We check on the favourites for the 2022 World Cup and the top individual awards now that every nation has played their first match.
As the first round of group games come to a close in Qatar, we’ve seen some impressive upsets, tactical masterclasses and plenty of brilliant goals to savour.
With 48 games still to come, we look ahead to the second round of group games, with the initial results having set the scene in all eight groups.
We’ll look at how the odds have changed across the betting markets for each of the big individual awards, as well as for the outright tournament winner.
World Cup 2022 Tournament Winner Odds
Brazil
After an impressive 2-0 win over Serbia, where they barely had to worry about the Serbs scoring, Brazil have jumped from a pre-tournament 4/1 best price to a current price as short as 23/10 with some bookies (current best price 11/4). They still are yet to play Switzerland and Cameroon, but they are expected to waltz (or more of a samba dance) into the knockout rounds.
Spain
After their rampant display against Costa Rica, albeit one of the lowest ranked teams of the tournament, Spain have jumped up from as long as 11/1 on the eve of their game against Costa Rica to a current best price of 7/1.
They are now joint with France and England, who both kicked off the tournament at shorter prices. Next up for Spain is Germany – a team facing elimination from the competition all together – and a win would put them in the Round of 16 with a game to spare.
Argentina
Arguably the biggest World Cup upset of all time, Lionel Messi’s Argentina suffered an opening game defeat to 51st ranked Saudi Arabia. A heroic 2-1 victory for the Saudi’s was the major shock of the first round of group games, and it has meant the price for the pre-tournament second favourites has drifted significantly.
Argentina were as short as 5/1 with multiple bookies on the eve of their game against Saudi Arabia, and have lengthened to as short as 8/1 (best price 17/2), meaning they are now fifth favourites to win the World Cup. They face a must win game against Mexico, as they could face elimination should they lose to Mexico.
Germany
Another huge upset came on Wednesday, as Germany lost to Japan. Even worse for their chances of topping Group E, Spain were in seventh heaven after obliterating Costa Rica.
Now, if Germany lose to Spain and Japan pick up three points against lowly Costa Rica, Germany would be heading home. This explains their best price of 28/1 to win the tournament, as opposed to being as short as 10/1 on the eve of their game against Japan.
England
Within the top five favourites pre-tournament, England have shortened slightly from a best price of 10/1 the day before their game against Iran to a current best price of 7/1.
They battered Iran 6-2 and, while a win was expected, the manner of the performance combined with the failings of other teams has strengthened their position near the top of the market. England will qualify for the last 16 with a win against USA tonight.
World Cup 2022 Top Goalscorer Odds
Olivier Giroud
The AC Milan striker was originally set to be behind Karim Benzema in the striking pecking order, but since the Real Madrid man’s injury, Giroud is now the main striker in the French side.
He also got his World Cup of to a cracking start, netting twice against Australia, putting him joint top of the scoring charts on two. His pre-tournament price was as high as 66/1 with one bookie, and he is now as short as 8/1 (11/1 best price).
Bukayo Saka
England have a good chance of going deep in the tournament, and with Saka getting two goals in their first match, he flew from 120/1 in some places to a current best price at 20/1.
In the last two tournaments, six goals has been enough to deliver the accolade for Harry Kane in 2018 and James Rodriguez in 2014. With more games in this England side, Bukayo Saka could be a wildcard for the Golden Boot.
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Ferran Torres
Another big mover in the Top Goalscorer market, Ferran Torres hit a brace in Spain’s 7-0 win and has emerged near the top of the goalscoring charts for the World Cup.
He is a best price of 16/1 at the time of writing, but was as high as 80/1 prior to the Costa Rica game. With two more games in the group before La Roja embark on their knockout journey, there is every chance Torres adds to this tally.
Richarlison
Tottenham’s Brazilian forward opened his first World Cup with a brace for A Seleção against Serbia. He is now joint at the top with the other three mentioned, as well as Enner Valencia and Medhi Taremi, with two goals from the first round of games.
After such an impressive display, and the fact Brazil are tipped to go all the way, his best price pre match of 28/1 has been slashed, with some bookies shortening his odds to as low as 4/1 (current best price 6/1).
World Cup 2022 Golden Ball Odds
Jude Bellingham
Not many people expected Bellingham to be within a shout at the Golden Ball, with only as many as four bookies pricing him in the market pre-tournament. Now, having inspired England in their first game over Iran, his prices have shot up from 66/1 to a respectable 25/1 (best price 33/1).
Kylian Mbappe
Now the favourite within the market at a best price of 8/1, Kylian Mbappe picked up a goal and an assist against Australia, beating his man and looking as electric as ever on the French left hand side.
He was unstoppable in Russia in 2018, and might just take it to another level in Qatar. Australia might not be the hardest opponents in the world but you can only play against what’s in front of you, and Mbappe certainly did that.
Neymar
Brazil’s golden boy may have been outshone by Richarlison against Serbia, but the Brazilian star remains around a similar price to his Golden Ball odds pre match, shortening to as high as 12/1 with one bookie, whereas prices as short as 8/1 are still available (current best price 25/1).
Neymar did come off with a slight injury, so this is definitely one to keep your eye on, especially with the next round of games coming thick and fast.
