Top 4 World Cup Picks, Predictions: USA Bottom of Group B, Argentina Going All the Way, and More!
Just two weeks separate us from the start of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Here are our top four picks for the highly anticipated tournament.
Fans around the globe are eager to watch their favorite teams during the first world tournament to take place midway through a football season. Will this affect team chemistry or will it improve performances and the physical abilities of the players?
Will Lionel Messi finally take the trophy home and crown himself as the best player of all time, or will there be a surprise pick to trouble the giants?
We take a look at our top picks for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook).
2022 World Cup Info
When: Nov. 20 - Dec. 18, 2022
Where: Qatar
Defending champion: France
World Cup Top Picks
- Winner + Golden Boot: Argentina + Lionel Messi (+3600 via FanDuel)
- Brazil to reach semifinals (+125 via FanDuel)
- Poland to be eliminated in group stage (-125 via FanDuel)
- USA to finish bottom of Group B (+400 via DraftKings)
Qatar 2022 Predictions
Winner + Golden Boot: Argentina + Messi (+3600)
Argentina last lost a match in July 2019. Their run currently stretches to 35, just three games short of Italy’s all-time unbeaten record. Argentina are the Copa America champions and impressed throughout the CONMEBOL qualifiers. They finished second in the South American group, undefeated and basically untroubled. With a record of 11 wins and six draws, they were bettered only by Brazil (14-3).
Argentina showed no mercy in front of weak opposition, not even allowing themselves to relax during friendlies. Messi’s final World Cup needs to be special, and the entire country is backing his dream. He's been in fantastic form for club and country this year, netting at a non-stop rate for both. He won the Copa America Golden Boot (four goals) and finished the competition with the most assists (five). Judging by his indicators of performance, a continuation of his excellent personal run is more than probable.
Argentina could well benefit from the structure of the group, offering them matches with less intensity early in the tournament. They will be part of Group C alongside Poland, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia. At first glance, that's an easier job than Brazil, Spain, Germany, or France need to do for a place in the round of 16.
Brazil to reach semis (+125)
At +450, Brazil are the odds-on favorites to win the World Cup this year. If you are not picturing them as lifting the World Cup trophy in December, a bet on them reaching at least the semifinals looks safe at this point.
Brazil have dominated the South American qualifiers and have a team bursting with talent. Led by Neymar, Brazil also counts on the astonishing Vinicius Jr., as well as Antony, Gabriel Jesus, Raphinha, Richarlison, and Rodrygo. With such attackers, it’s hard to see even the toughest defenses not turning on panic mode when facing Brazil.
The five-time World Champions are part of Group G alongside Switzerland, Serbia, and Cameroon. The two European sides seem destined to fight for the second spot in the group, with Brazil the big favorites.
If things go according to plan and Brazil top Group G, they will then play the second-placed team in Group H for a place in the quarterfinals. It’s likely that either Uruguay or Portugal will be Brazil’s opponents in the round of 16.
Selecao is more than equipped to survive clashes with either of the two, with the same rule applied against their expected rivals in the quarterfinals, Spain or Germany.
Poland to get eliminated in group stage (-125)
Poland are part of Group C, alongside Argentina, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia. Each of Argentina, Mexico, and Poland will add three points when they meet Saudi Arabia, who are the outsiders of the pack. Poland, however, are not too solid, either.
The fantastic Robert Lewandowski will undoubtedly be their main asset, but is the Barcelona man enough to push them through to the round of 16? Poland lost three of their last five matches, only beating Wales 1-0 at the end of September. Their series of defeats included a 6-1 thrashing by Belgium.
Mexico’s technical and agile players will look to exploit Poland’s defensive deficiencies, with their direct clash probably decisive for the outcome of the group table. If Lewandowski is not at his best when Poland face Mexico, the latter should be able to come out on top in this confrontation and clinch the second spot in the group behind Argentina.
USA to finish bottom of Group B (+400)
The hype around this excellent generation of American players has been played down by recent results and outings. The USMNT have lost their identity and there’s little time for head coach Gregg Berhalter to improve things. The USA couldn’t show any light in their game when they faced Japan (0-2) and Saudi Arabia (0-0) in two friendlies in September, their last rehearsal before the World Cup. Berhalter’s squad choices and tactical approach were criticized by the media and the supporters, with the mood inside the locker room also being far from the best.
USA chose not to hold any test matches in the final week ahead of the Qatar showdown. The clash with Wales on Nov. 21 will be their first in almost two months. A negative result could confirm the slide before matches with England (Nov. 25) and Iran (Nov. 29).
Regarded as favorites for the second spot in the group exactly one year ago, the USMNT will not surprise many if they now finish bottom of Group B at the World Cup.
Previous World Cup Winners
- Brazil (+333) 1994
- France (+700) 1998
- Brazil (+700) 2002
- Italy (+1000) 2006
- Spain (+400) 2010
- Germany (+550) 2014
- France (+600) 2018
Where to Bet on the FIFA World Cup
Here are our best World Cup betting sites:
FIFA World Cup picks made 11/08/2022 at 1:09 p.m. ET
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