Fansided

World Cup 2022 predictions: Picking every country to advance to knockout stages

By Clemente Lisi

Brazil's Neymar (L) grimaces next to Argentina's Lionel Messi during the Conmebol 2021 Copa America football tournament final match at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 10, 2021. (Photo by NELSON ALMEIDA / AFP) (Photo by NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP via Getty Images)
Brazil's Neymar (L) grimaces next to Argentina's Lionel Messi during the Conmebol 2021 Copa America football tournament final match at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 10, 2021. (Photo by NELSON ALMEIDA / AFP) (Photo by NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 4
Next
World Cup 2022
Memphis Depay, Netherlands (Photo by Rene Nijhuis/Orange Pictures/BSR Agency/Getty Images) /

The World Cup in Qatar starts on Sunday, Nov. 20. Here’s a breakdown of each of the eight groups and the 16 teams who are favorites to advance to the knockout stage. 

The 2022 World Cup kicks off on Sunday when Qatar host Ecuador, marking the first time that the 32-team tournament will take place in the Middle East.

It is also the first time the World Cup will be played in the late fall as opposed to summer.

The teams are broken down into eight groups. Each group contains four teams. The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage. Games that end in a draw starting in the round of 16 will need extra time and even penalties to determine who advances.

Favorites to win the World Cup are defending champion France and South American powerhouses Argentina and Brazil. England, Spain and Germany round out the other teams expected to go deep. Senegal and Denmark, meanwhile, are among the dark horses.

Here is a preview of each group and predictions for who will advance.

2022 World Cup predictions: Which countries advance from each group?

Group A

Qatar are the seeded side in this group by virtue of being the host nation. While Qatar isn’t known for their soccer pedigree, being at home does offer a boost. Only one host nation in World Cup history (South Africa in 2010) has failed to advance past the first round.

The headliner from this group are the Netherlands. The Dutch missed out on the World Cup in 2018, but have striker Memphis Depay and budding winger Cody Gakpo leading their attack. The Nertherlands, who reached the World Cup final in 1974, 1978 and 2010, have never won the World Cup. They remain a dark-horse to do so this time, but are favorites to top this group.

The fight for second place will feature Qatar, Senegal and Ecuador. Senegal, the defending Africa Cup of Nations winner, could very well finish second and do what they did in 2002 when they reached the quarterfinals. It all depends if striker Sadio Mane is healthy enough.

Netherlands and Senegal advance 

Group B

England are the seeded side in this group and favorites to finish first. Featuring striker Harry Kane and a slew of Premier League standouts, the Three Lions finished runners-up at last year’s Euros and are seriously targeting the World Cup this time around.

The fight for second place features the United States, Wales and Iran. The USMNT, back at the World Cup for the first time since 2014, are well-positioned to finish second. The team, the second youngest ever in World Cup history, have in goalkeeper Matt Turner, midfielder Tyler Adams and striker Christian Pulisic the talent to advance out of this group.

England and the US advance 

Home/World Cup