There are favorites to win the World Cup, and there are those who will fight. For the latter, it is an achievement to reach the tournament. This year, that applies to countries like Saudi Arabia, Tunisia or even the hosts, Qatar.
However, these countries are in a position to wreak havoc on successful stereotypical teams. Every year, there is at least one major surprise. A minnow takes down a top team in the group to advance. Or, a team is pushed to the brink by a team that has nothing to lose.
In 2018, Portugal and Spain came close to falling out of the group stage after heroic performances by Iran and Morocco, especially on matchday three. In 2014, Costa Rica finished with seven points and top of the group against Uruguay, Italy and England, with the last two eliminated in the group stage.
Then, of course, there is the curse of falling out of the group stage the year after winning the tournament. Italy in 2010, Spain followed in 2014, Germany four years later. These teams won the competition and then fell brutally in the next tournament. Is France next on the chopping block?
The following World Cup group predictions are almost inherently wrong in nature. However, be sure to share your tips using the World Soccer Talk World Cup Predictor. You can then see what the knockout stage would look like based on your guess.
World Cup Group Predictions
Group A
The Netherlands should emerge on top given their talent despite missing out on 2018. However, second place is not so easy to determine. Hosts of a World Cup have a history of success. In fact, a host failed to make it out of the group stage just once. That was South Africa in 2010. Even though two countries were hosts in 2002, Japan and South Korea, they both qualified for the knockout stage. Qatar is a pretty good team and could get one or two results.
Ecuador and Senegal have talented players. Qualifying out of South America and Africa is a feat to behold on its own. However, with so many active players in Europe, including Sadio Mané, Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly and Ismaïla Sarr, the talent could be too much.
NetherlandsSenegalQatarEcuador
B Group
US media claim this is the ‘Group of Death’, citing average FIFA world rankings. This may also be the group that is the most out of shape entering the tournament.
Regardless, England are the clear favorites in the group, as they are among the favorites for the entire tournament. However, second place is a draw. The USMNT and their fans like to think they are the clear contenders to make it to the knockout stage. However, with Gareth Bale captaining a Wales side that reached the European Championship semi-finals six years ago, they have great form in their history.
Then Iran was one of those teams that pushed Portugal and Spain to the limit in the group stage. Could he do the same with England and the United States, or even Wales, in 2022?
EnglandUSAWalesIranGroup C
Lionel Messi has finally lifted the burden of an international trophy by winning the 2021 Copa América. Now, he enters his last World Cup with perhaps the best team in Argentina in his tenure. Argentina barely got past the group stage in 2018, and their opponents – Mexico, Poland and Saudi Arabia – are not easy to convince.
Mexico reached the knockout stages in each of the last seven tournaments. Therefore, they are a shoe based on experience. However, Poland still has one of the best players in the world in Robert Lewandowski. This is probably his last World Cup, and he wants to guide Poland to their first knockout stage since 1986. It adds an extra level of pressure to that opening match between Mexico and Poland.
ArgentinaMexicoPolandSaudi ArabiaGroup D
That is all. Can France end the losing streak of former champions in the group stage? This group does not present too complex a challenge for France. Immeasurable talent and depth at every position won the World Cup in 2018. Many of those players return in 2022, including the addition of Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema.
Denmark is also a strong team. The Dane reached the Euro 2020 semi-finals riding the emotional wave of support following Christian Eriksen’s on-field collapse. His return to form and the game is an inspiration he could continue.
Tunisia and Australia aren’t exactly world leaders, and the talent gap is wide. However, with this group flying under the radar in terms of excitement, he’s in perfect shape for a random surprise.
FranceDenmarkTunisiaAustralia
Group EGermany and Spain are part of that trend of losing champions the following year. This year, both are looking to bounce back from disappointing campaigns at Russia 2018. They are targeting Costa Rica and Japan, neither of which are bad teams. In fact, Japan and Costa Rica intimidated the USMNT in their last matches against the US.
However, Germany and Spain are likely to have too much talent for Japan and Costa Rica. That said, if Japan beats Germany or Costa Rica beats Spain in that opening match, the group will be wide open with Germany and Spain meeting on matchday two.
GermanySpainJapanCosta RicaGroup F
Of all the World Cup pool predictions, this may be the most difficult. Canada, despite its FIFA world ranking of No. 41 (one place worse than Scotland, one better than Norway), swept CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying. A rising star in Alphonso Davies has the talent to be a catalyst for Canadians.
The only problem is that he and his teammates are up against the teams that finished second and third four years ago. Croatia and Belgium are perennial dark horses that were so close in Russia. There may be concerns that the window on both sides is closing. However, that could provide the impetus for success. Also, don’t rule out Morocco, who have their own star full-back Achraf Hakimi at the helm.
BelgiumCroatiaCanadaMorocco
Group GAll the talk in this group revolves around Brazil, as it probably should. Brazil is the favorite to win the World Cup with a squad in which Neymar and VinÃcius Junior stand out. However, Serbia is an interesting case.
Serbia topped their UEFA World Cup qualifying group with a late victory over Portugal on the final matchday. That result almost completely eliminated the Portuguese. Furthermore, Serbia finished top of their UEFA Nations League Group B. Despite the second tier of competition, that group had Erling Haaland’s Norway, 2018 quarter-finalists Sweden and Slovenia.
Serbia remains a favorite to Switzerland for that second place, shaping up for what could be a dramatic matchday three match in that group.
BrazilSwitzerlandSerbiaCameroonGroup H
Where this is Messi’s last World Cup with Argentina, there is less certainty about Cristiano Ronaldo’s future with Portugal. At the age of 37, it is likely to be his last tournament. In 2026, he would be the second-oldest outfield player in World Cup history. Although few coaches would say no if Cristiano wanted to be in the team.
His Portugal team played against Uruguay in 2018, with the latter winning in the Round of 16 tie. However, Portugal have recognizable talent across the board, and Uruguay’s lineup on paper may not be as strong.
The rest of Group H is a balanced side to round out the World Cup group predictions. South Korea is also a decent team, particularly in the form of Son Heung-min. Then Ghana’s last two trips to the World Cup brought out the best in their opponent. That includes a quarterfinal appearance in 2010.
PortugalUruguaySouth KoreaGhana
PHOTO: IMAGO / MY