We’re big fans of lists. When we’re not listing the best NBA Christmas games, you’ll find us listing everything from the defensive frailties of the Pittsburgh Steelers to Cam Newton’s fashion mistakes.
However, we’re aware that there’s a world out there beyond US sport. So we thought that we should list those teams who are looking like favorites to win the 2022 World Cup.
After all, it’s less than one year until this epic soccer tournament takes place in Qatar and we’re starting to get a good idea of who might seize glory. While you’d be a fool to back the USA getting out of the group stages, we think that any one of the following countries could win the 2022 World Cup.
- Brazil
Brazil may have underperformed at recent World Cup competitions, but it looks like Tite’s team are ready to redress the balance this time around. All eyes will once again be on Neymar to prove his worth on the biggest stage, but it is other players like Vinicius Junior and Antony who might set the world of soccer on fire next winter. Plus Raphina’s impressive form for Leeds United has made him the subject of many future bidding wars and he’ll be looking to make his mark.
There’s plenty of strength further back too with the experience of Thiago Silva matched by the dual goalkeeping excellence of Alisson and Ederson. A strong Brazil performance would be a real boost for South American soccer given the European dominance of the 2018 World Cup. All of which means that winter 2022 will be the time that Neymar has to truly shine.
- France
It could easily go either way for a supremely talented – yet egotistical – French team. The 2018 World Cup winners let themselves down badly in this year’s Euros with several ill-disciplined performances seeing them crashing out early to Switzerland.
Thankfully there’s enough strength all over the French team to make amends for that embarrassing display. The formidable attacking power of Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema and Antoine Griezmann is hard to beat, while Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante are an unstoppable pairing in midfield. But whether Didier Deschamps has what it takes to control the unruly egos of the France team remains to be seen.
- England
Head coach Gareth Southgate has been instrumental in finally making England look like a team of world-beaters. This year’s Euros saw England bottle it in the final against Italy in front of a home crowd, and it will be interesting to see how the team bounce back from such a disappointment.
One thing’s clear and that England has plenty of youthful talent in its ranks. Players like Bukayo Saka, Jack Grealish and 18-year old Jude Bellingham represent a new generation of massive talent for Southgate to pick and choose from. However, it’s too early to tell whether Qatar 2022 will come too soon for such young players.
- Italy
Few people would have predicted Italy to show the strength and discipline to win the 2020 Euros, but Roberto Mancini worked wonders to produce a team that was better than the sum of its parts. While Italy may not have an out and out megastar like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the team can play with the consistent pragmatism necessary to win tournament soccer.
Italy will be working twice as hard to impress as they shocked the world of soccer when they failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. However it remains to be seen whether the workmanlike efforts of Jorginho have what it takes to beat the best in the world.