The most spectacular sporting event in the world will grip just about everyone with 32 countries playing a total of 64 matches over the span of 28 days. Yep, it’s time for the World Cup, which starts on Sunday, November 20 with group play and ends with the final match on Sunday, December 18. And just like every major sporting event there are multiple ways to bet on the footballers. There is of course the standard outright winner bet with Brazil the favorite to capture another crown. The Brazilians have a record five titles with the last coming in 2002. There’s been a different winner in each of the last five World Cups with France the defending champs and listed third on the current odds board.
The 32 squads are broken down into eight groups of four with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout round. So of course odds are available for each group. You can wager on a group winner as well as the two sides to advance to the knockout round. The United States has never played in a championship match reaching the top four just once back at the inaugural World Cup in 1930. The Americans are well down the odds board to win the World Cup outright but could be a solid bet to advance to the knockout round.
Odds to win 2022 World Cup
Brazil +400
Argentina +500
France +650
England +850
Spain +875
Germany +1050
Portugal +1400
Netherlands +1500
Belgium +1700
Denmark +2800
Uruguay +4000
Croatia +5750
Serbia +10000
Senegal +11000
Switzerland +12500
USA +15000
Mexico +15500
Ecuador +20000
Poland +21000
Wales +22500
Japan +30000
Canada +30000
South Korea +30000
Cameroon +35000
Qatar +35000
Morocco +35000
Ghana +35000
Iran +50000
Australia +60000
Tunisia +65000
Costa Rica +85000
Saudi Arabia +100000
2022 World Cup Favorites
Brazil +400
When thinking of international soccer one country immediately comes to mind. There haven’t been many better than Brazil on the big stage with big wins and even bigger players on the pitch. So even though the global pandemic kept most clubs from playing internationally the last few years, name recognition belongs to the Brazilians. For Brazil the tournament begins in the Round of 16. They should have no difficulty getting out of Group G and will use matches against Switzerland, Serbia and Cameroon as a tune up. Neymar is the star but the roster is deep consisting of a number of players who helped Brazil win the Gold medal in the 2016 Olympics. Brazil is definitely a worthy favorite, though not unbeatable.
Argentina +500
Much like Brazil the Argentines are on a collision course with the knockout round. They actually moved up the odds board ahead of the World Cup thanks to some dominant showings in qualifying matches. It hasn’t lost a match in a year with eight wins and two draws against powerful Brazil and Ecuador. A 1-0 triumph over Brazil in the 2020 Copa America final was the first major trophy for Lionel Messi, who is rejuvenated playing alongside Lautaro Martinez, the team’s co-leading scorer in qualifying. That just adds another dimension to the attack.
France +650
The third favorite and defending champs, Les Bleus dominated four years ago winning all four knockout round matches in regulation, including 4-2 over Croatia in the final, and posted a plus-15 goal differential in the group stage. But that was then and this is now. France is dealing with numerous off-field issues and injuries to Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante among others have diminished a talented roster. There are still enough players to make things happen with 2018 hero Kylian Mbappe around, but the problems will be too much to overcome and repeating is difficult. It’s time to fade France.
2022 World Cup Long Shots
USA +15000
There are some teams that just won’t win the World Cup this year and it’s widely accepted that the U.S. is one of them. With so many other options soccer hasn’t become as popular in the States as it is in most other countries. The expectations are lowered a bit with getting to the knockout round considered a major accomplishment. That happened just one other time in 2002 when the U.S. reached the quarterfinals. They did play in the semifinals in 1930, however the field was smaller and only two knockout rounds existed. The Red, White and Blue lost the semis 6-1 to Argentina. Team USA is +500 to win Group B over favored England and -105 to advance to the knockout round.
Netherlands +1500
There are just too many world powers for teams further down the odds board to overcome so putting countries like Morocco ( +35000 ) or Canada ( +30000 ) in this section is a waste of time. Instead there are some middle-of-the-road clubs that have a much better chance of shocking the world, though still a long shot to do so. Going undefeated since last November the Netherlands enters on a roll with consecutive wins over Wales, Poland and Belgium, all also competing in Qatar. The Dutch have produced some of the top talent in Europe but have yet to transform that on the pitch. Virgil van Dijk and Memphis Depay are two of the best looking to change the narrative.
2022 World Cup Prediction: Argentina
