Nearly three and a half years ago, 206 nations, in six different confederations, embarked on a qualification campaign for the 2022 FIFA World Cup that suffered several delays and postponements due to COVID-19. But here we are, three days from the start of the tournament and 32 teams will begin the chase for international soccer supremacy, with the opening match coming on Sunday morning.
Today, I’m going to share my predictions for the tournament, as well as one players to watch on each of the 32 teams. Let’s take a look at the groups and nations participating!
After qualification, the 32 nations were divided into eight groups of four. The top two in each group will advance to the round of 16. During the group stage, nations are awarded 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a loss. Here are the groups, with their World ranking in brackets:
- Group A: Ecuador (44), Netherlands (8), Qatar (host – 50), Senegal (18)
- Group B: England (5), Iran (20), United States (16), Wales (19)
- Group C: Argentina (3), Mexico (13), Poland (26), Saudi Arabia (51)
- Group D: Australia (38), Denmark (10), France (4), Tunisia (30)
- Group E: Costa Rica (31), Germany (11), Japan (24), Spain (7)
- Group F: Belgium (2), Canada (41), Croatia (12), Morocco (22)
- Group G: Brazil (1), Cameroon (43), Serbia (21), Switzerland (15)
- Group H: Ghana (61), Portugal (9), Uruguay (14), South Korea (28)
Predictions
*Note: teams in bold advance to round of 16.
Group A: (1st) Netherlands, (2nd) Senegal, (3rd) Ecuador, (4th) Qatar.
Group B: (1st) England, (2nd) Wales, (3rd) United States, (4th) Iran.
Group C: (1st) Argentina, (2nd) Mexico, (3rd) Poland, (4th) Saudi Arabia.
Group D: (1st) France, (2nd) Denmark, (3rd) Australia, (4th) Tunisia.
Group E: (1st) Germany, (2nd) Spain, (3rd) Japan, (4th) Costa Rica.
Group F: (1st) Croatia, (2nd) Belgium, (3rd) Canada, (4th) Morocco.
Group G: (1st) Brazil, (2nd) Serbia, (3rd) Cameroon, (4th) Switzerland.
Group H: (1st) Portugal, (2nd) Uruguay, (3rd) South Korea, (4th) Ghana.
Round of 16
*Note: winners for knockout stage games in bold.
- December 3rd – (A1) Netherlands vs (B2) Wales
- December 3rd – (C1) Argentina vs (D2) Denmark
- December 4th – (D1) France vs (C2) Mexico
- December 4th – (B1) England vs (A2) Senegal
- December 5th – (E1) Germany vs (F2) Belgium
- December 5th – (G1) Brazil vs (H2) Uruguay
- December 6th – (F1) Croatia vs (E2) Spain
- December 6th – (H1) Portugal vs (G2) Serbia
Quarter-finals
- December 9th – (F2) Belgium vs (G1) Brazil
- December 9th – (A1) Netherlands vs (C1) Argentina
- December 10th – (F1) Croatia vs (H1) Portugal
- December 10th – (B1) England vs (D1) France
Semi-finals
- December 13th – (C1) Argentina vs (G1) Brazil
- December 14th – (D1) France vs (H1) Portugal
Third Place Match
- December 17th – (C1) Argentina vs (H1) Portugal
2022 FIFA World Cup Final
- December 18th – (G1) Brazil vs (D1) France
This was the toughest World Cup, since I started watching in 2006, to predict! There are easily eight-to-ten nations that are capable, but the hardest decision I had to make was who would win Group D, France or Denmark. Both have very strong teams, but France’s depth likely will put them on top following the group stage.
Although many fans around the world would like to see Messi vs Ronaldo in the World Cup Final, I think they’ll both miss out, just barely, but we will get to see them face each other one final time on the international stage in the third place match, with Argentina coming out on top. Argentina’s loss in the semi-finals to Brazil will snap their unbeaten streak, which began in 2019.
With a balanced squad from their defenders to the midfield and up top, Brazil will win their sixth World Cup title, their first since 2002.
I’m sure there will be plenty of people who disagree with my predictions, that’s completely fine! Like I mentioned, it’s such a hard tournament to predict due to the quality of teams and how many are capable of lifting the trophy at Lusail Stadium on December 18th.
Awards
- Golden Boot (most goals): Kylian Mbappe (France)
- Best Player: Neymar Jr. (Brazil)
- Best Young Player: Vinicius Junior (Brazil)
- Best Goalkeeper: Rui Patricio (Portugal)
Now, let’s take a look at one player I think you should keep an eye on, for each of the 32 participating nations!
Players to Watch
- Argentina: Lionel Messi (PSG – Ligue1)
- Australia: Jamie Maclaren (Melbourne City – A-League)
- Brazil: Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid – La Liga)
- Belgium: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City – Premier League)
- Cameroon: Karl Toko Ekambi (Lyon – Ligue1)
- Canada: Jonathan David (Lille – Ligue1)
- Costa Rica: Keylor Navas (PSG – Ligue1)
- Croatia: Luka Modric (Real Madrid – La Liga)
- Denmark: Christian Eriksen (Manchester United – Premier League)
- Ecuador: Enner Valencia (Fenerbahce – Super Lig)
- England: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur – Premier League)
- France: Kylian Mbappe (PSG – La Liga)
- Germany: Mario Gotze (Eintracht Frankfurt – Bundesliga)
- Ghana: Andre Ayew (Al Sadd – Qatar Stars League)
- Iran: Sardar Azmoun (Bayer Leverkusen – Bundesliga)
- Japan: Takumi Minamino (AS Monaco – Ligue1)
- Mexico: Hirving Lozano (Napoli – Serie A)
- Morocco: Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea – Premier League)
- Netherlands: Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona – La Liga)
- Poland: Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona – La Liga)
- Portugal: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United – Premier League)
- Qatar: Akram Afif (Al Sadd – Qatar Stars League)
- Saudi Arabia: Saleh Al-Shehri (Al-Hilal – Saudi Pro League)
- Senegal: Ismaila Sarr (Watford – EFL Championship)
- Serbia: Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham – Premier League)
- South Korea: Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur – Premier League)
- Spain: Gavi (Barcelona – La Liga)
- Switzerland: Granit Xhaka (Arsenal – Premier League)
- Tunisia: Naim Sliti (Al-Ettifaq – Saudi Pro League)
- United States: Weston McKennie (Juventus – Serie A)
- Uruguay: Edinson Cavani (Valencia – La Liga)
- Wales: Gareth Bale (Los Angeles FC – MLS)
The 2022 FIFA World Cup will kick-off at 11am ET on Sunday with the hosts Qatar taking Ecuador. Thanks for reading and enjoy the tournament!
-Cooper.