The FIFA World Cup 2022 is the world's biggest football tournament – and it is not exactly around the corner. The qualifiers have already begun, and supporters are anticipating a month-long carnival in the Middle East.
The question on everyone's lips is, “Who will win the FIFA World Cup in Qatar?”
There is no clear favourite to win the World Cup in 2022, but regular competitors France, Brazil, Germany, Spain, and Argentina are well-fancied if you like to bet on football.
So, let's turn our attention to some of the top contenders and preview their chances of lifting the famous trophy.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the world's most famous footballer, has demonstrated that despite his advanced age, he can still deliver big on the big stage.
The FIFA World Cup 2022 will be his final tournament, and an excellent performance from him will be necessary if Portugal hopes to reach the final.
Apart from that, with players like Bruno Fernandez, Diogo Jota, Bernardo Silva, and others, Portugal has enough potential in its ranks to fight for the title in Qatar. Despite their status as outsiders in the competition, this is a team capable of defeating any opponent on any given day, and the nation is well aware of this. So, is it possible for Portugal to win the World Cup in 2022? We'll have to wait and see what happens.
Brazil - If and when they arrive in Qatar, five-time world champions, Brazil, will be seeking to end a 20-year drought with global triumph. In recent years, all of the spotlight on Brazil has been on Neymar, but in 2019, a dynamic squad won the Copa America without the talisman. Nevertheless, they are well-equipped to launch a challenge, with players like Alisson, Richarlison, and Philippe Coutinho in their ranks, as well as up-and-comers like Vinicius Jr. and Gabriel Martinelli. However, with a generation of stars leaving the stage, it will be intriguing to see how they handle the shift in defence.
Argentina - So far, Messi and co. have had a poor showing at the FIFA World Cup. In recent years, the Albiceleste have failed to mount a serious push for the trophy. In truth, the 2018 FIFA World Cup was a national disgrace for the country, as the team was knocked out of the competition in the Round of 16 stage by Croatia. Although Argentina's performance at the World Cup has been dismal thus far, the team has recently added to its ranks. Lautaro Martinez, Paulo Dybala, and Giovani Lo Celso have all added to the squad, while the old stars are eager to shine once more on the big stage.
England - England was defeated by Belgium in the 2018 third-place play-off, and they are also outsiders for 2022, though other bookies are more bullish, offering somewhat shorter odds. The Three Lions faithful, on the other hand, shouldn't get too discouraged by such analyses because, as has been frequently stated in 2018, the strain of expectation tends to weigh heavily on their team. Moreover, being a non-favourite may allow England's stars to shine. They have many talented players in their ranks, including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Raheem Sterling, Jadon Sancho, and, of course, Harry Kane, with more on the way up, such as Phil Foden.
Spain - When you think of the FIFA World Cup, one of the first countries that come to mind is Spain. The country has a long history of competing in the FIFA World Cup and has previously ruled world football. The Spanish national team did win the 2010 FIFA World Cup. On the other hand, the Spanish team had a rough time in the World Cup in Russia, as they were knocked out of the competition early on.
Spain, a country that has undergone significant roster changes, will enter the 2022 FIFA World Cup as one of the favourites. Luis Enrique and his team will be eager to create an impression once the World Cup begins, with players like Ferran Torres, Alvaro Morata, Isco, and Rodri among their ranks.
Germany - Germany, the 2014 FIFA World Cup winners and a formidable team, had a disappointing World Cup in Russia when they were knocked out of the competition in the group stage. It was a devastating defeat for a team that had ruled world football for an extended period. However, things may be different this time as the team prepares for the FIFA 2022 World Cup.
The odds that Germany will win the World Cup are slim, as the side will look to challenge on the grand stage. Despite being in transition, the German team features several young skilled players eager to impact the international arena. Let's see how Germany does in the tournament against Italy, Belgium, France, Brazil, and Argentina.