Who Will Win the World Cup 2024?

It’s the biggest tournament on earth, and everybody has their own World Cup 2022 winner predictions. However, it’s time to put yours to the test by betting on who will lift the prestigious trophy in Qatar this December. Our expert guide helps you make an informed choice.

Betting on who will win the World Cup 2022 is simple, but there are a few things to look out for. Typically the market is listed as an ‘outright’, and you can find it by navigating your way from the ‘football’ section on betting websites. Alternatively, bookmakers such as 10Bet and Bwin have a handy search feature, allowing you to easily track down the market in a couple of clicks.

The betting market displays teams in price order, with the favourites listed at the top. Betting stays open throughout the World Cup as the odds adjust to developments in the tournament. However, the market can be frozen if material events will have a big impact on the odds; during a penalty shootout, for example. The outcome of the winner market is tough for bookmakers to predict as there are 32 teams competing, so margins tend to be higher (at around 5%) than in two-way betting markets.

It’s important to do your research before you place a bet. Here are a few things to consider:

Get the best odds Make sure you compare bookmakers’ odds and check out the ‘promotions’ section – you might be missing out on some betting value.

Know the structure of the tournament World Cup 2022 winner predictions must anticipate when big teams will collide. We know the eight groups of four, but look beyond this and consider each team’s route to victory in Qatar.

Group of death? If you are judging purely by FIFA rankings, then it’s England’s group (B), but this is misleading and many experts actually see this as a relatively easy group. Although Brazil were the pre-tournament favourites, the second spot in their Group (G) is tightly contested between Serbia, Cameroon, and Switzerland.

Cash out function If you have a change of mind, then you can change your position. Coral’s cash out tool, for example, allows you to remove your cash from the market while it’s in play.

Favourite or underdog? Either – so as long as you are getting the right price. You can convert odds into percentages easily, and ask yourself, for example, “Do England have a 20% chance to be the World Cup winner 2022”. Also, you do have the option of betting on more than one team, so if you really can’t decide between an underdog and a favourite – go for both!

The betting front-runners for the biggest competition in sport are dominated by previous winners, although some (England!) have been waiting a while to repeat their success.

Take a look at the five teams most likely to become the World Cup winner 2022:

Brazil: When assessing who will win the World Cup 2022, it’s hard to look past the South American giants. The five-time winners led the pre-tournament betting (around 9/2), and there’s no danger in them adapting poorly to the Qatari climate. Brazil’s team is stacked with superstars who are filled with confidence after a near-flawless qualification campaign.

France: The 2018 winners are looking to become the first team to retain the trophy since Brazil in 1962. If it wasn’t for a disappointing exit at the last-16 stage of the Euros, Les Bleus might have been the pre-tournament favourites for the competition. Their strength in depth is particularly useful as the competition comes in the thick of the European season – putting a strain on players’ fitness – plus a favourable group-stage draw makes France an attractive betting prospect.

England: Gareth Southgate’s men are edging closer to international success after finishing semi-finalists in the World Cup 2018, and reaching the finals of Euro 2020. The Three Lions have retained a core of experienced players, accustomed to high-pressure games for both club and country. Previous English teams have struggled to perform outside of Europe in major competitions, but this squad seems united and focused, which is why they were one of the pre-tournament betting favourites, at around 6/1.

Spain: The performance of Spain in the 2018 World Cup echoed the Spanish team from the late 90s: divided and unorganised. However, a much stronger Euro 2020 campaign – losing to winners Italy on penalties in the semi-final – and a strong qualification campaign means the 2010 champions are more confident of being crowned World Cup winner 2022. There is undoubted talent amongst their ranks, and a group stage match against Germany is a great test as to whether Spain deserve to be amongst the betting favourites.

Argentina: Argentina endured a near-flawless qualification campaign, and a group containing Mexico, Poland, and Saudi Arabia does not phase them. The 1986 champions have been consistent in recent years, progressing through the group stages in the last four World Cups, including runners up in 2014. This time around there seems to be less attention on Argentina – and the reduced expectation could work in their favour. Also, it’s set to be Lionel Messi’s last chance to capture World Cup glory, so a fired-up genius might provide Argentina with added impetus.

Last World Cup Winners

With a high return from a small stake, it’s obvious why some bettors are attracted to outsiders. The World Cup 2022 in Qatar has 32 teams, making it difficult to predict an outright winner. Brazil were the pre-tournament favourites at 9/2, which equates to around an 18% chance, so even they are an underdog against the rest of the betting field.

If we are looking for truly big prices to land, then there are previous examples. Greece came from 150/1 outsiders to claim victory in Euro 2004. And although not a UEFA competition, many bookmakers are still haunted by paying out up to 5,000/1 on Leicester City’s Premier League win in the 2015/2016 season.

There were pre-tournament prices as high as 1,000/1 available on BetFred for New Zealand, UAE, and Costa Rica – more improbable things have happened!

Bookmakers offer a whole host of betting opportunities for the World Cup 2022, not just outrights. Here are some that we recommend you check out:

Group stage winner: The problem with betting on the outright market is that you don’t always know who will play who because of how the tournament is structured. However, the groups have already been determined, giving you the chance to make an informed decision from scheduled fixtures.

Top Goalscorer: Sometimes it can be difficult to predict how national teams will gel, particularly in a tournament which arrives in the middle of the European football season. The top goalscorer market is not only incredibly exciting – nothing beats cheering on goals – but it allows you to focus on players rather than teams. The last three top goalscorers – Kane, Rodriguez, Muller – all played in teams that didn’t reach the final.

Winners Group: Some bookmakers, such as 888sport, offer you the chance to predict which group the winner will come from. Much like the group stage winner market, you can make a decision based on set fixtures. More interestingly, it gives you two guaranteed ‘horses in the race’ from the second round onwards; particularly appealing if there are two strong teams in one group, such as Group E with Germany and Spain.

We’ve researched a whole host of bookmakers offering you the chance to bet on the World Cup winner 2022, and these are the ones we recommend you betting with: