According to many, the FIFA World Cup is the event that draws the most global attention. It happens every four years, and FIFA’s president Gianni Infantino claims that the twenty-second edition of this tournament, the initial one to get organized in the Arab world, will draw as many as five billion eyeballs to screens. If that comes to fruition, it will shatter the previous record of three and a half billion.
Naturally, this many people watching football matches in this competition will also spur unprecedented betting action. Per a recent Forbes article, more than $160 billion should get bet on the 2022 World Cup. Below is an analysis of what teams are most likely, according to famous bookmakers, to win their groups and advance to the knockout stage, where they hope this position will lead to them getting paired up with favorable opponents.
Group A
Undoubtedly, the favorite in Group A is the Netherlands. They dominantly won their qualifying group with twenty-three points, ahead of competitors such as Turkey and Norway, and FIFA currently ranks them at the number eight spot in their standings, far away from Group A opposition Ecuador, Senegal, and Qatar. Premium gambling site BetUS puts them as the ninth-most-probable team to lift the Cup’s trophy at +1400 odds and the most likely team to exit Group A with the most points. An unbiased review of BetUS sportsbook states that this platform has some of the best betting odds in the internet sports wagering landscape and should get considered a top pick for all.
Group B
Regarding Group B, many foresee that England should have no issues with the US, Iran, and Wales. They steamrolled their way onto the tournament, snagging an impressive twenty-six points out of ten games, and few seem them winding up in any spot other than the top one in this pool of four teams. Aggregated bookie stats give them an 85% probability of finishing first here.
Group C
In what is probably Lionel Messi’s last World Cup, the always-dangerous Argentina ranks as one of the main five teams competing for the tournament’s chief podium spot. Sportsbooks give it between +500 to +900 odds to win it all, and they foresee that The White and Sky Blue should still win up in the pole position in Group C, in front of Poland, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia, despite a rocky start.
Group D
In Group D, current World Cup champion France should steamroll Australia, Tunisia, and Denmark. Aggregated gambling site odds give it an 86.7% probability to do so. BetUS also lists France as the third-most-likely team to go all the way, at +550 outright odds.
Group E
The situation in Group E is likely the most complicated one in the tournament because football juggernauts Germany (the World Cup 2014 winner) and Spain inhabit this clique, along with tricky Japan and Costa Rica. Things got even more unpredictable following Japan’s upset shocker in the group’s opening match when they stunned Germany 2-1. Thus, they left the door wide open for Spain to claim the number one spot.
Group F
Croatia, a bit luckily, made it to the 2018 final match. Though many will say that penalty-shootout fortune was on their side en route to this accomplishment, there is no denying that the country famous for its scenic pebbled beaches has traditionally been a super-quality team. They won bronze in the 1998 World Cup and have customarily been trouble all around. Croatia managed to edge out Russia in the UEFA qualifying stage, and predictions are that it should do the same in Group F, where they face Canada, declining Belgium, and Morocco. Though, no one is betting that they will repeat their 2018 feat.
Group G
In Group G, there is little argument that Neymar-led Brazil should see any troubles with Cameroon, Serbia, and Switzerland. Bookmakers give the legendary South American footballing country an 86.2% probability of winding up as victors of Group G, with some bookies making them 2/5 favorites to outpoint Serbia, Cameroon, and Switzerland.
Group H
Surprisingly to most, Portugal did not manage to win their European qualifier, trailing behind Serbia in Group A. They had to go through Turkey and North Macedonia, who shockingly eliminated Italy, to grab a seat at the World Cup table. Nonetheless, qualification hick up aside, South Korea, Ghana, and Uruguay do not possess the quality to upset Cristian Ronaldo’s side, which most bookmakers give a 77.5% likelihood to win Group H, with Uruguay presenting the stiffest challenge.
To Sum Up
The Netherlands, England, Argentina, France, Spain, Croatia, Brazil, and Portugal should earn the top positions in their respective groups in the first stage of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, with most online sportsbooks listing Brazil as the odds-on favorite to win the entire competition.
For more gambling news and reviews, visit SBS.
