2022 World Cup Predictions
Photo by Mauro Pimentel from AFP
The World Cup is almost here!
Does it not feel like that because it’s winter? Same, to be honest.
But nonetheless, it’s almost here.
And because it’s almost here, I figured what better way to celebrate than some very correct predictions!
I’ll show my rankings for each group, explain below, and go through the knockout rounds to determine who wins the 2022 World Cup.
Group A
Netherlands
Senegal
Qatar
Ecuador
The winner of this group should be cut and dry. Holland is better than everyone else.
2nd actually was a little bit harder, and I really did think that Ecuador or Qatar could potentially upset Senegal once I found out about Sadio Mane’s injury.
But Mane will play, so it made it obvious. Holland and Senegal will both go through.
Group B
United States
England
Wales
Iran
Hear me out. This is not blind American bias.
England is far and away more talented than the U.S. It’s not particularly close.
But ever since England’s heartbreaking Euro loss to Italy in the final, they have not played well whatsoever.
Whereas this United States team, whether it be must win qualifiers or all their games under Gregg Berhalter against Mexico, seems to play their best when the lights are shining so bright.
There’s always a group or two where the more talented team doesn’t win the group, and with England’s current style of play under Gareth Southgate, I think the United States can win the group. England still goes through.
However, you can never rule out Gareth Bale playing for Wales, and Iran is a very, very talented squad as well. They can pull off quite a run.
Group C
Argentina
Mexico
Poland
Saudi Arabia
Argentina, rightfully so, is one of the favorites to raise the trophy in Qatar, so they should qualify easily.
As for the second spot, Poland and Mexico is quite a battle, but I give the odds to Mexico because they simply need to make it out of the group.
How else would they be able to lose in the round of 16?
Group D
France
Denmark
Tunisia
Australia
Another fairly cut and dry group.
France, despite their injuries, are clearly the most talented team here, and Denmark is going through quite a strong era of their national team as well.
Tunisia and Australia likely won’t come close.
Group E
Spain
Germany
Costa Rica
Japan
This group is HARD.
Like, really hard.
Japan is never a slouch in this tournament, and Costa Rica has a criminally underrated match winner in goal with Keylor Navas.
If you replaced Spain or Germany with a team like Portugal or Croatia, I could see Costa Rica sneaking through.
But there’s just too much talent within Spain and Germany to feel good about picking an upset here.
Spain gets the edge over Germany for me in the group.
Group F
Belgium
Canada
Croatia
Morocco
Speaking of Croatia…
This group may not have the same “brand name” international team excitement that Group E has, but this is a very tough group as well.
Belgium should win the group easily, but 2nd? Completely up for grabs.
Croatia has the experience and talent, if not a little too past their prime for my liking, and Morocco is very sneaky good.
But Canada is young, hungry, and very well coached.
Canada will shock the world, and make it to the knockout rounds.
Group G
Brazil
Switzerland
Cameroon
Serbia
And after two difficult groups, we’re back to one that’s cut and dry.
Brazil and Switzerland clearly have enough talent to walk through this group.
Will they? We’ll see.
Group H
Uruguay
Portugal
South Korea
Ghana
Uruguay is underrated. Portugal is overrated.
I’m even thinking, with all the turmoil with Ronaldo going on (plus how reliant Portugal is on him, to a fault), that South Korea may upset Portugal…
You know what? Screw it.
Uruguay
South Korea
Portugal
Ghana
That’s right!
A mid post switch up!
Portugal has always underwhelmed.
Even in the 2016 Euros, a tournament that Portugal won, they found a way to be underwhelming by finishing 3rd in their group behind Hungary and Iceland.
I’m sick of Portugal.
Round of 16
The Netherlands vs England
England may not be playing their best, but in a win or go home game against the Dutch, whose best player Virgil Van Dijk is not in very good form, England should have the edge to go through.
England advances to the quarterfinals.
Argentina vs Denmark
The Danes are a nice story, and I hope Christian Eriksen has a great World Cup after everything he’s been through.
Still, Argentina should easily advance here.
Argentina advances to the quarterfinals.
Spain vs Canada
The Canadians may shock the world by getting here, but the run ends in the quarterfinals.
Spain advances to the quarterfinals.
Brazil vs South Korea
I mention match winners often, and South Korea has a fantastic one in Son Heung-Min.
Still, that’s not enough to take down this dominant of a Brazil squad.
Brazil advances to the quarterfinals.
United States vs Senegal
Senegal is very, very tough.
But with still some questions about Mane’s injury (and the threat of reinjuring it), I’m rolling with my guys.
The United States advance to the quarterfinals.
France vs Mexico
C’mon, guys.
It’s Mexico in the round of 16.
France advances to the quarterfinals.
Belgium vs Germany
Game of the tournament so far?
Definitely game of the tournament so far.
But this is the last great chance of Belgium’s golden generation, and they know it.
Belgium advances to the quarterfinals.
Uruguay vs Switzerland
This could be a sneaky good game, but as I said above, I think people are really underrating this Uruguay squad.
Uruguay advances to the quarterfinals.
Quarterfinals
Argentina vs England
England may make it to the quarterfinals, but it’s still England in a major tournament.
Sadly, it isn’t coming home.
Argentina advances to the semifinals.
Brazil vs Spain
Spain, as a squad, is really talented.
But they aren’t as talented as Brazil.
Brazil advances to the semifinals.
United States vs France
Alright. By this point you may think I’m bias with my U.S.A. predictions.
And you’re right!
The United Stat-
Nah I’m just kidding.
That’d be a hell of a win, though!
France advances to the semifinals.
Belgium vs Uruguay
I keep telling you.
Uruguay is underrated.
But not that underrated.
Belgium advances to the semifinals.
Argentina vs Brazil
I’m calling my shot.
This is a game that we will remember in future years as one of the best World Cup games ever.
Not only are these two big rivals, but they are so talented that it will be nothing but fireworks all game long, both in the tension and in the attacking groups.
But I feel this is a special time for Lionel Messi.
His club play has “slipped” (but is still the best in the world) but his international play recently has taken quite a step.
Match winners matter.
There’s no better match winner than Messi.
Argentina advances to the final.
Belgium vs France
And the other semifinal should be amazing too.
France’s injury issues are a concern.
No Kimpembe in the backline. No Nkounkou in midfield.
They should still be able to make it this far.
But against a Belgian squad who knows this is their last great chance, those injury issues will show.
Belgium advances to the final.
World Cup Final
Here we are.
Belgium’s golden generation, with their last best shot to have something to show for it.
The last ever World Cup where we can definitively say Lionel Messi is one of the best players in the world.
Belgium has an overall a better squad. It should be an easy decision.
But I feel something special about this go around for Messi.
He finally got over the international hump by winning Copa America last year.
Now, he has the chance to bring home the World Cup trophy for his nation for the first time since 1986.
And I’m not going to doubt the best player ever.
Argentina Wins the World Cup.
As a final note, we should not forget that the reason this World Cup is in the winter is because FIFA took a massive bribe to host the World Cup in a place that could not comfortably play in the summertime due to heat, and had their stadiums built with slave labor and will be patrolling the crowds to make sure people don’t have any rainbow symbols to continue their censorship of the LGBT community.
I’ll be enjoying the product on the field, and the product on the field alone.
If you can’t do that given the circumstances surrounding this tournament, I understand completely.
Here’s hoping we have a fun, but most importantly safe, World Cup.
