Top 10 2022 World Cup bets

We are just 13 days away from the much-anticipated World Cup in Qatar. For the U.S. fans, it has been a long eight-year wait as the United States Men’s National Team failed to qualify for the 2018 tournament. Because this World Cup is being played in November and December due to hot weather in Qatar during the usual World Cup time of June and July, it is taking place in the midst of the club season. As a result, national teams are dealing with injuries because of this timing and will have to make adjustments as they prepare to start the World Cup campaign in the next few weeks.

Here we take a look at some bets to consider when you place your World Cup wagers.

10. Croatia to advance
Croatia is in Group F for this year’s tournament and there is much buzz around Belgium being the top team in the group, but two will make it to the round of 16.

Any team is always a threat when it has the midfield play of Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic, who become dangerous anytime the ball is at their feet. Both can create, put their teammates in great positions to score, and find themselves getting the ball in the back of the net themselves.

If Croatia can handle business and beat Canada and Morocco, then the result against Belgium will be for the winner of Group F as the team will have already qualified. Croatia is -182 to qualify on Everygame Sportsbook.

Countdown: 1?7? days to Croatia's opening match in Qatar ?

Robert Jarni, current #Croatia U1?7? manager, scored his only international goal in the epic win vs. Germany in France '98 wearing No. 1?7?. Who would you like to see as Croatia's left back in Qatar?#Family #Vatreni????? pic.twitter.com/X1NpWkrt9y

— HNS (@HNS_CFF) November 6, 2022

9. US total group points
The U.S. still has yet to release its final World Cup roster because players have come down with injuries during club campaigns.

Most of the injuries are with defenders, but some in the attacking half, as well. However, England has found it will be without some key defenders as well for the World Cup and that could play a major factor in how Group B turns out.

The opening game for the U.S. is on 21 November against Wales. Gareth Bale, the Welch star who just helped LAFC win the MLS Cup over the weekend, still looks to be a constant attacking threat. He will be the key focus for the U.S. on opening night.

A draw could be very likely in match one for the U.S. and then the greatest group stage test will take place on 25 November against England. Ranked No. 5 in FIFA’s rankings, England will be more than a tough challenge for the U.S. center backs. A draw though isn’t out of the question either.

The final matchup is against Iran, and the U.S. will most likely need three points in this game if they want to get out of the group state. At +900 on Everygame, five points for the U.S. in group stage play is great value.

8. Repeat winner
Will there be a country that wins the World Cup for the first time? Honestly, it is hard to see that being the case this year. In fact, the top six favorites on bet365 Sportsbook & Racebook to win it all have previously won at least one World Cup.

Brazil, the favorite at +400, has the most World Cup victories ever with five as the most recent one came back in 2010.

Argentina, France, England, Spain and Germany have also all claimed a World Cup trophy in their history. These six teams all have rosters built to make deep runs and it would be surprising if one of them wasn’t raising the trophy come 18 December.

No on a first-time winner is -300 on bet365.

7. Group B last place
As I already mentioned, if the U.S. wants to escape from group state, the team will most likely need to beat Iran. Actually, both Wales and England will also be treating the Iran matchup as a must win.

Iran could easily find themselves going 0-3 with zero points at the end of the tournament. England may run away with the group and it could lead to a battle with Wales and the U.S. for second place.

An emphasis will be put on the games against Iran because if Iran manages to tie one of those teams, Iran could end up playing spoiler and prevent them from moving on. Iran is -227 to finish at the bottom of Group B on Everygame.

6. Group F winner
I already discussed Group with Croatia, but Belgium should end up being the winner of this group

Ranked No. 2 in FIFA rankings, Belgium has one of the more electric attacking rosters in the sport. Kevin de Bruyne might be one of my favorite players to watch. When he possesses the ball, he is one of the better players to send through balls into on-running wings or attackers. But if you take those passing lanes away, he is no stranger from pinging one from 30 yards out and having his goal be trending on Twitter.

Complimenting de Bruyne’s skills, the Hazard brothers, Eden and Thorgan, have great speed and can really stretch a defense to open up more one-on-one opportunities for Romelu Lukaku.

Lukaku uses his strength to shield off defenders and put himself in the best scoring areas as he can. Belgium can really run away with this group if it plays up to its capability. It is -188 on bet365 to win the group.

?? See u in 2?? weeks, Egypt. ???? #DEVILTIME pic.twitter.com/bWq7rj4i5c

— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) November 2, 2022

5. Less than nine red cards
At Everygame, the over/under line for red cards in the World Cup is set at nine. In 2018, there were only four dished out to players.

Managers are very cautious about getting players substituted if they pick up an early yellow or have been warned several times from the referee as the game gets later.

With up to five subs allowed per game, there should be no reason to risk leaving a player on with a yellow who has been warned.

At +110 on Everygame, the under for red cards is very intriguing.

4. Top goal scorer
If you watch the Premier League, you have seen Erling Haaland’s name in the score column constantly for Manchester City. He has 18 goals and is seven goals ahead of second place. The only issue is, his country Norway did not qualify for the World Cup or else Haaland’s name would be in the mix for top goal scorer.

There are still some impressive players who have proven they can score at will. One of those guys is Karim Benzema of France. In his 2021-2022 season with Real Madrid, Benzema put 15 balls in the net in just 12 matches.

Benzema is going to be playing off the speed and passing abilities of Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann. Benzema also took home the 2022 Ballon d’Or, the award given to the best player in the world.

At +1200, Benzema is the third favorite to win the award on bet365 behind his teammate Mbappe (+900) and England’s Harry Kane who is the favorite at +700.

A look back at a magnificent season with les Bleus for ???????????? ??’???? ???????? winner, Karim @Benzema ??

?? 10 games
?? 6 goals
?? 1 assist
?? 1 Nations League
?? And lots of emotion#ballondor #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/WzY2iPMBOP

— French Team ?? (@FrenchTeam) October 18, 2022

3. US to advance
In order to advance into the knockout stage, I have made it pretty clear that the final group stage match against Iran needs to result in a win for the U.S.

In the opener against Wales, it could be a very tight game as players are going to have early jitters and not want to be the one to make a mistake. If you are the U.S., you need at least a point against Wales.

If the Americans do not come away with a win, the second group stage game against powerhouse England suddenly will have much more weight on it.

In 2014, the U.S. demonstrated it can hang with the big boys when it tied Portugal and lost to Germany 1-0. Sure, now the rosters are completely different but both Germany and Portugal were some of the best teams in the sport back then, and England is today so there are some similarities.

Five points is definitely enough to move on in Group B and if they can manage a tie, tie and win as the results of their group stage games, then the +100 to advance on bet365 will hit.

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We’re not the only ones who believe… Because there’s only one direction to go. ????#OnlyForward#SoloPalante

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— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) October 21, 2022

2. Brazil to reach semifinal
If you are going up against Brazil in the World Cup, hopefully your team’s defense is fast and capable because Brazil has one of the better dilemmas to have.

The team has to deal with deciding who will be the attackers on the starting 11. The issue is, they have so many good players to pick from. Raphinha, Neymar, Vinícius Jr., Gabriel Jesus and Rodrygo are all viable options and that’s not even the end of the list!

Brazil, the top-ranked team according to FIFIA, is not just all offense either. The defensive front is led by Thiago Silva who has played in every big tournament or match that the sport has to offer. He has been the force behind Chelsea’s defensive success in the Premier League over the last few seasons.

Brazil is +120 to reach the semis on bet365 and the question is will it win its sixth World Cup title and extend its own record?

1. World Cup Winner
My answer to that question on Brazil is no. My prediction for this World Cup is that we will see a back-to-back winner in France. The last team to accomplish two straight titles was in fact Brazil when it won in 1958 and 1962.

The three-headed monster of Benzema, Griezmann and Mbappe is a sight to be seen when they have the ball in the attacking third.

The team’s speed is most dangerous on the counter attack, especially off defending a corner kick where it wins the ball quickly and pushes it forward.

The Brazilians have shown they know how to win on the big stage, did it just four years ago and many key parts from that championship team will be wearing blue again in two weeks.

France is +550 to win on Everygame.