There is nothing quite like online soccer betting when it comes to the FIFA World Cup. This is, perhaps, the globe's single biggest sporting tournament. Every four years, there is an intense amount of attention paid to which country will be crowned champion of the world, so much so that even plenty of non-soccer fans find themselves invested in the outcome.
The next men's tournament won't begin until November 2022, but it's never too early to start analyzing your best betting options. And while poring over the newest 2022 World Cup futures, we've come to the conclusion that reigning champion France should not be favored to win it all in Qatar.
We will get to why in a minute, but first, let's take a look at the latest 2022 World Cup betting odds:
Since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is still nearly a year away at this writing, you will want to double-check these soccer online betting odds before committing to any 2022 World Cup picks. All World Cup betting lines are subject to shift in the coming months, and you need to make sure you're working with the latest information.
With so much time separating you from the World Cup in Qatar, it's also a great idea to peruse our reviews of the top online sportsbooks. They are chock full of information that will allow you to spot the best 2022 World Cup betting sites without much effort.
Can France Repeat as World Cup Champions?
Initial projections towards the end of 2021 continued to bill France (+600) as the 2022 World Cup favorites, but they have since slipped to third. Though some people have started hearkening back to their dicey performance at Euro 2020, most just seem to be skeptical they can make history by repeating as World Cup champs.
Only two countries have ever won back-to-back tournaments: Brazil did it most recently, in 1958 and 1962, while Italy also did it back in 1934 and 1938, at the second and third World Cups ever. Every World Cup has churned out a different winner since, making this quite the trend to break.
Still, that alone isn't reason enough to write them off. Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema make up perhaps the most dangerous pairing in attack, and they enjoy a good amount of continuity on the defensive end relative to the four-year gap.
Should Brazil be the 2022 World Cup Favorites?
Brazil (+550) has replaced France as the odds-on 2022 World Cup favorites after opening at No. 5 in the global rankings last year. Even now, though, they still find themselves placing second in the FIFA World Cup official power rankings, as of February 2022.
Many seem to be concerned about their reliance on youthful attackers like Vinicius Jr. and Raphinha, but they still have one of the world's most potent and experienced players, in Neymar, by their side. It also doesn't hurt that Brazil's goalkeeper rotation includes two of the top-five stoppers in the world between the posts.
Better 2022 World Cup Bet: Argentina, Italy, or Belgium?
For the time being, Argentina (+1000), Belgium (+1100), and Italy (+1200) are all posting nearly identical odds to win the 2022 World Cup. We're expecting this to change soon.
Italy, specifically, is starting to lose momentum. They had a lot of people excited after their dominant victory at Euro 2020, but they then failed at their first attempt to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. Though Italy remains a talented team near the top of their depth chart, their midfield defense lags compared to most other powerhouses, and they continue to want for a superstar striker.
Lionel Messi's Argentina is facing similar scrutiny. Messi's Copa America victory in 2021 gave most hope that this squad wouldn't enter Qatar past their prime, but their primary defenders have started to show cracks when going up against faster-attacking units that know how to dribble and pass on the weak side of the pitch.
More than anything, however, we just consider Belgium wildly undervalued in this discussion. Look no further than the latest World Cup rankings. Belgium has officially secured the pole position, for now, beating out other candidates like Brazil, France, and England (+700).
Sure, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku may be past their heyday. But they are still among the best players in the world, and Belgium will arrive in Qatar with a defense that has enjoyed an infusion of youth and appears to be on the rise.
Does the United States have a Chance to Win the World Cup?
Bettors probably need to beware of the United States (+8000). They have a noticeably deeper team with a more aggressive offense than they did in 2018 when they failed to qualify. That much is for sure. But the United States has also struggled to impress thus far at both ends of the pitch during qualifiers.
As it stands, this squad needs to tighten up its late-match goalkeeping and zone defense before being taken seriously. The United States should be viewed as no more than a stab-in-the-dark World Cup bet.
Official 2022 World Cup Prediction
Flat-out: We just can't get over the value that Belgium is providing at 11-to-1.
Oddsmakers are treating them like a quasi-dark horse. Really, though, Belgium's performance in the qualifiers suggests they might have the best offense in the entire world.
OSB Prediction: Belgium
Take a look at this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can decide which one to use for all your 2022 World Cup betting:
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