Picking the Winner is a Fool’s Game. Six Bets That Won’t Empty Your Pockets: World Cup 2022 Odds Preview

World Cup 2022 Odds and Best Bets

• Brazil to reach the quarterfinals: +250 at BetMGM
• France to reach the quarterfinals: +275 at BetMGM
• Top goalscorer – Lionel Messi: +1400 at PointsBet
• Argentina to win Group C: -225 at Caesars
• Uruguay to reach the quarterfinals: +2500 at PointsBet
• Uruguay to win Group H: +210 at BetMGM

World Cup Betting Odds – Who Will Win the 2022 World Cup?  

Unsurprisingly, the usual suspects, such as Brazil and France, are at the top of the World Cup betting odds. Still, every one of them has shown flaws, and predicting an outright winner of this year's World Cup is perhaps the most challenging task in the tournament's recent history. Furthermore, the top eight teams (which include Spain, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands) have also been unpredictable in form. 

Let us put zero faith in outright winner predictions, as a complete meltdown for each of the favorites mentioned above has occurred since the previous World Cup. Whether it's managerial decision-making, off-pitch politics, or lackluster performances, there's a great chance that none of the top four favorites will even make it to the final, clouding the World Cup 2022 odds. This isn't bad news, as we can expect one of the most entertaining and unpredictable World Cup competitions.

Let’s dive into the favorites, sleepers, and long shots while evaluating the best World Cup 2022 odds. 

World Cup 2022 Odds: The Favorites 

Karim Benzema, Ousmane Dembele, and Kylian Mbappe, need I say anymore? The French squad is undoubtedly the most talent-rich in the tournament, a team that is arguably more talented than the World Cup trophy-lifting side of 2018. The defending champions are in a rightful position to be favored to win the World Cup based on talent alone. In addition, Didier Deschamps' squad boasts a list of top-tier fullbacks, elusive midfielders, and vital secondary forwards.

However, there's a chance that the above-mentioned triple threat may not even work together. And, as Mbappe continues to feud with the French federation, it raises the age-old question of if the French squad is a team or just a collection of the world's best players with too much ego?

Recent results have seen the French lose to Croatia and Denmark while barely squeezing past Ivory Coast and drawing with Austria. This isn't the making of a Cup-winning team. That said, the tournament can bring out the best in players, and the World Cup betting odds for France to at least reach the quarterfinals is a price we should pay attention to (+275 at BetMGM).

And then we have the outright tournament favorites Brazil, who've won more World Cup competitions than any other nation. Are they the rightful favorites? I'm not entirely sold, but I can tell you why they're in this respected position. Since the arrival of head coach Tite in 2016, Brazil has shown a level of consistency that we haven't witnessed since the World Cup-winning team of 2002. Under the tutelage of Tite, the Brazilians have won 56 of their previous 75 games, losing five of those meetings with 14 ties. They've netted 161 goals in the same period, allowing just 26. These are incredible statistics. 

With Neymar, Richarlison, Raphinha, and Vinicius Junior leading the attack, there won't be many opposing defenders that can handle the free-flowing onslaught of Brazil. While on the topic of defense, this is where the Brazilians may struggle. The days of Roberto Carlos and Dani Alves providing a robust block are long gone, and much like the top-ranked teams alongside them, they're fallible 

Taking a similar approach to our French wager, expecting Brazil to reach the quarterfinals for +250 at BetMGM is an excellent World Cup betting odds price. And if you place bets on both tournament favorites to reach the quarterfinals, you'll only need only one of them to succeed to gain a profit.

World Cup 2022 Odds and Predictions: The Favorites

• Brazil to reach the quarterfinals, +250 at BetMGM
• France to reach the quarterfinals, +275 at BetMGM

World Cup 2022 Odds: The Sleepers

Lionel Messi, 35, after a decade of being the most prolific sharpshooter for Barcelona and winning almost every club trophy on offer, finally achieved national team cup-winning success when Argentina lifted the Copa America in 2021. 

Messi is no longer considered the best player in the world, but this can be viewed as a positive. Why? Well, a burden of expectation has been lifted off his shoulders, and after joining Paris Saint Germain, he's now keeping up with Neymar and Mbappe in the scoring chart with an underwhelming start. His recent domestic form has translated onto the national stage, having scored seven goals in Argentina's previous three international friendlies. Messi being the tournament's top goal scorer at 14-to-1 is a World Cup betting odds gift we refuse to ignore. 

Argentina hasn't lost a game since their 2019 Copa America semis clash with Brazil, a loss they notably avenged in last year's final. They're now riding a 35-game unbeaten streak, and their most recent high-level encounter saw them completely dismantle Italy. Funnily enough, Italy holds the current world record streak for most unbeaten games (37), now within the Argentine’s grasp.

Please don't sleep on Lionel Scaloni and his ability to take this Argentina squad to the latter stages of the competition. It's hard to envision Mexico, Poland, or Saudi Arabia preventing Messi and Co. from causing damage, making the World Cup betting odds of Argentina winning Group C at -225 a tempting wager to approach.  

World Cup 2022 Odds and Predictions: The Sleepers

•  Top goalscorer – Lionel Messi, +1400 at PointsBet
•  Argentina to win Group C, -225 at Caesars

World Cup 2022 Odds: The Longshots

As Brazil and Argentina steal all of the South American limelight heading into the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Uruguay is an overlooked squad.

Drawn in Group H, Uruguay has been gifted a place alongside one of the most vulnerable group stage favorites in Portugal. South Korea and Ghana shouldn't cause La Celeste many problems, and the experience of Luis Suarez and Edison Cavani can unquestionably help disrupt the Portuguese in their quest for first place.

Winning this group could be critical, as the team finishing in second are likely to meet with Brazil in the Round of 16. But Uruguay could tie with Portugal and win the group on goal difference; this would see Diego Alonso's squad enter a winnable Round of 16 meeting with either Serbia, Switzerland, or Cameroon. The World Cup 2022 odds of +2500 for Uruguay to reach the quarterfinals dumbfounded me. Portugal could be the thorn in their side, but I'm willing to bet on a team that reached the World Cup semis in 2010.

World Cup 2022 Odds and Predictions: The Longshots

•  Uruguay to reach the quarter-finals, +2500 at PointsBet
•  Uruguay to win Group H, +210 at BetMGM

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How often is the World Cup?

The FIFA World Cup is held every four years. After the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the next World Cup is scheduled for 2026 and will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Who has qualified for the World Cup?

There are 32 teams that have qualified for the 2022 World Cup. Those teams are Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Iran, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, the United States, Uruguay, and Wales

How much are World Cup tickets?

The cost of tickets for the 2022 World Cup can vary significantly from game to game, depending on the teams involved and the round. After all, there are 48 matches during the Group Stage and 15 during the Knockout Stage. The prices on the primary market range from $11 to $1,607 per ticket. 

Conclusion

World Cup betting odds are beginning to take shape ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup; which of our picks will you be backing ahead of the tournament? If you're looking for more soccer content, read our guide: How To Bet on Soccer, and visit our odds comparison tool to compare the latest odds.

Written by David Manyun

David is an experienced content writer with strong EPL knowledge. He offers an extensive analysis of odds and the numbers crucial to betting.  

He also specializes in combat sports, having followed MMA for over 20 years, and has an impressive record in pre-fight predictions, regularly wagering himself.