World Cup Expert Picks: Argentina in Championship Form

In preparation for the start of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar later this month, our soccer betting experts offer up their top picks and predictions.

It's been a longer wait than usual, but the 2022 World Cup is set to kick off this month in Qatar. Before the tournament opens, we're offering our top picks to raise the gold trophy and the Golden Boot.

Read on for our top picks for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar (odds via FanDuel Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

FIFA World Cup Expert Picks and Predictions

Top Pick to Win

Argentina (+700 via FanDuel) ★★★★

The Albicelestes are unbeaten in 35 matches (won 25, drawn 10). In 2021, they won their first major trophy in 28 years, and the first of the Lionel Messi era, beating hosts Brazil in the Copa America final.

Messi enters the World Cup in the best form of his Paris Saint-Germain career. He’s scored and assisted in three consecutive games in all competitions for the first time since December 2017-January 2018. He has scored four goals from outside the box (all in October), the joint-highest tally with a club in Europe’s top five leagues in all competitions this season, alongside Federico Valverde. 

Argentina is in Group C with Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Poland. The Poles, featuring Robert Lewandowski, will provide the toughest test for Lionel Scaloni’s men in the final match of the group stage. If they win their group, their route to the last eight will be favorable with a potential showdown against either Denmark, Australia, or Tunisia in the last 16.

Messi already has 10 goals for his country this calendar year and he’s heading into Qatar ready to add a World Cup medal to his impressive collection. - Wootton

Argentina (+700) ★★★★

Argentina haven’t lost a match in more than three years. Their run included winning the Copa America in Brazil, at the iconic Maracana, and topping the South American qualifiers for the World Cup in Qatar. Thirty-five games undefeated, just three games shy of Italy’s all-time record. 

Whilie other top contenders to win the World Cup are faced with injuries or gameplay problems, the Argentines look in excellent shape with just weeks left before the tournament begins. As recent outings prove, they play fantastically well together, enjoy representing their nation, and will look to offer Messi a World Cup farewell to remember. 

Scaloni’s boys are aware of the expectations invested in them. The immense pressure which left more talented generations crumbling in the past doesn’t seem to affect them. Argentina are on a mission to win and they are excellently equipped to do it. - Rosu

Top Goalscorer Pick

Kane (+750 via FanDuel) ★★★

England’s captain won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. No player scored more goals than Kane in European qualifying (12).

The Tottenham striker scored 10 goals in Spurs’ opening 13 Premier League matches this season. Following his successful qualifying campaign, Kane has struggled for Three Lions goals this calendar year, scoring just three. But he found the net in England’s last match, the 3-3 draw with Germany.

England face Iran, USA, and Wales in Group B. Should Gareth Southgate’s squad top the group, as expected, their opposition will likely be Qatar, Ecuador, or Senegal. If Kane can take his club form into the tournament, these are four matches England’s talisman can feast on. He’s only three goals away from breaking his country’s all-time goalscoring record (53), and there’s no better stage to do that than at the World Cup. - Wootton

Messi (+1000 via DraftKings) ★★★

Messi is 35 and will play his final World Cup in Qatar. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner left a problematic first year in Paris behind him and is back to his best form, delivering at a non-stop rate for club team PSG since the new season started. Messi’s form is not only encouraging Argentina’s faithful but also giving their opponents a scare. 

Judging by the structure of their defensive blocks, Messi can easily harm any of the challengers in Group C. Scaloni will look to take advantage of Messi’s great moment and the team will surely do everything in their power to support him. This is the tournament in which Messi can get total confirmation that he’s the best player of all time and winning the Golden Boot would only add to his aura. Messi netted 12 times in his last 10 matches for club and country, so his opponents at the World Cup should already feel afraid. - Rosu

Top Long-shot Pick

Switzerland (+8000 via DraftKings) ★★★

Captained by Arsenal midfielder, Granit Xhaka, Switzerland could be the dark horse of this tournament. In a qualifying group that included the European champions, Italy, the Swiss finished top and unbeaten.

Murat Yakin’s men are ranked 15th in the world and had an impressive UEFA Euro 2020 tournament last year. They beat the world champions, France, in the last 16 and came close to reaching the semi-finals, losing on penalties to Spain. During the Euros, Switzerland scored three goals in each of their two matches before the quarter-final, having never scored more than twice in any of their first 15 in the competition.

They’re heading to Qatar in fine form, having beaten Spain, Portugal, and Czech Republic in their last three matches. Their final group game at the World Cup will likely be a decider against Serbia, who also qualified for the tournament unbeaten. The Swiss open against Cameroon and then face Brazil before concluding the group stage. They have a solid defense and proved at the Euros that they’re more than capable of making a tournament run. - Wootton

Mitrovic to Finish as Top Goalscorer (+5000 via DraftKings) ★★

Aleksandar Mitrovic scored nine goals in 12 games since Fulham’s return to the Premier League. His national team level has been superb as well, with the striker netting six times in Serbia’s last four matches. The 28-year-old’s goals have been vital in getting Serbia to the World Cup. He will go to Qatar on the top of his game and his team will want to make the most out of his form. 

Even though Serbia are part of the same group as Brazil and Switzerland, Mitrovic never refused a tough challenge. He scored both home and away against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in the qualifiers. His name shouldn’t be omitted from the potential top goalscorers at the final tournament. - Rosu

Best Bet on Team USA

Exact points in Group B: 3 (+380 via FanDuel) ★★★★

USA finished third in CONCACAF qualifying, behind Canada and Mexico. They’re going to face superior opposition in Group B at Qatar.

Wales, led by LAFC’s Gareth Bale, will be up for their opener on Nov. 21. This is Wales’ first World Cup since 1958, and Bale has proven that he’s a big-time player for the main stage. I think the Welsh will be too much for USA, and things don’t get easier with England on Black Friday.

The Three Lions should dominate this group and will take care of business against USA. The only win I can see for Gregg Berhalter’s men is against Iran in the final match of the group. USA has star talent, including Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic, but their form isn’t good. They’re winless in their last three matches, drawing to Saudi Arabia and El Salvador, while losing to Japan. I’m afraid it could be a brief tournament for USMNT this month.  - Wootton

Stage of Elimination: Group Stage (-150 via DraftKings) ★★★★

Results, gameplay, tactical and squad choices, or team chemistry. You name it! The USMNT faced several problems over the past few years and Berhalter looks unable to solve them before the World Cup kicks off in two weeks.

Two mediocre outings in the friendlies against Japan (0-2) and Saudi Arabia (0-0) in September failed to offer reasons for optimism heading into the final phase of preparation. In Qatar, the United States will be the underdogs in their first three matches, and progress from the group stage seems unlikely at this point. - Rosu

Where to Bet on World Cup Picks

Here are our best World Cup betting sites: 

• FanDuel Sportsbook 
• Caesars Sportsbook 
• DraftKings Sportsbook 
• PointsBet 
• BetMGM