FIFA World Cup 2022: 10 surprising teams to watch out for

The FIFA World Cup 2022 is around the corner, and football lovers cannot stop talking about the global showpiece. Some teams will make their maiden appearance in the tournament, while others will be hoping to break their long drought without the title. We sample a list of the top 10 teams tipped to win the trophy.

Qatar will host the 2022 edition that kicks off from November to December. Despite the fears of high temperatures during the period, players are expected to give their best and help their nations fight for the title.

How many teams are in FIFA World Cup 2022?

Thirty-two teams have sealed their spot in the winter's tournament, including hosts Qatar, who earned automatic qualification. Each continent has a representative in the competition.

Who qualified for Qatar 2022?

Top-ranked countries like Brazil, Belgium, Argentina, Germany, France, and Portugal made it to the tournament. However, Euro 2020 winners Italy, Russia, and Chile did not qualify.

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FIFA World Cup 2022 draw

Countries are grouped into eight groups of four teams each, with the top two teams sealing their qualification to the round of 16. Afterwards, there will be the quarter-finals and the semi-finals before the much-anticipated final.

Which teams are more likely to win the World Cup?

Below are the top 10 FIFA World Cup 2022 teams to watch out for based on the quality of their squad, team spirit, form, and FIFA ranking.

10. Denmark

The Danish team reached the semi-finals of the Euro 2020 competition and will be hoping to do even better in Qatar.

• Coach: Kasper Hjulmand
• FIFA ranking: 11
• Key players: Christian Eriksen, Kasper Schmeichel, Simon Kjær, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

9. Portgual

Portugal has young prospects and few veterans who could push the team ahead in the tournament. Meanwhile, all eyes will be on Cristiano Ronaldo, who will probably play his last World Cup.

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• Coach: Fernando Santos
• FIFA ranking: 8
• Key players: Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Pepe, Rúben Dias

8. The Netherlands

The Dutch national side topped their World Cup qualifiers group with six wins, two draws, and one defeat. They have assembled a squad of brilliant talents, making them one of the major contenders.

Coach: Louis van Gaal

FIFA ranking: 10

Key players: Frenkie de Jong, Memphis Depay, Virgil van Dijk, Georginio Wijnaldum

7. Belgium

The Red Devils finished third in the 2018 edition and will be hoping for nothing less than the title in Qatar. In addition, their pool of talent is equally impressive.

Coach: Roberto Martínez

FIFA ranking: 2

Key players: Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard

6. Germany

After winning the 2014 World Cup, the Germans failed to qualify for the knockout stage in 2018. However, the team has undergone a massive overhaul and looks set to return to its best.

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Coach: Hansi Flick

FIFA ranking: 12

Key players: Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos, Joshua Kimmich, Thomas Müller

5. Argentina

Most people believe Qatar's World Cup could become Lionel Messi's last chance to win the coveted trophy after clinching Copa America in 2021. But Argentina also has an excellent squad depth that can compete with any side.

• Coach: Lionel Scaloni
• FIFA ranking: 4
• Key players: Lionel Messi, Emiliano Martínez, Rodrigo De Paul, Ángel Di María

4. Spain

Spain has a squad of promising young players who have improved the team since their former glories in the 2010s. La Roja reached the semi-finals of the Euro 2020 and the final of the Nations League but lost to France.

• Coach: Luis Enrique
• FIFA ranking: 7
• Key players: Sergio Busquets, Pedri, Koke, Alvaro Morata

3. England

The Three Lions are a team to look out for in Qatar following their recent performance. They finished fourth in the 2018 World Cup and lost to Italy in the Euro 2020 final.

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• Coach: Gareth Southgate
• FIFA ranking: 5
• Key players: Harry Kane, Phil Foden, John Stones, Jordan Henderson

What are the odds of England winning the World Cup?

According to sources, the Three Lions are the third favourites to win the World Cup at 13/2 behind France (11/2) and Brazil (5/1). Southgate has a pool of talents at his disposal to deliver the title for England since 1966.

2. France

The reigning World Cup champions return as favourites after clinching the 2021 UEFA Nations League. The Les Blues boasts many stars in their squad that could help them break the curse of defending champions.

• Coach: Didier Deschamps
• FIFA ranking: 3
• Key players: Kylian Mbappe, Hugo Lloris, Raphaël Varane, Karim Benzema

1. Brazil

The Samba Boys are back on the international stage with a strong squad of world-class stars. The current Brazil team is well-placed to end their 20-year wait for the World Cup.

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• Coach: Adenor Leonardo Bacchi (Tite)
• FIFA ranking: 1
• Key players: Neymar, Casemiro, Marquinos, Vinicius Jr.

Past World Cup winners

Since its inception in 1930, only eight national teams have won the competition. Brazil has won it the most (five times). They are also the only team to have played in every World Cup.

Which teams are more likely to surprise the football world this World Cup?

Most World Cup events have produced a couple of surprises where underdogs upset some of the favourites. Croatia, against all odds, reached the 2018 World Cup final and cannot be ruled out in Qatar. Other teams like Uruguay, Serbia, Poland, Senegal, and South Korea could also shock the top sides in the tournament.

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Is any African team likely to win the World Cup?

No African team has ever made it past the quarter-finals of the competition. Defending AFCON champions Senegal are the top-ranked African side in 2022 but are still not at the level of top teams. Cameroon, Morocco, Ghana, and Tunisia are other representatives who might be hoping to at least reach the knockouts.

Is any Asian team likely to win the World Cup?

Most Asian teams have struggled to progress further in the World Cup, but the trend is unlikely to change in Qatar. The best performance by an Asian country was in 2002, when South Korea stormed into the semi-final. The continent will need miracles from Qatar, Iran, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Australia, or Japan to bring them the trophy.

Who is the best team in the FIFA World Cup 2022?

Brazil is ranked as the best team in the world. The latest FIFA ranking shows they are top of the globe with 1837.56 points. They are also unbeaten in their World Cup qualifiers.

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World Cup underdogs

The lowly-ranked teams in the 2022 FIFA World Cup include Canada, Tunisia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. These teams have a lot to do and probably count on miracles to progress past the group stage.

Which team has the most chances in FIFA 22?

According to FIFA 22, France is the best team to build an Ultimate Team around. The French national team is rich with highly-rated world-class players from top leagues in Europe. Belgium comes second, followed by Portugal.

The FIFA World Cup in 2022 will provide a platform for many footballers to prove their quality and talent. A decent campaign at the club level will equally motivate the players ahead of the global showdown.

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