Brazil will start as favourites to win their sixth World Cup title, with Argentina and France expected to be their closest challengers.
France are defending champions, having beaten Croatia in the final in Russia four years ago, where all four semi-finalists came from Europe.
However, bookmakers are expecting a much more South American slant to the latter stages of this year’s tournament, although Spain, England, Germany, Portugal and the Netherlands are all projected to make the last eight along with France.
We asked i‘s resident football experts and a few ex-players to have a go at picking a winner.
Qatar 2022 odds
(Odds via Betfair as of 17 November)
- Brazil – 7-2
- Argentina – 11-2
- France – 13-2
- Spain – 15-2
- England – 8-1
- Germany – 11-1
- Portugal – 14-1
- Netherlands – 14-1
- Belgium – 16-1
- Denmark – 22-1
- Uruguay – 35-1
- Croatia – 35-1
90-1 bar
Kevin Garside, chief sports correspondent
- Germany
A tournament with no obviously outstanding team, despite claims made for Brazil, is manna for Die Mannschaft. Four times winners, eight times finalists, Germany’s is a squad of low-key technicians peppered with Brazilianesque craftsmen, led by Leroy Sané, Serge Gnabry and Jamal Musiala. Germany to win on pens, obviously.
Sam Cunningham, chief football correspondent
- Brazil
What should be a relatively straightforward group stage, coming into the World Cup on the back of seven consecutive wins and no losses in 15, a glorious list of attacking options unrivalled by any other team.
Everything feels as though it’s aligning for Brazil to win their first World Cup in two decades. It’s practically a scandal that it’s been so long since The Seleção won football’s greatest prize.
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Daniel Storey, chief football writer
- Brazil
Brazil have the best collection of forwards in the tournament (and of the nine, only Neymar is older than 25). They have Casemiro and Fabinho for midfield ballast. They have the Premier League’s two best goalkeepers. They have a long-term coach who the public respects. It’s their time again.
Mark Douglas, northern football correspondent
- Argentina
A 36-game unbeaten run is the perfect platform for an incredibly strong Argentina squad to go one better than they did in 2014. Lautaro Martinez can ably back up the brilliant Lionel Messi, whose last dance could well be a victory waltz
In Emiliano Martinez, they have one of the best goalkeepers in the tournament too. Spain are the best European chance – Japan and Senegal could spring surprises.
Ally McKay, sports editor
- England
I’m going for England. Brazil and Argentina both have great teams, no doubt. But the idea they’re streets ahead of every other side seems a bit over the top. Both have weaknesses. If I were Gareth Southgate, I’d feel quietly confident that England, buoyed by their big-game experience four years ago in Russia and at the Euros last year, could beat any team in Qatar on their day.
Roy Keane, former Republic of Ireland captain and ITV pundit
- Brazil
It’s going to be hard to stop Brazil. They have such great strength in depth at the moment and some real quality players across the squad. I think France also have some brilliant players and England will come up just short.
More on World Cup 2022
How to watch the World Cup, TV schedule for Qatar, and the full list of BBC and ITV fixtures17 November, 2022
Who won the last World Cup and full list of previous winners ahead of Qatar 202217 November, 2022
James Maddison, England's No 10? Wildcard pick can be World Cup match-winner for Southgate17 November, 2022Gary Neville, former England defender and ITV pundit
- England
I’m going to go for England! They’ve gone from semi-final, final, runner-up and now they are going to go one more. I think they are on a growth over the last few years and I don’t buy into this idea that the Nations League’s performance is their level now – they played four games in the middle of summer that actually nobody was stimulated by and I think the two games they played recently against Italy and Germany are tough games that you can lose in any single year.
So, come the tournament, hopefully injuries won’t take too much of a hold and I’m going to go for England. If not England, I’m going to go for France or Argentina.
Ian Wright, former England striker and ITV pundit
- Argentina
Just coming off the back of winning the Copa America last year, it’s a fantastic squad and it might be the last World Cup for Messi. They can play beautiful attacking football but they also know how to really grind out results when needed.
Eni Aluko, former England international and ITV pundit
- Argentina
It is very difficult to call this World Cup. I believe Argentina are the strongest team going into the tournament and have everything to win it, including it being Messi’s last World Cup. I believe England will reach the semi-finals. I’m not confident the Three Lions will reach the final, but I hope I am wrong! Wales I believe will reach the last 16.
So can England win it?
I have a great deal of sympathy for Southgate, writes Daniel Storey in Doha. He is a man who took England out of a relative international wilderness and onto two of their four best major tournament performances in their history. The “Oh we only beat bad teams” argument falls down when you consider a) Germany and Denmark and b) England were knocked out by Iceland in the tournament immediately before his appointment. Still, there is a reasonable argument that he has come to the end of his own natural cycle. If England fail to get to the semi-finals, he will probably lose his job.
The group stage will be tense and nervy and England will not go hell for leather, as many fans would like. But England to win the group, get through the last 16 and then lose to France in the quarter-finals does appear to be such an obvious eventuality that I’m prepared to let it wash all over me. My prediction? Quarter-finals, and a new manager.
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