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World Cup 2022 Groups: Draw, Predictions & Qatar Group Stages

The 2022 FIFA World Cup draw took place on April 1st, 2022
England were drawn alongside Iran and USA
Read below for the full FIFA World Cup 2022 groups

Football betting odds are available for FIFA World Cup 2022 groups. The draw was carried out, in typically slow-paced fashion, on April 1st to decide the matchups for the first round.

Qatar were locked into Group A, and various other criteria had to be fulfilled as the draw revealed groups of death and a favourable path for some World Cup betting favourites.

Here’s a run down of all eight FIFA World Cup 2022 groups.

Group A

Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands

One of the easier groups to evaluate when it comes to World Cup predictions, Senegal and the Netherlands should cruise through Group A.

Senegal are ranked 20th in the world, 26 places ahead of Ecuador.

Ranked 51st and defeated heavily by Portugal, Ireland and Serbia in recent friendlies, Qatar have their work cut out to avoid humiliation against the Netherlands.

Surprises are possible in such a short group phase, and Ecuador could easily take something from the Netherlands or Senegal, but this is one of the least intriguing FIFA World Cup 2022 group.

Group B

England, Iran, USA, Wales

There’s non-football narrative aplenty with England, Iran and the USA being drawn together.

Whether it’s Ukraine, Scotland or Wales joining them in Group B will be decided in June after Ukraine’s fixtures were understandably postponed.

This was almost the perfect draw for Gareth Southgate’s side as they look to build on their 2018 run to the last four.

It should be an entertaining contest for the second qualification spot between the USA and whoever claims the final Group B berth.

Group C

Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland

Like England, Argentina will be very happy with their group.

There’s not a great deal of resistance there for Lionel Messi and co, even if Mexico possess some fun attacking talent and Poland have arguably the best striker on the planet.

Mexico and Poland will fancy their chances at taking three points off Saudi Arabia, and assuming they both lose to Argentina, the matchup between the two sides will go effectively decide which team joins the Argentines in the last 16.

The runner-up likely faces the daunting task of France in the second round. Of course, Saudi Arabia troubling the scorers could spice things up further in Group C.

Group D

France, Australia, Denmark, Tunisia

The intercontinental playoffs in Qatar this June will decide which of Australia, UAE and Peru join Denmark, Tunisia and reigning champions France in Group D.

Didier Deschamps’ side are the overwhelming favourites to win the group, and it would be a shock if they dropped any points.

Denmark, fresh off a run to the last four at the Euros, are comfortably the second-best team in the group.

Tunisia are a disciplined side, and they got the better of Mali to book their place in Qatar, but they are at a considerable talent deficit to the Danes, particularly with Christian Eriksen in such fine form.

France win this group and it’s probably Mexico or Poland in the last 16 – Deschamps couldn’t have asked for a better path to the quarters.

Group E

Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan

The only group at this winter’s World Cup with two serious contenders, Group E provides us with a tantalising contest between Spain and Germany on November 27th at Al Bayt Stadium.

Both should progress regardless of the result, but the presence of another elite team leaves no margin for error.

If either Spain or Germany drop points against Japan or Costa Rica/New Zealand, they could be heading home much earlier than planned.

Japan have made the knockout phase in three of the last five World Cups.

This isn’t the strongest iteration of the Samurai Blue, though, and it will take a lot of fortune and/or a remarkable performance for them to take anything from their matches with Spain and Germany.

Group E has the biggest game on paper of the first round, but it’s potentially short on intrigue with such a gap between the teams.

Group F

Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia

Group F is home to 2018’s runners-up and a semi-finalist. It doesn’t feel quite like that, however, with both sides having gone through substantial decline since then.

The respective cores have aged significantly, and neither are as formidable as they were in Russia four years ago.

Belgium remain a fringe contender, while Croatia are a notch below and could be caught out against two interesting sides in the shape of Canada and Morocco.

This generation of Canadian players is trending upwards and could sneak into the last 16 at just their second ever World Cup.

Group G

Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon

Brazil’s status as online betting World Cup favourites was reinforced by a relatively kind group stage draw alongside Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon.

The five-time world champions should progress with relative ease, but Group G is potentially the most balanced in the first round.

Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon all harbour realistic hopes of reaching the knockout phases.

The Swiss have made it out of the group in every tournament since 2010, while Serbia have an exciting core of talent, mixing experience and youth.

Cameroon have lost just once in 13 matches, and reached the last four in AFCON.

Group H

Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea

Portugal had to take the difficult route to the group stage after slipping up against Serbia in qualification.

Their reward is an entertaining Group H with Ghana, a resurgent Uruguay and a South Korea team on an excellent run of form.

Uruguay, on paper, should easily make it into the last 16. They finished qualification strongly, but it’s not so long ago that they were a team in turmoil.

One wonders how much they can rely on Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani at this point, too. Will Darwin Nunez deliver on the big stage?

Having fallen in the group stage at AFCON, it’s hard to judge how Ghana will perform, too.

There’s a lot of uncertainty in Group H – Portugal and Uruguay should progress, but there’s definitely some upset potential.

November 1, 2022

World Cup 2022

By Sam Cox

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Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

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World Cup 2022 Stadiums Guide: List Of Qatar Venues

Eight stadia will be used for the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Seven of the FIFA World Cup stadiums 2022 have opened since 2019
Read below for more information on each of the venues being used at this winter’s tournament

The eight World Cup stadiums in Qatar will be the centre of online football betting later this year. Eyes from all over the globe will be focused on these venues from 21st November to 18th December 2022.

This has been one of the most controversial World Cups ever, and the stadiums have often been at the centre of that debate.

Years before the sports betting action got underway, the microscope was on Qatar as it tried to become a viable World Cup host and build several massive stadia in a short period.

Ideally, these stadiums won’t have an impact on World Cup odds, particularly if the cooling systems are effective.

It remains to be seen what the crowds are like in Doha and beyond, but the venues themselves are thought to be state-of-the-art.
Let’s run down the eight stadia set to be used at the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup.

Lusail Iconic Stadium

The venue that will give the ultimate answer to World Cup predictions when it hosts the final on 18th December 2022, Lusail Iconic Stadium has a capacity of 80,000.

This is the largest stadium in the country, and is located under 20 miles away from Doha.

With this being an oversized arena in non-World Cup years, it’s expected to become a 40,000-seater in 2023 after hosting several group games and knockout matches at the tournament.

Al Bayt Stadium

Slightly further away from Doha in Al-Kohr, Al Bayt Stadium is another mega-venue with a capacity of 60,000.

Designed by Dar Al-Handasah, this is going to follow a similar path to the Lusail Stadium with the capacity set to be almost halved following the 2022 World Cup.

Its structure is similar to that of a tent with the four peaks covered in PTFE. A retractable roof is also an important feature given the soaring temperatures in Qatar.

Al Bayt Stadium will host the opening match of the tournament and fixtures in each of the knockout rounds.

Stadium 974

Previously known as Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, Stadium 974 will be dismantled after the World Cup.

The 40,000-seater venue has already hosted matches in the 2021 Arab Cup, and is lined up for six group matches and the last 16 fixture between the winners of Group G and the runners-up in Group H.

The design incorporates shipping containers as a nod to the area’s history, some of which house stadium facilities.

Al Thumama Stadium

Like several other FIFA World Cup stadiums 2022, Al Thumama was first seen in action during the 2021 Arab Cup.

The eye-catching design is modelled on the traditional taqiyah hat – it’s certainly a unique look, and stands out especially against the night sky.

With a 40,000 capacity, Al Thumama Stadium isn’t going to be the same after the World Cup. Half of the seats will be removed (a theme which runs through the majority of these venues) and donated to other countries.

Education City Stadium

Education City Stadium has a capacity of just over 45,000, making it the third largest in use at the 2022 Men’s World Cup.

Around 20,000 seats will be removed after the tournament, however, leaving a capacity of 25,000 for university athletic teams.

Receiving awards for its sustainability, Education City Stadium has also earned the ‘Diamond in the Desert’ nickname.

There was a delay in its opening, meaning 2019 Club World Cup matches had to be held elsewhere, but the stadium has been in action during the 2020 Club World Cup and the 2020 AFC Champions League.

Ahmad bin Ali Stadium

While the Ahman bin Ali Stadium has existed since 2003, it was completely rebuilt between 2016 and 2018, over doubling the capacity and modernising the facilities throughout the complex.

The home of Al-Rayyan will host six group matches and a last 16 contest in the 2022 World Cup.

Following the tournament, it will go back to its previous capacity of around 21,000 seats. The experience in the ground will still be much-improved, including a vast media façade.

Khalifa International Stadium

First opened in 1976, the Khalifa International Stadium was obviously heavily renovated for the 2022 Men’s World Cup.

The capacity is a little north of 45,000 heading into the tournament after plans to add another 23,000 seats were shelved.

Host of the 2011 Asian Cup final and some high-profile friendlies, Khalifa International Stadium doesn’t have a quarter or semi-final match at the World Cup, but it will be the venue for the third place playoff.

Al Janoub Stadium

Similar to the design of the World Cup ball, the Al Janoub stadium took inspiration from dhow boats. It’s the home stadium of Al-Wakrah, though the 40,000 capacity will be cut in half after the World Cup has been completed.

Part of a larger sports complex, Al Janoub Stadium is an ambitious project.

The Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy described the process of designing and building the stadium as follows, "detailed micro-climate analysis informed the arena's shape, with aerodynamics and optimal shading from the roof, which incorporates a minimal amount of glass, making a significant contribution to temperature control."

Al Janoub Stadium hosts several group matches and a last 16 fixture.

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

May 24, 2022

World Cup 2022

By Sam Cox

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Top 10 Moments As Manchester City Win 21/22 Premier League Title

Manchester City clinched their fourth Premier League title in five seasons on Sunday as Pep Guardiola’s side secured a 3-2 victory over Aston Villa.

The defending champions had to do it the hard way after falling behind in the first half but City stepped up when it mattered to secure their place in the Premier League records books.

Liverpool pushed the Citizens close but Guardiola’s men came up trumps. Here, we discuss 10 defining moments in the title race – including another look at that dramatic final day.

With Erling Haaland joining Man City this summer, it wouldn't be a huge shock to see Guardiola's men celebrating a third successive title this time next year...

City Flex Muscles At Stamford Bridge

Cast your minds back to September. City had lost 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur on the opening weekend before flopping at home to Southampton in a goalless draw.

Chelsea had been hyped up as potential title contenders but City produced the perfect away performance to silence the Stamford Bridge crowd.

Gabriel Jesus scored the only goal of the game midway through the second half but City were comfortable throughout – dominating possession and restricting Chelsea to five shots in the match.

This was City’s way of reminding the rest of the Premier League that they were still the team to beat.

Comeback Draw At Anfield

Eight days on from the victory over Chelsea, Man City travelled to Anfield. The Reds found themselves one point clear of Pep’s side going into the contest.

Despite dominating the first half, City failed to capitalise and you knew Liverpool were going to step things up in the second period.

City showed their mental strength to come from behind – not once but twice – to salvage a draw in what was a huge 45 minutes on Merseyside.

It looked like Mohamed Salah’s moment of magic had won it for the hosts but City, resolute as ever, pegged Liverpool back to earn an invaluable point.

City Silence Old Trafford Crowd (Again)

Once dubbed the ‘noisy neighbours’ by Sir Alex Ferguson, Man City have had the beating of their close rivals in recent times.

Since the start of the 2020/21 season, City have lost just one of their five games against United and the writing was on the wall for another Old Trafford victory in November.

An Eric Bailly own goal sent City on their way before Bernardo Silva added a second shortly before half-time.

The final score flattered United as City more than doubled the total number of passes, had 68% of the ball and restricted the Red Devils to one shot on target on home soil.

Fernandinho Downs Hammers In Snow

Snowy conditions at the Etihad in November didn’t help this game as a spectacle, with both teams struggling to string passes together.

With City leading 1-0 heading into the closing stages, Pep’s men started to try and run down the clock but a late chance presented itself to club stalwart Fernandinho.

The ball arrived at the Brazilian’s feet on the edge of the penalty area and he struck firmly into the bottom corner of the goal to double City’s lead.

It’s a good job Fernandinho added a second as Manuel Lanzini’s superb strike threatened a late Hammers comeback but City held on to keep pace with Chelsea and Liverpool.

City Struggle Past 10-Man Wolves

These are the victories that win you Premier League titles. City weren’t at their best but Raheem Sterling’s 66th minute penalty was enough to claim a vital three points.

Raul Jimenez was sent off after a moment of madness but Guardiola’s men just couldn’t find the breakthrough against the resolute Wolves defence.

With City failing to inspire confidence, the hosts were ‘handed’ a lifeline after a penalty was awarded against Wolves midfielder Joao Moutinho.

Sterling stepped up and duly obliged from the sport, much to the relief of City fans around the ground. It wasn’t pretty but City ground it out – and that’s what good teams do.

Rodri Steps Up Late At Arsenal

How did City win this game? Arsenal fans went home sick while the coach journey back to Manchester was particularly sweet for the travelling supporters.

Bukayo Saka had given Arsenal a deserved lead before half-time but the Gunners could have been out of sight, with at least two guilt-edged chances going amiss.

Riyad Mahrez made no mistake from the spot after a controversial penalty decision before Nathan Ake cleared Ruben Dias’ wayward header off the line.

Luck was on City’s side and Gabriel’s red card put Arsenal on the back foot. As the clock ticked into the 93rd minute, Rodri toe poked the ball into the Gunners net to nick all three points.

Brilliant De Bruyne Puts Chelsea To Sword

Undoubtedly the best midfielder in the Premier League, Kevin de Bruyne carried Man City on his shoulders at times this season – and that was particularly evident on this day.

Both teams had squandered chances in the first half but City started to up the intensity after the break in the search for that elusive goal. Football betting odds were starting to suggest a goalless draw looked likely...

Step up, De Bruyne. With 20 minutes remaining, the Belgian curled a sensational effort past Kepa in the Chelsea goal to send Pep Guardiola’s men 13 points clear at the top of the table.

While Liverpool had two games in hand, it felt like a decisive moment. From that moment on, De Bruyne was simply sublime for the remainder of the campaign.

Foden Secures Controversial Everton Win

Liverpool fans will point to this game as a key moment in the title race – and it is easy to see why. It looks like City well and truly ‘got away with one’ here.

Everton held their own for over 80 minutes before Phil Foden pounced to score what looked like a late winner after a deflected cross landed perfectly at his feet.

However, there was still late drama ahead as Rodri appeared to handle the ball in his own penalty area. Incredibly, VAR decided that there was no case to answer.

City extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to six points that day. It felt like a defining moment at the time but even more so now!

Hallmark Of Champions At London Stadium

The task for City was simple: beat West Ham and the title is within touching distance. The Hammers, however, weren’t going to just roll over and accept defeat.

On Mark Noble’s final home game for the club, West Ham raced into a two-nil lead in the first half – helped by some haphazard defending from City.

Something had to change and the visitors came out swinging in the second half. There was a zip to City’s play that simply wasn’t there in the opening 45 minutes.

While Mahrez missed a late penalty to make it 3-2, City showed their title credentials to come back and salvage an important point to keep the title race in their own hands…

Ilkay Gundogan, You Little Dancer!

Gary Neville’s commentary epitomised the mood of an entire fanbase while also jibing at Liverpool, using the phrase initially coined by Jamie Carragher for Salah.

With City struggling at home to Aston Villa, Pep Guardiola brought the German international on with 68 minutes on the clock – less than a minute before Villa doubled their lead.

However, Gundogan would be key to City’s dramatic title success as he reduced the deficit before completing the comeback just five minutes later.

The goal sparked incredible scenes at the Etihad Stadium – akin to the celebrations after that Sergio Aguero goal against Queens Park Rangers in 2013.

May 23, 2022

Premier League

By Alex McMahon

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Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.

He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.

As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible.

Alex McMahon

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