After four and a half long years, the 2022 FIFA World Cup is finally here! Hosted by Qatar, the tournament finally gets underway on 20 November and ends on 18 December 2022. Unlike previous tournaments, which are usually held over June/July during the northern hemisphere winter, this tournament is being held over November/December (in autumn) to avoid the intense heat of the Qatar summer.
Some notable countries are missing from the 2022 edition, including Euro 2020 champions and 4-time winners Italy, Nigeria, Chile, Sweden and Colombia. However, the tournament is still set to be unique, competitive and exciting, with numerous teams that could take the trophy and so many great matches to bet on at gbets.co.za!
Here’s a quick preview of the t tournament, with the likely standouts from each group:
Group A
- Qatar
- Ecuador
- Senegal
- Netherlands
Fixtures
- 20 November 2022, 18:00 ̶ Qatar v Ecuador, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
- 21 November 2022, 18:00 ̶ Senegal v Netherlands, Al Thumama Stadium, Doha
- 25 November 2022, 15:00 ̶ Qatar v Senegal, Al Thumama Stadium, Doha
- 25 November 2022, 18:00 ̶ Netherlands v Ecuador, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
- 29 November 2022, 17:00 ̶ Ecuador v Senegal, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
- 29 November 2022, 17:00 ̶ Qatar v Netherlands, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
Preview
Three-time World Cup finalists The Netherlands and Ecuador are the favourites to qualify from this group, with the Netherlands particularly eager to do well after not qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. However, Senegal can’t be written off, and while hosts Qatar may be considered football minnows, they could also follow the suit of other host countries and play above themselves.
Group B
- England
- Iran
- United States
- Wales
Fixtures
- 21 November 2022, 14:00 ̶ England v Iran, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
- 21 November 2022, 21:00 ̶ United States v Wales, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
- 25 November 2022, 12:00 ̶ Wale v Iran, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
- 25 November 2022,21:00 ̶ England v United States, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
- 29 November 2022, 21:00 ̶ Wales v England, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
- 29 November 2022, 21:00 ̶ Iran v United States, Al Thumama Stadium, Doha
While perennial World Cup underachievers are the favourites to top the group, they may not have an easy time of it in any of their matches, with Iran, the US and neighbours Wales all likely to be competitive. The 1966 champions will be encouraged after narrowly losing the Euro 2020 final to Italy in a penalty shootout but will have to tread lightly against tricky opponents.
Group C
- Argentina
- Saudi Arabia
- Mexico
- Poland
Fixtures
- 22 November 2022, 12:00 ̶ Argentina v Saudi Arabia, Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail
- 22 November 2022,18:00 ̶ Mexico v Poland, Stadium 974, Doha
- 26 November 2022, 15:00 ̶ Poland v Saudi Arabia, Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
- 26 November 2022, 21:00 ̶ Argentina v Mexico, Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail
- 30 November 2022, 21:00 ̶ Poland v Argentina, Stadium 974, Doha
- 30 November 2022, 21:00 ̶ Saudi Arabia v Mexico, Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail
Preview
Two-time champions Argentina will face stiff competition in the form of Mexico and Poland, but will still be favoured to top Group C. Lionel Messi will probably play in his last World Cup and will hope to go out with a bang by finally lifting the Jules Rimet trophy
Group D
- France
- Australia
- Denmark
- Tunisia
Fixtures
- 22 November 2022, 15:00 ̶ Denmark v Tunisia, Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
- 22 November 2022, 21:00 ̶ France v Australia, Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
- 26 November 2022, 12:00 ̶ Tunisia v Australia, Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
- 26 November 2022, 18:00 ̶ France v Denmark, Stadium 974, Doha
- 30 November 2022, 17:00 ̶ Australia v Denmark, Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
- 30 November 2022, 17:00 ̶ Tunisia v France, Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
Preview
Defending champions France (who also won in 1998) will be hot favourites to top their group but won’t be able to take on any of Australia, Denmark and Tunisia lightly. Denmark are former European champions, while Australia always put on a competitive performance at World Cups. Tunisia are former AFCON champions and have appeared in 5 World Cups, so this should be an enjoyable group to watch.
Group E
- Spain
- Costa Rica
- Germany
- Japan
Fixtures
- 23 November 2022, 15:00 ̶ Germany v Japan, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
- 23 November 2022, 18:00 ̶ Spain v Costa Rica, Al Thumama Stadium, Doha
- 27 November 2022, 14:00 ̶ Japan v Costa Rica, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
- 27 November 2022, 21:00 ̶ Spain v Germany, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
- 1 December 2022, 21:00 ̶ Japan v Spain, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
- 1 December 2022, 21:00 ̶ Costa Rica v Germany, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
Preview
Heavyweights and former champions Spain and Germany are almost guaranteed to go through from this group, but they still won’t be able to take either Japan or Costa Rica lightly. Four-time champions Germany love playing at World Cups but have not been in the greatest form of late, while 2010 champions Spain will be hoping to recapture the glory of the late 2000s/ early 2010s.
Group F
- Belgium
- Canada
- Morocco
- Croatia
Fixtures
- 3 November 2022, 12:00 ̶ Morocco v Croatia, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
- 23 November 2022, 21:00 ̶ Belgium v Canada, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
- 27 November 2022, 15:00 ̶ Belgium v Morocco, Al Thumama Stadium, Doha
- 27 November 2022, 18:00 ̶ Croatia v Canada, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
- 1 December 2022, 17:00 ̶ Croatia v Belgium, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
- 1 December 2022, 17:00 ̶ Canada v Morocco, Al Thumama Stadium, Doha
Preview
Star-studded Belgium will be favoured to top this group, despite the presence of 2018 finalists, Croatia. Both sides though will be expected to go through ahead of Canada and Mexico.
Group G
- Brazil
- Serbia
- Switzerland
- Cameroon
Fixtures
- 30 November 2022, 22:00 ̶ Saudi Arabia v Mexico, Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail
- 24 November 2022, 12:00 ̶ Switzerland v Cameroon, Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
- 24 November 2022, 21:00 ̶ Brazil v Serbia Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail
- 28 November 2022, 12:00 ̶ Cameroon v Serbia, Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
- 28 November 2022, 18:00 ̶ Brazil v Switzerland, Stadium 974, Doha
- 2 December 2022, 21:00 ̶ Serbia v Switzerland, Stadium 974, Doha
- 2 December 2022, 21:00 ̶ Cameroon v Brazil, Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail
Preview
Generally considered the best football-playing country ever (and current world number 1), the spotlight will once again be on 5-time champions Brazil. They should top the group with household names in the team such as Alisson, Ederson, Fabinho and Fred. The fight for the other spot in the Round of 16 should be exciting, with either one of Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon fairly evenly matched.
Group H
- Portugal
- Ghana
- Uruguay
- South Korea
Fixtures
- 24 November 2022, 15:00 ̶ Uruguay v South Korea, Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
- 24 November 2022, 18:00 ̶ Portugal v Ghana, Stadium 974, Doha
- 28 November 2022, 15:00 ̶ South Korea v Ghana, Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
- 28 November 2022, 21:00 ̶ Portugal v Uruguay, Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail
- 2 December 2022, 17:00 ̶ Ghana v Uruguay, Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
- 2 December 2022, 17:00 ̶ South Korea v Portugal, Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
Preview
This should be one of the most competitive groups in the World Cup and could perhaps even be classified as the "Group of death”. Led by global superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal is always a dangerous team, while Uruguay are 2-time champions that tend to excel in world cups. Ghana is a wildcard that can do anything on the day and will be looking for revenge after their controversial quarter-final loss against Uruguay in 2010. South Korea made the semifinals in 2022, so this group should be an exciting and immensely competitive one.
Knockout Rounds
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