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The 2022 FIFA World Cup draw took place on April 1st, 2022
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England were drawn alongside Iran and USA
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Read below for the full FIFA World Cup 2022 groups
Football betting odds are available for FIFA World Cup 2022 groups. The draw was carried out, in typically slow-paced fashion, on April 1st to decide the matchups for the first round.
Qatar were locked into Group A, and various other criteria had to be fulfilled as the draw revealed groups of death and a favourable path for some World Cup betting favourites.
Here’s a run down of all eight FIFA World Cup 2022 groups.
Group A
Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
One of the easier groups to evaluate when it comes to World Cup predictions, Senegal and the Netherlands should cruise through Group A.
Senegal are ranked 20th in the world, 26 places ahead of Ecuador.
Ranked 51st and defeated heavily by Portugal, Ireland and Serbia in recent friendlies, Qatar have their work cut out to avoid humiliation against the Netherlands.
Surprises are possible in such a short group phase, and Ecuador could easily take something from the Netherlands or Senegal, but this is one of the least intriguing FIFA World Cup 2022 group.
Group B
England, Iran, USA, Wales
There’s non-football narrative aplenty with England, Iran and the USA being drawn together.
Whether it’s Ukraine, Scotland or Wales joining them in Group B will be decided in June after Ukraine’s fixtures were understandably postponed.
This was almost the perfect draw for Gareth Southgate’s side as they look to build on their 2018 run to the last four.
It should be an entertaining contest for the second qualification spot between the USA and whoever claims the final Group B berth.
Group C
Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
Like England, Argentina will be very happy with their group.
There’s not a great deal of resistance there for Lionel Messi and co, even if Mexico possess some fun attacking talent and Poland have arguably the best striker on the planet.
Mexico and Poland will fancy their chances at taking three points off Saudi Arabia, and assuming they both lose to Argentina, the matchup between the two sides will go effectively decide which team joins the Argentines in the last 16.
The runner-up likely faces the daunting task of France in the second round. Of course, Saudi Arabia troubling the scorers could spice things up further in Group C.
Group D
France, Australia, Denmark, Tunisia
The intercontinental playoffs in Qatar this June will decide which of Australia, UAE and Peru join Denmark, Tunisia and reigning champions France in Group D.
Didier Deschamps’ side are the overwhelming favourites to win the group, and it would be a shock if they dropped any points.
Denmark, fresh off a run to the last four at the Euros, are comfortably the second-best team in the group.
Tunisia are a disciplined side, and they got the better of Mali to book their place in Qatar, but they are at a considerable talent deficit to the Danes, particularly with Christian Eriksen in such fine form.
France win this group and it’s probably Mexico or Poland in the last 16 – Deschamps couldn’t have asked for a better path to the quarters.
Group E
Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan
The only group at this winter’s World Cup with two serious contenders, Group E provides us with a tantalising contest between Spain and Germany on November 27th at Al Bayt Stadium.
Both should progress regardless of the result, but the presence of another elite team leaves no margin for error.
If either Spain or Germany drop points against Japan or Costa Rica/New Zealand, they could be heading home much earlier than planned.
Japan have made the knockout phase in three of the last five World Cups.
This isn’t the strongest iteration of the Samurai Blue, though, and it will take a lot of fortune and/or a remarkable performance for them to take anything from their matches with Spain and Germany.
Group E has the biggest game on paper of the first round, but it’s potentially short on intrigue with such a gap between the teams.
Group F
Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
Group F is home to 2018’s runners-up and a semi-finalist. It doesn’t feel quite like that, however, with both sides having gone through substantial decline since then.
The respective cores have aged significantly, and neither are as formidable as they were in Russia four years ago.
Belgium remain a fringe contender, while Croatia are a notch below and could be caught out against two interesting sides in the shape of Canada and Morocco.
This generation of Canadian players is trending upwards and could sneak into the last 16 at just their second ever World Cup.
Group G
Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
Brazil’s status as online betting World Cup favourites was reinforced by a relatively kind group stage draw alongside Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon.
The five-time world champions should progress with relative ease, but Group G is potentially the most balanced in the first round.
Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon all harbour realistic hopes of reaching the knockout phases.
The Swiss have made it out of the group in every tournament since 2010, while Serbia have an exciting core of talent, mixing experience and youth.
Cameroon have lost just once in 13 matches, and reached the last four in AFCON.
Group H
Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea
Portugal had to take the difficult route to the group stage after slipping up against Serbia in qualification.
Their reward is an entertaining Group H with Ghana, a resurgent Uruguay and a South Korea team on an excellent run of form.
Uruguay, on paper, should easily make it into the last 16. They finished qualification strongly, but it’s not so long ago that they were a team in turmoil.
One wonders how much they can rely on Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani at this point, too. Will Darwin Nunez deliver on the big stage?
Having fallen in the group stage at AFCON, it’s hard to judge how Ghana will perform, too.
There’s a lot of uncertainty in Group H – Portugal and Uruguay should progress, but there’s definitely some upset potential.
