With the FIFA World Cup 2022 now just a few weeks away, the bookmakers believe five-time winners Brazil are the likeliest to clinch glory in Qatar.
The World Cup is fast approaching, with only a few more games in the domestic leagues before it kicks off on Sunday 20th November when hosts Qatar play Ecuador in the first match.
Who are the favourites to win the FIFA World Cup 2022?
Brazil
The early favourites to win the World Cup are Brazil, with a best price of 9/2 (worst price 7/2). Tite and his squad will be looking to bring home the World Cup for the sixth time but their first since 2002. In the four World Cups since they have failed to reach the final, making the semi-finals in 2014 before being humiliated by eventual winners Germany 7-1.
Their last World Cup outing saw them beaten by Belgium 2-1 in the quarter-finals. Since then, Tite has guided his Brazil side to a Copa America victory in 2019 and runners up in 2021, both held in Brazil. This will be his second World Cup in charge of the national side, and many pundits are expecting the ‘Seleção’ to triumph once again in Qatar.
Neymar is Brazil's best chance of winning the Golden Ball, with a best price of 12/1 for him to win the award with stellar performances that should take Brazil all the way.
Argentina
Runners up in 2014 and two-time World Cup winners Argentina are second behind Brazil in the bookies list of favourites to win the 2022 World Cup. The current Copa America holders are a best price of 13/2 across multiple bookies (worst priced 11/2) to emerge triumphant from Qatar.
Lionel Scaloni will take charge of his first World Cup since taking over from Jorge Sampaoli in 2018, with 35-year-old Lionel Messi looking to add the biggest international tournament to his magnificent list of honours in what could be his last ever World Cup.
Their last World Cup outing saw them lose to France - eventual winners in Russia 2018 - in a thrilling 4-3 defeat in the quarter-finals, and they will be hoping for better this time round.
France
The current holders of the World Cup trophy after their win in 2018, France enter the tournament as third favourites to win the World Cup and become only the second team to go back-to-back after Brazil in 1958 and 1962.
Didier Deschamps’ side went out in the round of 16 to Switzerland in Euro 2020 and failed to qualify for the Nations League finals next year after only winning one game in their group, losing at home to both Denmark and Croatia.
Despite their recent failures, many expect France to go far in Qatar, with one bookie giving a best price of 27/4 (worst price 11/2) for Les Bleus to win their third World Cup. Their star man, Karim Benzema, is a best price of 12/1 to win the Golden Ball, adding to his 2022 Ballon d'Or.
England
Euro 2020 runners up England are also expected to go far in the tournament, after reaching the semi-final for the first time since 1996 in their previous World Cup campaign. Gareth Southgate’s side are a best price 9/1 (worst 43/5) to bring football home for only the second time.
England have suffered recently, after being relegated in the Nations League with two points, both coming against arch-rivals Germany. They suffered an embarrassing 4-0 home defeat to Hungary and failed to score in open play before the sixth and final game.
Harry Kane, who won the Golden Boot at the last World Cup with six goals (8/1 to retain the trophy in 2022), will be the key man as England aim to go far in the tournament.
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Spain
Spain (9/1), the most recent side to win their first World Cup back in 2010, have been given the same best price as England to win the World Cup in Qatar (worst price 15/2).
Since the great team of 2008 to 2012, which won both the 2008 and 2012 European Championships and 2010 FIFA World Cup, La Roja have only reached the semi-finals of a major tournament once, losing to Italy on penalties in Euro 2020.
They exited the 2014 World Cup in the group stages, followed by a round of 16 exit to 2018 World Cup hosts Russia. Luis Enrique will be hoping his side will build on the momentum gained by pipping Portugal to win their Nations League Group and reach next year’s finals.
They are in Group E containing four time World Cup winners Germany, who are not far behind them in the bookies favourites list (sixth favourites at a best price 23/2).
Which of the outsiders could spring a surprise?
The Netherlands are currently sitting seventh behind Germany at a best price of 29/2, making them the highest ranked side in the bookies list not to have won the World Cup before.
They have been runners up on three different occasions, with their last final appearance coming in 2010 when they lost to Spain in extra time. They failed to qualify for the last World Cup in Russia.
Portugal, spearheaded by Cristiano Ronaldo, are currently considered the eighth likeliest (33/2) to lift the World Cup trophy next month in what could be the Manchester United legend’s last major international tournament. He is currently a best price of 40/1 to win the Golden Ball, and a best price of 16/1 to win to Golden Boot.
