On November 20, the 2022 World Cup kicks off with 32 National Teams contesting for Football’s Most Prestigious Prize.
The draw has been set, the stage is set and we also know who the favorites are. The first fixture will see the 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar face Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium.
The opening match as well as the final will be played on a Sunday, with the winning nation making history as World Cup winners on December 18.
Eight stadiums will host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. They include Al Khor, Al Rayyan, Al Wakrah, Doha, and the Lusail Iconic Stadium, which will host the final.
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Who To Bet On
Despite the controversy behind the tournament’s planning, football fans will be looking for positives on the pitch, especially with the introduction of cutting-edge technology at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
According to FIFA’s latest rankings, Brazil, Belgium, Argentina, France, and England make the Top 5 Nations, in that order.
Brazil
Unbeaten in a strong qualifying campaign, winning 14 and drawing 3 of their 17games, Brazil comes into the 2022 World Cup as firm favorites. Brazil is arguably the richest in squad depth boasting some of the world’s best players including; Neymar (PSG), Antony (Manchester United), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid), Raphinha (FC Barcelona), Ederson ( Manchester City), and Casemiro ( Manchester United)
Brazil has been drawn into a rather easy group G with Cameroon, Switzerland, and Serbia.
Argentina
5 games remain to reach the all-time record for an unbeaten streak by a national team. Argentina has gone 32 games unbeaten and will be looking forward to scintillating match-deciding performances from Lionel Messi. The 35-year-old PSG forward could just be playing in his last World Cup. What a way to cap off a Legendary career!
Argentina is in Group C alongside Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Poland.
France
Undefeated in the European qualifiers, France has plenty of young talent and they will definitely be out to defend their title as World Champions.
Key players in the squad include Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezman, and recently crowned Balon D’Or winner, Karim Benzema. Paul Pogba and N’golo Kante will miss the tournament due to injuries.
France is in Group D alongside Australia, Denmark, and Tunisia.
Germany
The Germans are well known to unleash surprising results. Die Mannschaft has also got a great squad with in-form players such as Kai Havertz (Chelsea), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern), and Serge Gnabry ( Bayern)
They will play their first fixture against Spain, in group E which also includes Japan and Costa Rica.
Belgium
Having lost position one in the world rankings to Brazil, this could be the best chance for Belgium to clinch the title. Their ‘Golden generation’ isn’t getting any younger. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan), Eden Hazard (Real Madrid), Axel Witsel (Atlético Madrid), Yannick Carrasco (Atlético Madrid), Dries Martens (Galatasaray) and Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid) are the main players in a well-balanced squad.
Belgium is in Group F, with Morocco, Canada, and Croatia.
Fun Fact
This will be the first time in history that the World Cup is held in November and December. This is due to the fact that the host country, Qatar, regularly experiences record-breaking heat in the customary summer months of June and July, when the World Cup is typically hosted. The fact that temperatures are predicted to rise over 30°C even in November and December may work in the favor of teams that are accustomed to playing in warmer weather.
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