World Cup 2022 Odds and Predictions: Everything to Know Before You Start Betting

It doesn’t feel like too long ago since England lost in that agonizing semifinal against Croatia. And while it’s unlikely we’ll see Kieran Trippier repeat his free-kick heroics, the Lions will soon have yet another chance to erase that painful memory.

The 2022 World Cup kicks off when hosts Qatar play Ecuador on 20 November at 19:00 (16:00 for those of you in the UK). England will feature on the second day of the tournament, taking on Iran just over a week after the Premier League takes an enforced break.

The World Cup is the biggest sports gambling event on the calendar, bar none. In 2018, the legendary football tournament generated over $155 billion in revenue. It’s expected that the 2022 vintage will decimate this record.

If you’re a footie fan and plan on placing a cheeky wager on England’s next game (or any other), then you need to do a little bit of research first. Having that prior knowledge will help when you’re trying to load up your favorite betting app after a couple of pints at the pub.

Use Multiple Bookies

First off, and perhaps our best advice, is this: don’t stick to a single bookmaker. It’s the classic (and lazy) mistake most gamblers make. Signing up for a new account is just a faff, looking for deals takes time and just an impatient bunch in general.

Our advice? Take advantage of new player offers, sign up to mailing lists for existing customers, and look for boosters where possible. Shop around for odds when you have a specific bet in mind, as each company will offer slightly different odds.

Of course, you want to find a reliable sportsbook that will pay out your bets, even if you’re putting money on long odds. Find reliable geo-specific sites that list trustworthy local providers; in other words, websites dedicated to gamblers from specific countries. Take this example: for South African users, something like onlinegamblingsa.co.za will give you an overview of the options.

The Favorites for the World Cup

Perhaps even more reliable than the professional sports writers and ex-players are the bookies themselves. For them, it’s essential that the odds reflect the actual chance of a specific eventuality. Otherwise, they’d be out billions.

The favorites to win it all are the Brazilians, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to many. They absolutely toyed with their opposition during the qualifiers and were unlucky not to win the Copa America.

Second on the list are the French, who are roughly 13/2 depending on the bookie. The defending champions have enough quality to field two top-level teams, and with a player like Mbappe, they’re a good shout to win it. And don’t forget the likely Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, who will be looking to make a splash after being out of the French squad for a number of years.

But perhaps it’s better to look beyond the favorites. The Dutch, for instance, are just 12/1 but have some fantastic players and a proven manager. Louis van Gaal can field talents like Frenkie de Jong, Memphis Depay, Virgil van Dijk, and Georginio Wijnaldum. If they can gel as they did in 2014, anything is possible.

Consider Other Bets

The best money isn’t in the outright winners, however, but in the other markets. Top goalscorer, group winners, and how far a team will go. These bets are not as popular as outright, but they offer far more value.

Senegal, for example, is an excellent bet at 3/1 to reach the quarterfinals. They’re the top team in Africa and in Sadio Mané they have one of the best players in football. You may also want to consider Morocco to reach the quarters, which is a good value bet due to the recent sacking of their coach and the probable return of Hakim Ziyech.

The Odds Will Change

Of course, these odds will change in the run-up to the tournament. Players will get injured, up-and-coming stars will start performing, and coaches may find the secret formula to get their teams playing as a cohesive, well-oiled unit.

You also want to be sure that you keep track of specific team news, like injuries. If Messi is suddenly ruled out for Argentines, things will suddenly look far worse for the South American country.

Some people even go as far as getting news from the training sessions. In 2012, for example, the Dutch were heavy favorites during the Euros. But anyone keeping a close eye on their camp would have known about the internal grumblings that ultimately proved their undoing.

The key to placing bets during the World Cup is to watch the news like a hawk. This is where you can find real value in bets. Combine this with new player offers or boosted odds, and you can increase your chances of lining your pint kitty.