FIFA World Cup Betting Odds & Guide 2022

The 2022 FIFA World Cup is nearly upon us. The tournament is one of the most unique in history, with the event taking place in Qatar, the first time it has been hosted in the Middle East. For the first time in its 92-year history, the event will also take place in November, with the weather conditions in Qatar making a summer tournament near impossible. 

It is no doubt going to be one of the most unique tournaments of all time, and the fact that it is in the middle of the traditional campaign is also likely to have a big impact on the way it plays out. With all of this in mind, we have taken a look at some of the best FIFA World Cup 2022 betting odds and put together this handy little preview to get you ready for the big kick-off.

World Cup 2022 Winner Best Odds

As the tournament draws closer, fans begin to analyze teams who see who is the most likely to lift the trophy in Doha in December. The 2022 World Cup is one of the most open in recent years, with no clear favorite among all the front runners. 

Reigning champions France can be found at 7.00 with William Hill and several other bookmakers and while there is some value in that, reigning champions have not had the best record in recent World Cups. They also head into the tournament potentially without two of their most influential midfielders in N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba. Let’s be honest - the French national team is due a bust-up at a major tournament as well, and there are certainly enough personalities in there to have one. 

Brazil is the favorite with most bookies at 5.00. The five-time champions have not lifted the trophy since 2002, but they have one of the strongest squads they’ve ever had and come into the tournament on good form. It is hard to make a solid argument against them winning the tournament, but at 5.00 with some bookies and 4.00 with others, we think there is better value elsewhere. 

That brings up nicely to Argentina. Argentina come into the tournament on an amazing 35 game unbeaten run, and that momentum can be difficult to stop. Italy’s Euro 2020 win was a great example of this, and Argentina will hoping to replicate that. Of course, Argentina also took home the Copa America and they trounced the Italians in the newly formed Cup of Champions. Throw in the fact that this is Messi’s swan-song, and you have all of the ingredients for a successful tournament. At 7.50 with Paddy Power and many other bookmakers, we think they offer fantastic value. 

There is still some stiff competition coming from Europe though. England, Spain, and Germany are all in the conversation, and there can be some value found on them if you want a punt. 

England come into the tournament on a terrible run of form. A 4-0 humbling at the hands of Hungary in Wolverhampton has left Southgate’s men looking rather toothless coming into Qatar. The quality of their squad is undeniable though, and Southgate’s tactics have proven to be successful in previous tournaments. After finishing fourth last time out, and then second in the Euros, they will be hoping they can finally bring an end to England’s 56 year trophy drought. At 8.00, they do offer some value, but a potentially tough run in the knock-outs and poor pre-tournament form could put people off. 

Spain and Germany both feel like sides revitalised heading into the tournament, and can be found at 9.00 and 11.00 with Bet365 respectively. There is certainly some value to be had here. Hansi Flick, the German coach, is a proven winner but many feel like his younger team are not quite ready to lift a big trophy yet. The Spanish squad boasts some unbelievable talent, but a potentially tough run and the lack of a talismanic figure might keep punters away. Spain and Germany are in the same group, and a potential clash with Belgium in the round of 16 or Brazil in the quarters could await either side. 

World Cup Dark Horses

If you’re looking for some slightly more speculative odds, then this is the section for you. Every football fan around the world has, at some point or another, filled in a wall chart and predicted how a tournament is going to turn out. They will also be able to tell you that this never works out. The tournaments can be incredibly unpredictable. Let’s be honest - who had Croatia as reaching the final last time out? Or is Germany crashing out at the group stage? 

Firstly, let’s talk about two potential first-time winners - Belgium and Portugal. Both countries have been tipped for success several times over the last 15 years and while Portugal did take home Euro 2016, neither of them has amounted to much.

Both teams can be found at 17.00 to win the tournament. The tournament feels like the last chance for Belgium’s golden generation, and Ronaldo will want to end his international career on a high. While we feel the ship has sailed for both teams, they could present value for those who are looking for something different. 

If you’re looking for an outsider in the goalscorer markets - a lot of the Brazilians offer value. Both Richarlison and Jesus can be found at 34.00 with Bet365 to take home the Golden Boot. 

For outsiders in the tournament in terms of progression - Wales could be a real dark horse. Rob Page’s men have looked good in knockout tournaments in recent years, and Gareth Bale may want to put on a show in what is likely to be his last tournament. They will no doubt be fired up against England in the group stages and could cause an upset there. They can be found at 7.00 with Betvictor to reach the Quarter Final stage. 

Best FIFA World Cup 2022 Odds for Top Goalscorer 

Another extremely competitive market at this year’s World Cup is Top Goalscorer. There are a handful of great candidates and of course, a country’s progression is also going to have a major impact on this. 

The clear favorite with the sportsbooks is Harry Kane. Kane is one of the most prolific strikers in the world, and he will be hoping to replicate his 6-goal haul from the last tournament. A potentially tough run could mean an early exit for the Spurs striker though, so he will be hoping to hit the ground running in the group stages. England has a group they should progress from, and games against Iran, Wales, and the USA present the chance for him to grab some early goals. He is available at 9.00 with William Hill. 

His stiffest competition is likely to come from France’s Mbappe. The PSG striker netted four times in Russia as France picked up the trophy, and he also received the Best Young Player award for his efforts. He has been at the center of some controversy with PSG in the build-up to the tournament, but he will be hoping to put his class on display and put that behind him. He can be found at 10.00, which is brilliant value if France keeps in the tournament. 

His team-mate and recent Balon D’or winner, Karim Benzema is also a favorite among bookmakers. At 34 years old, it seems highly likely this will be his final tournament, and with a Champions League and the Balon D’or under his belt already in 2022, he will want to round the year off with a World Cup and a Golden Boot. He can be found at 13.00, which could offer value, but we do think both Kane and Mbappe are more likely to deliver. 

At 15.00 with 888 Sport is Lionel Messi. As we have already discussed in this World Cup betting guide, Argentina comes into the tournament in fine form, and if they can get to the final, Messi might be able to pick up one final honor in his campaign. For the footballing romantics out there, this would be a fitting end to Messi’s international career, and you can never count him out.

GoodLuckMate’s World Cup 2022 Predictions & Betslip 

So we’ve taken a look through all of the odds and we’ve made our decisions from each of the three sections above. It is tough to bet against Argentina given the form they are in and we think they offer fantastic value at 7.00. Mbappe is out to prove himself in this tournament, and after a strong performance in 2018, he will want to get the Golden Boot in Qatar. Our favorite outside shout is Wales to perform and cause some upsets by getting to the Quarter Finals. 

All FIFA World Cup 2022 betting odds were correct at the time of writing - October 28th, 2022. 

Liam Hoofe

Last Update: 13 Mar 2023

Liam is a skilled writer and journalist, highly regarded for his perceptive examination of the gambling industry. He specializes in online casinos and sports betting, and his work has been published in top-tier publications. Here at GoodLuckMate, Liam covers the latest industry news and has also authored various gambling guides, offering both beginners and experienced players in-depth analyses of games and strategies.

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