RANKED: Teams in the 2022 World Cup
Qatar is hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup for the first time in the history of the tournament. No matter where fans of the "beautiful game" reside, from November to December 2022, they will support their team.
Thirty-two teams representing countries from around the world will compete for soccer's biggest prize. Here's the ranking of every team.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is in Group C of the Qatar World Cup. Soccer superpowers like Argentina, Mexico, and Poland join the Arabian football club.
They have +75,000 odds to win based on their tough competition. Their focus should be on defending and making calculated counterattacks to try and compete.
Tunisia
Tunisia has France, Denmark, and Peru in Group D to beat and advance in the World Cup.
The team had gone seven games without losing before a humbling loss at the hands of Brazil 5-1 in a friendly this past September. Tunisia's defense has to cover its offensive deficiencies.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is perhaps placing too much of its championship aspirations on the shoulders of 18-year-old Jewison Bennette and 35-year-old Keylor Navas.
With Spain, Germany, and Japan in Group E, the team has to overcome lacking experience versus non-Concacaf teams and form the right chemistry between young and old players.
Cameroon
Cameroon won the hearts of all soccer fans, regardless of allegiances, by becoming the first African nation to make the World Cup quarter-finals in 1990.
They are in for a fight because Switzerland, Serbia, and the team favored in almost every tournament to win Brazil is in group G also.
South Korea
South Korea is pinning their hopes of winning the World Cup on their star player Son Heung-Min, who plays with Tottenham. They are in Group H with Ghana, Portugal, and Uruguay.
The South Koreans have beaten Chile and Egypt, giving the team confidence until a 5-1 defeat by Brazil.
Qatar
Host nation Qatar is trying to add to the teams who have hosted the tournament and also advanced out of the group. Ecuador, Netherlands, and Senegal round out Group A.
These countries have more talent and will make things very difficult for Qatar to get into the qualifying rounds.
Japan
It would be an understatement to say that Japan is in a tough Group E. They are joined by Spain, Germany, and Costa Rica in their division.
Without focusing on Japan's roster, they will have Germany and Spain, two World Cup favorites, to try to defeat and advance further.
Ghana
Although Ghana has a young and inexperienced squad up front, they hope that their list of recruits with Ghanaian bloodlines in top professional clubs will help.
Players are joining the team from Arsenal, Chelsea, and Southampton and will bring their experience against other top international football players to the tournament.
Australia
Australia should be thankful to even be in the World Cup after barely qualifying. The Aussies needed playoffs against UAE and Peru to punch their ticket to the big tournament.
Their Group D division has France, Denmark, and Tunisia. It's a tough group, and Australia's chances are slim.
Iran
Iran is in Group B, which includes England, the USA, and Wales. The drama surrounding the team might prove to be too much of a distraction.
Dragan Skocic was released as the manager for Carlos Queiroz, despite winning 15 of 18 games, and star Sardar Azmoun may not play.
Wales
Wales joins England, Iran, and the USA in Group B. Their familiarity with England is why they have no fear of them, but it is unlikely that the Welsh squad can beat them.
Iran lacks Wales' talent, so the winner between them and the USA is likely to advance.
United States
Despite having numerous players playing for top European clubs, the United States is considered to be the underdog in the World Cup.
Despite being undefeated versus England in their two previous World Cup matches (1950, 2010), a recent loss to Japan and a draw with Saudi Arabia provide little hope for advancing.
Morocco
If Morocco is fortunate enough to advance from Group F, they will have overcome hurdles on and off the pitch.
Before the Worlds, two of their best players were feuding with the management and staff, and then fired a coach who has been fired three times before a World Cup.
Canada
Canada has not qualified for the World Cup, on the men's side, since 1986. The Canadian roster boasts two top 10 players in the world.
Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David are two recognizable talents, but their team is in a very competitive Group F with Belgium, Croatia, and Morocco.
Mexico
Flanked by Argentina, Poland, and Saudi Arabia in Group C, Mexico is a serious contender in the World Cup.
After the country was banned from the 1990 tournament, they have qualified ever since but never have advanced beyond the round of 16. Recent qualifier wins give Mexico some hope.
Ecuador
Team Ecuador is alongside Netherlands, Senegal, and Qatar in Group A. While they are a defensive nightmare for opponents, they are also going to be challenged to score goals.
Despite being limited offensively, there is no team in their group that is head and shoulders above them with talent.
Poland
With a player as talented as Robert Lewandowski on their team, Poland is on a level with anyone in their group and in the World Cup itself.
The Polish side shares Group C with soccer powerhouses Argentina and Mexico and a team with very little chance to advance, Saudi Arabia.
Belgium
For the opponents of Belgium, especially in their group, if they are not careful, they will get served a loss instead of waffles.
The Belgians are in Group F, accompanied by Canada, Croatia, and Morocco. Besides Croatia, ranked a top 10 country, Belgium is a favorite in this group.
Senegal
Senegal is a team in the World Cup that is on the rise. They are in Group A with Ecuador, the Netherlands, and Qatar.
Other than perennial favorites in the Netherlands, Senegal's chances of advancing out of the group and into the knockout stage are as good as anyone's.
Argentina
Argentina has Messi, one of football's greatest players of all time, so their second-place ranking should surprise nobody.
If the Messi-led Argentines can move through the group stages unbeaten, their 38-game winning streak will be a world record. They are in Group C with Mexico, Poland, and Saudi Arabia.
Portugal
Portugal is a familiar name in the world of soccer, and they are represented by Ronaldo, one of the greatest players of all time.
Although the Portuguese team is ranked highly in this year's World Cup, it is mostly from their reputation. Recent results show no reason for optimism.
Switzerland
Switzerland is ranked in the top 10 of many lists of contenders for the World Cup. The Swiss are loaded with high-end talent and are on a hot streak of winning coming into the big tournament.
After going undefeated in qualifying, they beat Portugal, Spain, and the Czech Republic.
Uruguay
Group H has Uruguay, Ghana, Portugal, and South Korea in a group with no particular stand-outs.
The other countries in their division do not threaten their chances of advancing to the knockout stages. Uruguay replacing its manager after 15 years and current roster issues create doubt about potential success.
Serbia
Hailed as one of the greatest Yugoslav footballers ever, Dragan Stojkovic has given Serbia confidence, real or unreal, that they deserve their high ranking and are a serious threat to win it all.
The team is in the very competitive Group G with Brazil, Cameroon, and Switzerland, all strong contenders.
Croatia
Where Croatia is ranked on any list, it is wrong to leave them out of the top 10. They are in Group F and will compete against Belgium, Canada, and Morocco, making them the favorites to move on.
Other than the Belgians, Croatia's talent is unmatched within their group.
England
England narrowly missed reaching the 2018 World Cup final at Wembley Stadium. After a crushing defeat at Euro 2020 to Italy on penalty kicks, things looked promising for their results in Qatar.
They are in Group B with Iran, the USA, and Wales but have several injuries to key players.
Denmark
Denmark shares Group D with France, Peru, and Tunisia. They were emotionally uplifted by the Christian Eriksen returning after he suffered a cardiac arrest last year on the pitch.
The Danes won 4 out of 6 games in a warm-up and beat world champion France twice along the way.
France
France has a legitimate chance of winning the Qatar 2022 World Cup. They are full of young and talented players but will also be relying on them because of their injury issues.
Australia, Denmark, and Tunisia are in Group D with France, which has had recent and disappointing losses.
Netherlands
There is no intentional disrespect to their Group A opponents, but Denmark is the clear favorite out of all of them to get into the knockout stages.
Although Senegal will do well against the other teams in the group, like Ecuador and Qatar, they present no danger to the Netherlands.
Germany
Germany will be competing with Spain for Group E supremacy, as the other teams in the group, Costa Rica and Japan, do not pose enough of a threat to them.
The Germans need to find consistency because they won 9 of 10 games and then won once in six games.
Spain
As Qatar approaches, Spain will be the best European team in the tournament. Despite winning only three of their last six games, including losing recently to Switzerland, the Spanish is one of the favorites.
Spain has superior passing skills to their Group E opponents Germany, Japan, and Costa Rica.
Brazil
Brazil is favored in every tournament, qualifier, and World Cup. They have lost only once in their last 29 games, which was to Argentina.
Led by the skillful feet of Neymar, Brazil has scored 40 goals in a 17-game span while allowing only five during that same time period.
