World Cup 2022: Groups Futures Betting Preview

The world’s best international soccer teams will converge upon Qatar to vie for glory at the World Cup in November. All 32 teams have now been confirmed after the Socceroos beat Peru and Costa Rica got the better of New Zealand in the intercontinental playoffs.

They have been divided into eight groups, and the top two teams in each group will qualify for the knockout stage. Soccer fans can visit TopSport to bet on the winner of each group and to speculate on which teams will secure safe passage to the Round of 16. Read on to learn more about the teams in each group and the odds on them succeeding.

Group A (Netherlands, Senegal, Ecuador, Qatar)

The Netherlands are now eighth in the FIFA world rankings after embarking on a 13-game unbeaten streak under Louis van Gaal. They are rock solid in defence, with Virgil Van Dijk, Matthijs de Ligt and Stefan de Vrij leading the charge. Frenkie de Jong and Georginio Wijnaldum are superb in midfield too. The only thing missing is a superstar striker, but the likes of Memphis Depay, Arnaut Danjuma, Donyell Malen and Cody Gakpo should provide enough quality to seal a place in the knockout stage.

Senegal also look well placed to qualify at the expense of Ecuador and Qatar. They are the African champions, and they can call upon elite talents such as Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly and Sadio Mané. Ecuador are a decent team, and they did well to finish fourth in the South American qualifying group, but Senegal look stronger. Qatar are the hosts, so they qualified automatically for the tournament. They have built a talented team with a lot of firepower in attack, but a leaky defence could prove to be their undoing.

 

Group A Winner Odds

Netherlands – $1.46

Senegal – $5.00

Ecuador – $6.50

Qatar – $13.00

 

Group A Qualification Odds

Netherlands – $1.12

Senegal – $1.75

Ecuador – $2.05

Qatar – $5.00

 

Group B (England, USA, Wales, Iran)

England are the second favourites at $7.00 to win the World Cup after a few near misses in recent years. They went to the semi-finals of the last World Cup, and they have since finished runners-up at the Euros and the UEFA Nations League. The Three Lions should be far too strong for their Group B rivals.

It could develop into a straight fight between the USA and Wales for the other place in the Round of 16. The Americans have an emerging core of talented youngsters, featuring Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna, Brendan Aaronson and Sergiño Dest. They could peak in time for the 2026 World Cup in North America, but they also look like dark horses this year. However, Wales have a more experienced team, led by the magnificent Gareth Bale. Iran have never made it out of the World Cup group stage, and they are unlikely to do so this time around.

 

Group B Winner Odds

England – $1.33

USA – $6.50

Wales – $6.50

Iran – $17.00

 

Group B Qualification Odds

England – $1.07

USA – $2.03

Wales – $2.10

Iran – $4.30

 

Group C (Argentina, Mexico, Poland, Saudi Arabia)

Argentina head into this tournament as the South American champions. They ended a 28-year trophy drought when they beat Brazil in the Copa America final last year. Lionel Messi is the star of the show, but Lautaro Martinez, Paulo Dybala and Julian Alvarez provide a lot of additional firepower, and the defence has grown a lot stronger in recent years.

Mexico have reached the knockout stage at the last seven World Cups, losing in the Round of 16 on all seven occasions. That could spell bad news for Robert Lewandowski’s Poland side and Saudi Arabia, who are the clear underdogs in Group C.

 

Group C Winner Odds

Argentina – $1.44

Mexico – $5.50

Poland – $5.50

Saudi Arabia – $23.00

 

Group C Qualification Odds

Argentina – $1.08

Mexico – $1.85

Poland – $1.86

Saudi Arabia – $7.75

 

Group D (France, Denmark, Tunisia, Australia)

France are also priced at $7.00 to win the 2022 World Cup. They are the reigning world champions after sweeping their rivals aside in 2018. Most of those players are still going strong, although there may be concerns over the fitness of key midfielders N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba. A potential quarter-final showdown with England also looks tricky. Les Bleus will be terrific in attack, as Ballon d’Or frontrunner Karim Benzema has returned from international wilderness to link up with Kylian Mbappé.

The Socceroos will have their work cut out as they bid to qualify for the Round of 16. They can take a great deal of encouragement from their hard-fought victory over Peru to qualify for the tournament, but it will be tough to take down Denmark. The Danes are 10th in the FIFA rankings, 29 places ahead of Australia, and they boast supremely talented players such as Christian Eriksen, Yussuf Poulsen and Andreas Christensen. Australia will need to beat Tunisia and get something against either France or Denmark to escape this group, so we will need more heroics from Graham Arnold’s men.

 

Group D Winner Odds

France – $1.40

Denmark – $3.75

Tunisia – $16.00

Australia – $20.00

 

Group D Qualification Odds

France – $1.06

Denmark – $1.35

Tunisia – $4.20

Australia – $4.60

 

Group E (Spain, Germany, Japan, Costa Rica)

This looks like an interesting group. Spain and Germany are the heavy favourites to qualify, but they cannot take Japan and Costa Rica lightly. The Japanese are always quick, disciplined and very hard-working, and Costa Rica are well-drilled in defence too.

Spain will try to pass teams to death at this tournament. They typically have at least 65% of the possession in every game they play, passing sideways and backwards for mind-numbing periods as they bid for an opening. It is a reasonably effective approach, but they will need Alvaro Morata to thrive in attack to get out of this group. Germany are a more exciting team, and they should perform well at this tournament under new manager Hansi Flick, who led Bayern Munich to Champions League glory a couple of years ago.

 

Group E Winner Odds

Spain – $1.86

Germany – $2.10

Japan – $11.00

Costa Rica – $51.00

 

Group E Qualification Odds

Spain – $1.10

Germany – $1.13

Japan – $4.00

Costa Rica – $8.00

Group F (Belgium, Croatia, Morocco, Canada)

The Belgian golden generation is now on its last legs. Vincent Kompany has retired, while Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen are 33 and 35 respectively, so the defence is a concern. Eden Hazard’s star has waned too. However, they still have a peak Kevin De Bruyne pulling the strings, a world-class goalkeeper in Thibaut Courtois and a reliable striker in Romelu Lukaku, so they should qualify for the Round of 16.

Croatia were runners-up in 2018. They have regressed since then, but a midfield featuring Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic should power them into the Round of 16. Morocco are a decent team, with standout players in Achraf Hakimi and Hakim Ziyech, but Croatia have more technical ability. Canada finished top of the CONCACAF qualifying group, ahead of Mexico and the USA. They are a quick, direct, exciting team, with Jonathan David, Alphonso Davies, Tajon Buchanan and Cyle Larin capable of running defences ragged, so they could cause a few problems for the ageing Belgium and Croatia squads.

 

Group F Winner Odds

Belgium – $1.50

Croatia – $3.50

Morocco – $11.00

Canada – $13.00

 

Group F Qualification Odds

Belgium – $1.11

Croatia – $1.50

Morocco – $3.00

Canada – $4.00

 

Group G (Brazil, Switzerland, Serbia, Cameroon)

Brazil are the $6.00 World Cup favourites after finishing top of the South American qualifying group. They are the most successful team in the tournament’s history, but they have not won it since 2002. The squad looks very strong, with no weaknesses. Alisson and Ederson are two of the world’s best goalkeepers, while Marquinhos and Thiago Silva are superb defensive pillars. Fabinho and Casemiro are world-class holding midfielders, and Vinicius Junior, Neymar, Gabriel Jesus, Raphinha and various others provide quality in attack.

It just remains to be seen if the Samba Boys have the mental strength to clinch the trophy. They should make it to the knockout stage at the very least. It could develop into a fight between Switzerland and Serbia for the other place. The Swiss are the slight favourites, as they have a better record at international tournaments, but there is more attacking quality in the Serbian squad, including Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic.

 

Group G Winner Odds

Brazil – $1.40

Switzerland – $6.00

Serbia – $6.50

Cameroon – $13.00

 

Group G Qualification Odds

Brazil – $1.08

Switzerland – $1.95

Serbia – $2.30

Cameroon – $3.75

 

Group H (Portugal, Uruguay, Ghana, South Korea)

This group looks wide open. Portugal are the favourites, despite finishing behind Serbia in their qualifying group. The depth of attacking talent in their squad is outrageous – Cristiano Ronaldo, Diogo Jota, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leao, Joao Felix, Andre Silva, the list goes on and on. An injury to Ruben Dias could be disastrous, but if the Man City defender is fit, Portugal should go deep into the tournament.

Uruguay have Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani and Darwin Nunez in attack, plus two sensational centre-backs and a great deal of energy in midfield. They look capable of reaching the knockout stage, but a powerful, energetic Ghana team and a disciplined, diligent South Korea side led by Son Heung-Min will make life difficult for them. Approach this group from a betting perspective with caution.

 

Group H Winner Odds

Portugal – $1.57

Uruguay – $3.00

Ghana – $11.00

South Korea – $12.00

 

Group H Qualification Odds

Portugal – $1.15

Uruguay – $1.44

Ghana – $3.50

South Korea – $3.50