the majority of its squad that finished in third place at Euro 2020, but with one notable addition. All eyes are on Christian Eriksen, whose remarkable recovery and return to form following his cardiac arrest have catapulted him back into the footballing world’s limelight. Denmark’s blunt, no-nonsense style of football, has seen the team reach great heights, as the Nordic country has all the makings of a potential dark horse for the World Cup 2022 as a whole.

On the other end of the spectrum, we’ve got Australia and Tunisia. Australia has always been a potential landmine for any team at the World Cup. The lack of any superstars has seen Australia focus on playing a physical style of football. Australia is bound to play cohesively as a unit, which has caught bigger teams with their pants down in the past. Tunisia’s offensive capabilities can be overlooked due to the lack of big names, but remain their strongest attribute. The main question about Tunisia is how well their defense can hold up.

FIFA World Cup 2022 Group D Winner Odds

Group E

Group E is definitely looking like a European affair, with Germany and Spain looking fairly even. Of the two remaining teams, Japan is the one that’s looking somewhat capable of surprising either of the two European sides. Costa Rica is sadly looking under its depth in this case, as its chances for advancing further are slim to none.

Between the two European squads, Germany is looking a bit stronger when it comes to individual talent. Spain has some incredible players in its roster, but it’s safe to safe to say this year’s squad is a bit underwhelming compared to previous iterations. With the absence of Sergio Ramos, Spain’s backline is looking a bit shaky. This will certainly be offset by the quality Spain will field in the midfield, with captain Sergio Busquets, Atletico Madrid veteran Koke, and wunderkind Pedri among the biggest names.

Germany’s squad on the other hand has incredible quality in all parts of the field, as well as incredible depth. The only doubts about Germany’s roster are centered around its youth and relative inexperience. With only a hand full of veterans like Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller, and İlkay Gündoğan, the spotlight is on the newest generation of German stars.

Out Of Their Depth

Japan and Costa Rica will have a Sisyphean task ahead of them if they want to make it through the groups. Out of the two outsiders, Japan is looking like a much bigger threat to the European duo than Costa Rica. Captain by veteran Maya Yoshida, and with quality players like Takehiro Tomiyasu, Takumi Minamino, and Takefusa Kubo among others. Although their chances are looking bleak in 2022, the future is bright for the Japanese national team.

Costa Rica on the other hand finds itself completely outclassed by all of the three previously mentioned teams. They have fielded a team comprised mostly of veterans in their late 30s, with PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas standing out as by far the biggest name. When it comes down to their game, Costa Rica plays a conservative style. They score few goals and concede even fewer. Chances are, the latter is going to change when stacked against the rest of Group E’s teams.

FIFA World Cup 2022 Group E Winner Odds

Group F

Group F is the first group where the balance between the teams seems more even than in previous ones. Croatia, the 2018 World Cup runner up is slowly but steadily undergoing a significant change of generations. Belgium is slowly getting into the same position but has retained the bulk of its golden generation for the event. Both of the European squads will have their hands full with the up-and-coming Moroccan team. Morocco’s national team is arguably the strongest one coming out of Africa and definitely possesses the quality to make a significant run at this year’s tournament. Last but not least we’ve got Canada, whose new generation has propelled them to a second World Cup showing in history.

Belgium is the betting favorite when for Group F. Its squad is made up of veterans for whom this World Cup will likely be the last one they get to play in their prime. The squad has a fine balance in every position on the field, but it’s their attack that catapults them into contender status. Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Eden Hazard are definitely the biggest names, but the attack depth is reinforced with names like Dries Mertens and Michy Batshuayi.

Croatia on the other hand is missing some key players from its Cinderella run in 2018. The squad is captained by 37-year-old Luka Modrić, who has already announced his retirement from the national team following the World Cup. The younger talent in its roster does not look on par with the squad from 2018, but Croatia still has one of the strongest midfield at the tournament. It is the defense that is looking like the weakest link.

Morocco Is Not To Be Overlooked

The Moroccan national side is packed full of talent but went through quite a turbulent time which ultimately resulted in the sacking of the head coach Vahid Halilhodžić. The team has quality players upfront, and their attacking football could catch teams by surprise. Two players that will garner the most attention are definitely Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech and PSG right-back Achraf Hakimi. Overall, we wouldn’t be too surprised if Morocco gets the drop on Croatia and manages to qualify for the knockout stage.

Canada is another case of a team that should not be counted out. Even though they have proved to be very flexible on the field, they still look a step below the opposition. At the forefront of the Canadian team, we’ve got Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies and Lille forward Jonathan David. The majority of the Canadian team is very young, with both Davies and David twenty-two years old. Their inexperience, coupled with a tough draw could prove to be detrimental but will result in a valuable experience for the promising generation.

FIFA World Cup 2022 Group F Winner Odds

Group G

If there’s a group that looks poised to ruin your fantasy brackets, it’s definitely Group G. While Brazil is at the head as the favorite, the race for second place is looking like an even race between Serbia and Switzerland. And both of those teams are more than capable of surprising the Selecao. Cameroon is looking like the odd team out despite fielding a quality roster.

Brasil has a talented team as well as impressive depth in every part of the field. That depth goes from choosing the starting goalkeeper between Alisson or Ederson to multiple viable choices in pretty much every position imaginable. Captained by Thiago Silva, some of the biggest names featured in the squad are Neymar, Vinícius Júnior, and Casemiro. To put it simply, Brasil is the team to beat in Qatar.

European Hopefuls

The two teams that are guaranteed to give Brasil a run for its money are Serbia and Switzerland. Between the two, it’s Switzerland that is looking like the more balanced squad. Its current squad has a history and much-needed experience in international competitions, keeping the majority of its stars. Xherdan Shaqiri is by far the biggest name, despite his transfer to MLS side Chicago Fire. Serbia on the other hand has a bigger ceiling compared to Switzerland, but that’s only if certain things click at the tournament. Striker Dušan Vlahović has emerged as a borderline superstar with his stellar performances for Juventus, with the rest of the squad having solid quality.

Cameroon has a solid roster, but far from the level of the previous three selections. Goalkeeper André Onana is certainly the biggest name, but the rest of the squad is lacking compared to him.

FIFA World Cup 2022 Group F Winner Odds

Group H

Last but not least we’ve got Group H featuring Portugal, Uruguay, South Korea, and Ghana. While Portugal is the favorite, the amount of talent contained in Uruguay’s squad rivals even them. Ghana and South Korea are both looking like potential hazards, and have their chances at reaching the next stage.

The latest news about potential has given the impression of a fairly divided locker room. The reason for such a disastrous situation is star player Cristiano Ronaldo’s drama over his tenure with Manchester United. Ronaldo’s handling of the situation has caused the ire of Bruno Fernandes, another key player in the Portugal squad. This tournament is more than likely the 37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo’s last tenure with the Portuguese national team, and it has started worse than anybody expected. And by the looks of things, the majority of Portugal’s locker room is backing up Fernandes. Portugal’s depth runs deep offensively, and their backline is nothing to smirk at either. If the squad manages to patch things up, Portugal has all the makings of a potential contender.

Uruguay is looking like a team poised to capitalize on Portugal’s turmoil. They possess a very talented squad, with the crown jewel being its attack. A forward trio of breakout star Darwin Núñez and veterans Luis Suarez and Edison Cavani is enough to scare anybody. Even the Uruguayan backline is nothing to smirk at. Led by veteran Diego Godín, and supplemented with names like José Giménez and Ronald Araújo, Uruguay is looking like the complete package. With an emphasis on pressure high up the pitch, Uruguay could prove to be a handful for any team at the tournament.

Two Potential Dark Horses

While both Uruguay and Portugal are looking impressive, neither Ghana nor South Korea should be overlooked. South Korea in particular has a balanced squad, led by one of the Premier League’s best wingers – Son Heung-min. Korea’s success will heavily depend on Son, and how well he has recovered from his recent injury. On the other hand of the spectrum, we’ve got Ghana, which has struggled so far in 2022. Its squad has some talented players in the form of veteran winger André Ayew, Thomas Partey, and Tariq Lamptey. If they managed to recover from their downward spiral, the Ghanaian team could surprise any of the teams in the group.

FIFA World Cup 2022 Group H Winner Odds

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Tournament Winner Predictions & Odds

If we take a step back and look at the whole picture, picking a tournament winner at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 can seem like a shot in the dark. There are at least five separate teams that are roughly equal when it comes to their overall chances. The odds are pointing toward Brazil and Argentina as the biggest favorites, with defending champions France not too far behind. When making the final choice for our FIFA World Cup 2022 Betting Guide we took into account a multitude of factors. Those include actual squad, injuries, form, style of play, and potential matchups amongst others.

When it comes to our preferences, we have divided them into two separate categories in our FIFA World Cup 2022 Betting Guide: Favorite and Dark Horse.

Favorite

When it comes to our choice of favorite, we are wholeheartedly going with England. England’s squad has the perfect mixture of talent, depth, and flexibility. Furthermore, England’s squad has passed mostly unscathed as far as injuries go. Out of all the potential players, only Chelsea’s full-back duo of Reece James and Ben Chilwell are absent due to injury. Even so, England has ample options on both sides through the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kyle Walker, and Luke Shaw.

England’s depth in every position is very deep. In some cases, the core difference between the players gives the squad flexibility, without a loss of quality. For the most part, England has adopted a no-nonsense philosophy that focuses on ball control. England is good at both building up the attack at crucial moments, as well as regaining possession before a threat can emerge. Instead of focusing on an all-out attack, the team patiently controls the ball. The team plays in a compact and somewhat conservative formation but is always waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

With the variety of different specialists in its squad, England can adapt both before and during the match. While the pressure mostly tends to occur in the middle of the field, the team is proficient in pressuring the opponents in their own half. Whether they’re penetrating the sides through their wings, or cluttering in the middle, Harry Kane remains the target man. The team’s biggest specialty is set pieces, which account for most of the chances created.

The only issue with the squad seems to be their passive approach after scoring a goal. Instead of pressing the advantage, England tends to close off and control the ball defensively.

Prediction: England To Win The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
Odds: 7.50
Bookmaker: GGBET

Dark Horse

When it comes down to the potential dark horse of the tournament, our pick goes to Uruguay. Despite the odds looking fairly stacked against them, Uruguay has a squad that’s well covered in every position on the field.

Despite having three world-class attacking options to choose from in Suárez, Núñez, and Cavani, Uruguay plays a mostly conservative style of football. Head coach Diego Alonso likes to start the game with only one lone striker, focusing on the defensive aspect as well as ball distribution instead of going on an all-out attack. This has resulted in Uruguay scoring only a handful of goals during the qualifiers, but also conceding even less. Uruguay’s bread and butter is the midfield combination between Rodrigo Bentancur and Federico Valverde. The sturdy defense allows the duo to do their magic in the midfield, keeping control as well as creating chances for the attack.

On the other hand, that strategy has found Uruguay quite limited on the attacking end. The aging Cavani and Suarez have been hit or miss lately, and Uruguay’s success will largely depend on how well they will be able to find the back of the net. Flexibility is also an issue, seeing as the team’s experiments with a back three have seen the defense crumble under pressure.

All in all, Uruguay seems like a double-edged sword. The team certainly has shown it has what it takes to go blow for blow with some of the favorites at the tournament. If everything clicks together and either Cavani or Suarez find a smidgeon of their old form, Uruguay could end up surprising many.

Prediction: Uruguay To Win The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
Odds: 48.00
Bookmaker: GGBET