2022 World Cup Odds Tracker: France the Favorite, USMNT 65-1

2022 World Cup Odds Tracker: France the Favorite, USMNT 65-1 article feature image
Credit:

John Dorton/ISI Photos/Getty Images. Pictured: United States standout Christian Pulisic.

2022 World Cup Odds

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook, updated November 19. Learn more about American odds here.

TeamOddsProbability
France+60011.4%
Brazil+65010.6%
England+65010.6%
Spain+7009.9%
Argentina+9007.9%
Germany+10007.2%
Italy+12006.1%
Belgium+14005.3%
Netherlands+16004.7%
Portugal+22003.4%
Denmark+22003.4%
Colombia+65001.2%
Croatia+65001.2%
Uruguay+65001.2%
Switzerland+65001.2%
Serbia+65001.2%
USA+65001.2%
Mexico+100000.78%
Nigeria+100000.78%
Algeria+100000.78%
Senegal+100000.78%
Chile+100000.78%
Sweden+150000.52%
Cameroon+150000.52%
Canada+200000.39%
Russia+200000.39%
Qatar+200000.39%
Ivory Coast+200000.39%
Morocco+200000.39%
Wales+200000.39%
Egypt+250000.31%
Ecuador+250000.31%

The 2022 FIFA World Cup is one year away, and the field is starting to take shape as teams lock up spots in qualifying. Because of the heat in Qatar in the summer, the tournament will begin on Nov. 21, instead of its usual June window.

This will be the last World Cup to feature 32 teams. It will expand to 48 teams for the 2026 edition held across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

There aren't many surprises at the top of the odds board at DraftKings. Defending World Cup champ France is the favorite at +600, followed by Brazil, England, Spain and Argentina, all under +1000.

That's good news for those nations. Although it's a small sample, there has not been a World Cup winner to begin the tournament at 10-1 or longer since Italy in 1982, which won as an 18-1 shot, per SportsOddsHistory. The winners in the last 30 years have been the countries you'd expect.

None of the favorites are in real danger of missing the tournament yet, but Italy and Portugal are among the two contenders who must qualify via a playoff early next year. Other regions, like CONCACAF, CAF and CONMEBOL, are still in the middle of their qualifying.

The USMNT is 65-1 at DraftKings to win the World Cup, and 80-1 at PointsBet and BetMGM. They're 100-1 at some European sportsbooks, which will surely take less American money as we get closer to the World Cup.

The group stage draw for the 2022 World Cup will be held in April, seven months ahead of the tournament's start.

Who Is the 2022 World Cup Favorite?

Let's dive into each key contender below, starting with favorite France.

1. France (+600)

The defending World Cup champions are once again the favorites, though not by much. They bowed out of Euro 2020 last summer in the Round of 16.

France is unbeaten in 2022 World Cup qualifying at 5-0-3 with a +15 goal differential.

2. Brazil (+650)

Brazil entered last World Cup as one of the favorites but lost to Belgium in the quarterfinals. Betting odds from DraftKings make Brazil the second favorite, as they're first in CONMEBOL qualifying.

3. England (+650)

England is still searching for that elusive major tournament trophy after losing to Italy in the Euro 2020 finals. The Three Lions went on a magical run before blowing a second-half lead and losing in penalty kicks.

4. Spain (+700)

Spain's turned in consecutive poor World Cups by their standards following a dominant 2010 performance that featured its most talented team ever.

The Spaniards didn't reach the knockout round in 2014 and lost in the Round of 16 in 2018. But they did make the Euro 2020 semis, and the next generation of elite talent is starting to develop. They're the fourth favorites as a result.

5. Argentina (+900)

Argentina are unbeaten, albeit with five draws, in CONMEBOL qualifying. They're six points behind Brazil in the table.

6. Germany (+1000)

Germany didn't get out of the group stage at the 2018 World Cup despite going 10-0 in World Cup qualifying, so their 9-1-0 mark and +32 goal differential in 2022 UEFA qualifying isn't a guarantee of success.

The Germans lost to England in the Euro 2020 Round of 16.

7. Italy (+1200)

The reigning Euro champs will need to get the 2022 edition via a qualifying playoff after drawing on the road against Northern Ireland in a World Cup qualifying match. These odds suggest they're still a serious contender.

8. Belgium (+1400)

Belgium's golden generation has turned in some great results in major international competitions:

  • Quarterfinals, Euro 2020
  • 3rd place, 2018 World Cup
  • Quarterfinals, Euro 2016
  • Quarterfinals, 2014 World Cup

The Belgians cleaned up in their World Cup qualifying group that featured Wales and the Czech Republic. They're second in The Power Rank's international soccer model, but seventh on the odds board at DraftKings.

9. Netherlands (+1600)

The Dutch advanced to the 2022 World Cup through a fairly weak qualifying group, a victory in itself after they failed to reach the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2016.

10. Portugal (+2200)

Like Italy, Portugal will head to a World Cup qualifier playoff to get in after losing its group to Serbia in shocking fashion. The Euro 2016 champs have not made it past the Round of 16 in any of the last three World Cups.

11. Denmark (+2200)

A trendy pick for Euro 2020, the Danes finished third in that competition and rolled through their qualifying group for the 2022 World Cup. They're the last team with odds that imply they can actually win the World Cup.

12. Colombia (+6500)

This is the cutoff point — DraftKings' odds on Denmark are 22-1, and the next team, Colombia, is 65-1.

Colombia sits fourth in CONMEBOL qualifying to advance to the 2022 World Cup after reaching the knockout stage in each of the last two World Cups.

13. Croatia (+6500)

The 2018 World Cup runner up won its qualifying group for this cycle and will look to recapture that magic from four years ago.

14. Uruguay (+6500)

Uruguay is in real danger of missing the World Cup. They sit in seventh in the CONMEBOL qualifying table, one point back of fourth place with four matches to go.

15. Switzerland (+6500)

Switzerland has rather quietly reached the knockout round in each of the last two World Cups and Euros, and has already qualified for 2022 in Qatar.

16. Serbia (+6500)

Serbia beat out Portugal in its group to lock in a World Cup spot.

17. USA (+6500)

The United States turned around its qualifying with a win over Mexico at home, but then drew at Jamaica. The Americans are in fine position to qualify, a point behind Canada for the top spot in the CONCACAF table, but there's still a ways to go. They're hoping to avoid a similar disaster as 2018, when they failed to qualify for the World Cup.

The USMNT is 100-1 at some European sportsbooks, and 85-1 at PointsBet and BetMGM.

18. Mexico (+10000)

Mexico lost to the USMNT this last cycle, then lost to Canada in the snow in Edmonton. El Tri is not in danger of missing out yet, but they're probably a little too close to the fourth spot that needs to qualify in a playoff for comfort.

19. Nigeria (+10000)

Nigeria and Algeria are tied for the best odds of any African team. Nigeria won its group in CAF qualifying to advance to the third round.

20. Algeria (+10000)

Algeria also won its group and will still need to play well in the third round to be one of five teams to reach the World Cup.

2022 World Cup Betting FAQ

When Is the Next World Cup?

The World Cup in Qatar will begin on November 21, 2022. All domestic leagues will pause for a month to accommodate the scheduling change away from the summer.

When Is the Group Stage Draw?

The groups will be drawn on April 1, 2022.

Who Is the 2022 World Cup Favorite?

France is the 2022 favorite as of November 2021.

Past World Cup Winners

Pre-tournament odds via SportsOddsHistory.

YearCountryOdds
2018France+700
2014Germany+600
2010Spain+350
2006Italy+900
2002Brazil+600
1998France+700
1994Brazil+250
1990West Germany+600
1986Argentina+300
1982Italy+1800
About the Author
Steve is a senior editor for The Action Network covering college football, among other things. He's a Penn State grad now based in Atlanta who enjoys great punting, clock-killing drives and turnovers in the red zone.

Follow Steve Petrella @steve_petrella on Twitter/X.

This site contains commercial content. We may be compensated for the links provided on this page. The content on this page is for informational purposes only. Action Network makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event.