As the most watched sports tournament on the planet, it is no surprise that betting on the World Cup is so prevalent. Below, our team at ThePuntersPage have compiled a one-stop guide to everything you need to know about this year's exciting event.
- World Cup 2022 Group Standings
- Fixtures & Results
- Final and 3rd Place Playoff
- When & Where Is the 2022 World Cup Taking Place?
- World Cup 2022 Tournament Structure
- Latest World Cup 2022 Odds
- World Cup 2022 Betting Tips & Predictions
- World Cup 2022 Injuries
- World Cup 2022 Groups Predictions & Tips
- World Cup 2022 Key Dates
- World Cup 2022 Betting Strategy
- Popular World Cup Betting Markets
- History of the World Cup
- Who Has Won the Most World Cups?
- World Cup Key Stats
- World Cup 2022 Betting FAQs
- ThePuntersPage Final Say
World Cup 2022 Group Standings
| # | Team | Pld | W | D | L | Goals | GF | GA | GD | Last 5 matches | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netherlands | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5:1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 7 | |
| 2 | Senegal | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5:4 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 6 | |
| 3 | Ecuador | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4:3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | |
| 4 | Qatar | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1:7 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 0 | |
| 1 | England | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9:2 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 7 | |
| 2 | United States | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2:1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| 3 | Iran | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4:7 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 3 | |
| 4 | Wales | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1:6 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 1 | |
| 1 | Argentina | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5:2 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 6 | |
| 2 | Poland | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2:2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | |
| 3 | Mexico | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2:3 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 4 | |
| 4 | Saudi Arabia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3:5 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 3 | |
| 1 | France | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6:3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | |
| 2 | Australia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3:4 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 6 | |
| 3 | Tunisia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1:1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | |
| 4 | Denmark | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1:3 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 1 | |
| 1 | Japan | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4:3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | |
| 2 | Spain | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9:3 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 4 | |
| 3 | Germany | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6:5 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 4 | |
| 4 | Costa Rica | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3:11 | 3 | 11 | -8 | 3 | |
| 1 | Morocco | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4:1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 7 | |
| 2 | Croatia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4:1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 5 | |
| 3 | Belgium | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1:2 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 4 | |
| 4 | Canada | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2:7 | 2 | 7 | -5 | 0 | |
| 1 | Brazil | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3:1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | |
| 2 | Switzerland | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4:3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | |
| 3 | Cameroon | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4:4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | |
| 4 | Serbia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5:8 | 5 | 8 | -3 | 1 | |
| 1 | Portugal | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6:4 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 | |
| 2 | Korea Republic | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4:4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | |
| 3 | Uruguay | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2:2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | |
| 4 | Ghana | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5:7 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 3 |
Fixtures & Results
| Final | ||
|---|---|---|
| FT (P) |
Argentina France |
3(4) 3(2) |
Final and 3rd Place Playoff
France outclassed Morocco yesterday evening and Argentina ran riot against Croatia. Lionel Messi has, yet again, been in impressive form and produced another magical display in this year's tournament. Both Kylian Mbappe and Messi now are fighting for the golden boot with 5 goals each, Mbappe impressively has not scored one from the spot as of yet. The two of them already have one hand on the prestigious World Cup trophy but will have to face each other in an ultimate showdown. The Moroccans gave their hearts out on the pitch yesterday but couldn't get a goal for their efforts, despite Jawad El Yamiq hitting the post from an impressive overhead kick.
Croatia will face Morocco in the 3rd place playoff which will decide who gets the bronze medals. Ironically, they will face the same opposition they faced in their first game of the tournament.Croatia and their talisman Luka Modric will be eager to get a better result than the 0-0 they achieved the last time out however Morocco will do everything in their power to stop this from happening. For the 2nd World Cup in a row, two teams that were in the same group face eachother once again in the 3rd place Playoff after Belgium and England did the same in 2018.
When & Where Is the 2022 World Cup Taking Place?
The 2022 World Cup is being held in Qatar, making it the first tournament to be held in the Middle East and only the second to be held in Asia, after South Korea and Japan co-hosted back in 2002.
In another first, the 2022 World Cup is also being held in the winter as opposed to summer. The dates were switched after it became clear that players would struggle to cope with the sweltering Qatari heat in June and July.
The first game of the tournament was played on 20th November, with the curtain coming down on the final on 18th December. The group stage is set to end on the 2nd December, heralding the commencement of the round of 16 the following day.
World Cup 2022 Tournament Structure
Each World Cup tournament begins with eight groups, adding up to a total of 32 teams in all.
Each team plays against each other once, with three points awarded for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss. Points are tallied in a table, after which the top two teams from each group progress to the round of 16.
In the event of two nations being level on points, the following tie-breaker criteria are used:
- Goal difference
- Goals scored
- Points from group stage matches involving the tied teams
- Goal differential in group stage matches involving the tied teams
- Goals scored in group stage matches involving the tied teams
The draw for the round of 16 is fixed and seeded. For instance, the winner of Group A plays the runner-up of Group B, while the winner of Group H plays the runner-up of Group G. Starting at this stage, all games are one-legged with extra time, with penalties if the scores are level after 90 minutes.
Eventually, teams are eliminated until two remain for the final, with a third-placed game contested between the two losing semi-finalists. Naturally, World Cup bets can be placed on any match throughout the tournament.
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Latest World Cup 2022 Odds
Which Country Is Most Likely To Win the World Cup?
- As it stands, Brazil are in pole position as favourites to win the World Cup in 2022. By taking the odds on bet365 as our base and using our odds calculator, we know that they have a 24.4% chance of winning the prestigious tournament for the sixth time.
- Right behind the Brazilians, we find current World Champions France and EURO 2020 finalists England both with a 12% chance of lifting the trophy.
- Spain and Argentina complete our list of top 5 contenders, with chances of 9% and 10% respectively.
- According to the odds at the time of writing, other possible contenders are Germany, Belgium, Portugal and the Netherlands, who all have an approximate 8% probability of winning. Germany are considered to be a tad ahead of the other three countries mentioned here, with odds of 12/1 on bet365 (subject to change).
World Cup 2022 – Best Outright Winner Odds
| Team | Best Odds | Provider |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 31/10 | SBK |
| France | 7/1 | William Hill |
| England | 15/2 | bet365 |
| Argentina | 9/1 | bet365 |
| Spain | 10/1 | Unibet |
| Germany | 12/1 | bet365 |
| Netherlands | 13/1 | Unibet |
| Portugal | 15/1 | Unibet |
| Belgium | 22/1 | Unibet |
| Uruguay | 40/1 | Paddy Power |
| Denmark | 43/1 | SBK |
| Croatia | 75/1 | Unibet |
| Serbia | 100/1 | Betfred |
| Switzerland | 150/1 | Parimatch |
| Ecuador | 180/1 | Unibet |
| Mexico | 229/1 | SBK |
| Senegal | 275/1 | Unibet |
| USA | 279/1 | SBK |
| Poland | 279/1 | SBK |
| Wales | 300/1 | bet365 |
*Subject to change
World Cup 2022 – Top Scorer Odds
| Player | Best Odds | Provider |
|---|---|---|
| Kylian Mbappe | 7/1 | Unibet |
| Olivier Giroud | 10/1 | bet365 |
| Neymar | 11/1 | Unibet |
| Lionel Messi | 14/1 | Unibet |
| Bukayo Saka | 20/1 | Betfred |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 20/1 | BetUK |
| Harry Kane | 21/1 | SBK |
| Richarlison | 28/1 | William Hill |
| Jose Vinicius Junior | 33/1 | bet365 |
| Darwin Nunez | 40/1 | Paddy Power |
| Enner Valencia | 40/1 | Betway |
| Alvaro Morata | 40/1 | Unibet |
| Romelu Lukaku | 40/1 | bet365 |
| Cody Gakpo | 40/1 | Unibet |
| Lautaro Martinez | 45/1 | Unibet |
- Now that the first few matches have already taken place, things are already shaping up regarding the race for the Golden Boot. Six players have already scored two goals each, with the main threats being Olivier Giroud and Bukayo Saka, who we expect to go deep into the competition. Richarlison has also scored twice in his World Cup debut, and given Brazil are the favourites, we can see him scoring more goals this tournament.
- Mbappé is still the favourite after scoring the third goal against Australia, and although Harry Kane has dropped off slightly after failing to score in England’s opener, he did bag two assists.
- In the qualification matches, Mbappé started five matches and scored five goals. Harry Kane started in seven and scored 12. In the last World Cup, Kane won the Golden Boot with six goals in as many matches. Mbappé was joint second, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Antoine Griezmann, Denis Cheryshev and Romelu Lukaku.
- This will most probably be the last World Cup for both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Both superstars have won continental cups (Euro 2016 and UEFA Nations League for Cristiano, and the Copa América and The Finalissima for Messi), but both are missing a World Cup trophy in their lucrative silverware hauls. They will surely be trying their best to make their last one count, especially after having quiet 2021/22 seasons by their ‘normal' standards.
World Cup 2022 – Odds to Reach the Quarter-Finals
*Subject to change
World Cup 2022 Betting Tips & Predictions
With the group stage coming to an end and the round of 16 just days away, you may be struggling to pick a favourite. In addition, the knockout nature of the competition makes it even more unpredictable.
Be sure to check back here at ThePuntersPage for updated tips as well as our brilliant predictor page, KickForm. Here is our breakdown of the current favourites so far in the tournament.
Brazil
France
France are the current holders of the World Cup, having defeated Croatia in the 2018 final. That is not the only reason they have emerged as early tournament favourites this time around, though.Les Bleus possess the strongest squad on paper by some distance. Headlined by one of best players in the world, Kylian Mbappé, they have incredible depth in nearly every position. You could probably make a potentially World Cup winning XI just from the players France will be forced to omit from their 23-man squad!At the time of writing, France have managed to top Group D and are through to the round of 16, where they will face off against Poland.Our predictions on KickForm will soon be published here!
England
After reaching the semi-finals in 2018, can England’s team go one step further this time around?The current crop of players is being cautiously christened as a ‘Golden Generation’. While a few defensive question marks remain, the Three Lions should still be considered contenders. It might just be the year to bet on England at the World Cup.In fact, as things stand, England scorched through their group to land right on top, leaving behind two victories against Iran and Wales with a rather disappointing, goalless draw against the USA sandwiched in between. Nevertheless, all eyes will certainly be on their upcoming round of 16 match against Senegal.Check back soon for our KickForm predictions!
Argentina
The Messi hype is real! Entering the tournament, Argentina’s odds went from 5th favourites to 2nd favourites thanks to the sheer number of bettors tipping La Albiceleste to succeed.This was immediately destroyed with an all-time great upset as Argentina lost, deservingly, 2-1 to a well-oiled Saudi Arabia machine. However, they managed to turn things around quickly during their next couple of matches, defeating both Mexico and Poland and making their way through to the round of 16, where they will be facing off against Australia.Check back soon for our predictions on KickForm!
Portugal
Germany
World Cup 2022 Injuries
One of the main concerns this World Cup faced is its peculiar timing, right in the middle of most European Leagues. This meant that nations had less time to prepare, and the fear of injury was much higher.
These fears were justified, with the World Cup injury list indeed ending up longer than the norm. Below are the key players who have missed the call-up due to injury.
- France – France have had the biggest set back with injures, as three star players will be missing out. Midfielders Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante were both ruled out in October with thigh injuries, while Ballon D’or winner Karim Benzema has also been benched.
- Germany – The ever-unfortunate Marco Reus will miss out on yet another international tournament, as well as young striker Timo Werner, both suffering the same ankle injury.
- Senegal – Senegal’s hopes of getting out of this year’s group stage have been greatly diminished due to their Bayern Munich Superstars Sadio Mane and Bouna Sarr being sidelined before the tournament.
- England – The in-form Reece James will be extremely unlucky not to have headed to Qatar as the favourite to start in his position, though the also injured Kyle Walker took his place, as he is more likely to recover for the group stage. Ben Chillwell was also ruled out in November with a Hamstring injury.
- Other notable injures include Diogo Jota for Portugal, Arthur Melo for Brazil and Georginio Wijnaldum for the Netherlands, all out of the 2022 World Cup. A great shame which may have been avoided if the tournament was held in summer, with more time to rest.
World Cup 2022 Groups Predictions & Tips
2022 World Cup Draw
- Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
- Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales
- Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
- Group D: France, Australia, Denmark, Tunisia
- Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan
- Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
- Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
- Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea
The draw for the 2022 World Cup took place in April, with the final three teams confirming their respective places in Qatar via various play-offs. The full draw is shown above, with the below tips and predictions for each of the groups:
Note: With the group stage almost over at the time of writing, some of the below information may be outdated. Check back soon for more updates and predictions!
World Cup Group A
Hosts Qatar automatically entered Group A, but they were handed a pair of difficult assignments in African Cup of Nations winners, Senegal, and the Netherlands. Those two teams will be expected to progress from the competition, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Qatar pull a rabbit out of the hat.
They won the Asia Cup back in 2019 and will certainly be no walkover for the Senegalese and the Dutch, who should still make it through.
The first round of matches saw Netherlands see off Senegal 2-0, and it isn’t looking good for Qatar who lost 2-0 to Ecuador.
World Cup Group B
Every England supporter would’ve been thrilled with their draw, but some will also tread with caution. Remember their group in 2010 that they barely scraped through? This draw bears an uncanny resemblance.
The USA are a team on the up and have talented individuals like Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic, while Wales under Rob Page are capable of beating almost anybody on their day. They need a fit and firing Gareth Bale, however. Iran, meanwhile, are defensively resilient but they struggle against superior opposition.
England have gotten off to a flying start beating Iran 6-2, while its still all to play for with a 1-1 draw between USA and Wales. The next round is crucial for every team.
World Cup Group C
Before the start of the World Cup this group was a race for second place with Argentina set to top the group without finding too much opposition. Even though Mexico and Poland are two great sides and Mexico have qualified to the knockout stages in the last seven World Cups.
Poland have tended to underachieve; however, Robert Lewandowski could have what it takes to drag his country to the next round. Or that’s what we thought.
Mexico held Poland to a 0-0 draw, with World Cup legend Guillermo Ochoa saving a crucial penalty in the 58th minute taken by, you guessed it, Robert Lewandowski.
The biggest shock of the tournament so far, and probably the whole tournament at that, Saudi Arabia emerged victorious in a 2-1 over heavy favourites Argentina. The Green Falcons soared to victory with discipline tactics and a great defensive block.
World Cup Group D
France, Denmark, and Australia all in the same group? It’s 2018 all over again! Eventual winners France had some trouble in the group phase last time out in what was an evenly contested group, and Denmark will certainly cause them some problems when they meet on November 26.
Les Bleus endured a rough Nations League campaign over the summer, and they could be without talismanic midfielder Paul Pogba in Qatar.
The injury woes continued for France with N’Golo Kante and Karim Benzema getting injured right before the World Cup. They still had no problem against Australia winning 4-1 with the in form Olivier Giroud bagging a brace.
It wasn’t as straightforward for Denmark who drew 0-0 to Tunisia. The group is still wide open and Tunisia could still a spot in the round of 16 from a seemingly closed group.
World Cup Group E
November 27, put it in your diaries, folks. Spain vs Germany: the fixture of the group stage.
This is poised to be a thrilling duel between two nations climbing their way back to the top of the world. Hansi Flick’s Germany have an outside shot of winning in Qatar, while Luis Enrique’s Spain showed at Euro 2020 just how good they are – and they should be bolstered by the threat that's Ansu Fati, who’ll add another dimension to the technically proficient Spaniards.
Both these sides should be considered among the favourites and should each waltz into the round of 16.
Spain cemented their intentions for this world cup with a 7-0 battering of Costa Rica, on the other hand Germany were stunned by the Japanese losing 2-1 after leading 0-1 till the 74th minute. Germany will have to produce something special in their next fixtures, especially if Japan beat Costa Rica.
World Cup Group F
This is a pretty even group that’s quite tough to call. Even Belgium aren’t sure bets to top Group F.
While the Red Devils are still blessed with an abundance of talent, their Golden Generation is starting to fade and they underwhelmed at Euro 2020. Perhaps a new breed of Belgians will spearhead their charge in Qatar, players like Charles De Katelaere.
Canada have been touted as the tournament’s dark horses and they certainly have a chance of progressing from this group. Croatia are not the side they once were, while Morocco were knocked out in the round of 16 at this year’s African Cup of Nations.
World Cup Group G
There’s something about this Brazil squad that gives you the impression that they might go all the way in Qatar. While they’ll have to edge out three good teams, Tite’s side should top Group G.
Now, predicting second place in this group is no easy task. An argument could be made for each of Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon.
Switzerland are the steady Eddies of international football. They’ll never blow you away but they’re always seemingly good enough to reach the knockout stages. The Swiss have a solid core, while Serbia are blessed with an array of attacking talent. However, the latter are yet to put it together at a major tournament.
Cameroon, meanwhile, are tough, resilient and are blessed with one or two match-winners. That’s a winning combination in tournament football.
We could envisage these three teams finishing on the same points haul, but we’ll back the Swiss to progress because, well, they always seem to.
World Cup Group H
Another evenly matched group. Portugal are blessed with so much talent that they should be considered one of the favourites to win the tournament, but the vintage ideals of Fernando Santos hamstrung them at Euro 2020, and something similar could play out in Qatar.
Nevertheless, it’d be silly to bet against the Portuguese in Group H.
Ghana have a very good team when everybody’s fit, but their performance at this year’s AFCON means it’s hard to back them.
South Korea are overly reliant on Son Heung-min, who has started the 2022/23 season like he’s never played football before, and while Uruguay’s Golden Generation has faded, they’ve still got a pretty good squad.
Ronald Araujo and Jose Maria Gimenez are two excellent defenders, while their midfield engine room is made up of Rodrigo Bentancur and Fede Valverde. Darwin Nunez will be looking to make an impact on his World Cup debut, while veterans Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani are still hanging around.
We’re predicting Uruguay and Portugal will advance from Group H.
World Cup 2022 Key Dates
- Last group stage matches – 2nd December 2022
- Round of 16 begins – 3rd December 2022
- Quarter-finals begin – 9th December 2022
- Semi-finals begin – 13th December 2022
- Third place match – 17th December 2022
- Final – 18th December 2022
World Cup 2022 Betting Strategy
If you are planning some betting on the World Cup in 2022, you are going to need a good strategy. Follow TPP’s golden rules below to lay out your path to success!
1. World Cup Betting Promotions
As we get closer to the tournament, more and more UK betting sites will come up with lucrative sign-up offers and special promotions.
These have great potential to improve your betting. For instance, those interested in matched betting would do well to take advantage of any free bet offers.
The best way to find the best World Cup offers is through our dedicated page detailing the best offers available for this year's tournament.
2. Use World Cup Statistics
Statistics are a vital ingredient in football betting sites – even more so when the World Cup rolls around.
Featuring players from across the world,looking at the relevant stats increases your knowledge without having to trawl through hours of gameplay footage.
Our KickForm predictor can come in very handy here, as well as the hundreds of other outlets offering in-depth statistical analysis on all the biggest World Cup match once the tournament starts.
3. World Cup Accumulators
Accumulators can be a great way to make the most of your World Cup betting bankroll. These consist of many smaller bets which, when combined, can create some huge odds and potentially sizeable payouts.
As there are multiple games on every day, the World Cup is the perfect tournament for accumulator betting. Make sure you check out our accumulator betting guide before you get started!
4. Watch the Games
One thing we have discovered is that in-play betting is a lot more effective if you are actually watching the match in question after or while you're placing your bets. On this note, bet365, Ladbrokes, and Unibet are great places to livestream all the action.
There are few excuses not to be watching every World Cup match as well – it is the highlight of the football calendar, after all!
5. Bet on What You Know
As tempting as it may be to place a bet on whatever crazy ties the 2022 World Cup has in store – if you do not know much about either team, you should steer clear.
Instead, place World Cup bets that match up with your own knowledge. Like this, you will maximise your chances of securing wins!
Popular World Cup Betting Markets
Winner
This is one of the most exciting markets around for betting on the World Cup. Here, you are trying to predict which team will win the entire tournament.
Backing a winner can add another reason to get behind your favoured team or keep you engaged in the competition if they get knocked out. You need not place this World Cup bet before the tournament starts, either – if you like the look of a dark horse after a few matches, you may be able to get a good price on them winning the whole thing.
Group Winners
There are eight different groups to bet on at the World Cup, so this market offers you plenty of different opportunities. You could even place an eight-fold accumulator including all of the group winners.
Of course, some will be harder to predict than others. Be particularly careful when betting on any ‘Groups of Death’, as these are always fiendishly hard to anticipate.
Goals Over/Under
On every single World Cup game, you will be able to place an over/under goals bet.
When making your selections for this market, there are a few things to consider. First and foremost, you need to research both teams. If they are both prone to low-scoring games, a bet of under 1.5 goals is smart. However, if there is a free-flowing attacking team involved, you are best to bet the other way.
Situational factors are also important. If you are betting on a group game in which a draw will send both teams through, it is likely to be a cagey affair. Meanwhile, a match involving two sides with nothing to lose will be more open.
Double Chance
World Cup betting is perfectly suited to the Double Chance market, as it allows you to bet on two outcomes of a match instead of one.
There are many underdogs at the World Cup each year, which can make betting on them seem like a waste of time and money. Double Chance betting changes that, allowing you to bet on a less-fancied side either getting a win or a draw.
Top Goalscorer
This is one of our personal favourite markets for the tournament as there is often great value to be found in it. As the World Cup is played over such a short space of time, the best players do not always score the most goals.
If you manage to select a surprise contender before the tournament kicks off, you could win big.
Special World Cup Betting Markets
Many betting apps will house special World Cup 2022 betting markets as the tournament edges closer.
These include markets on which players will be selected in each team’s squad, player of the tournament, most yellow cards, and many more.
History of the World Cup
The World Cup was the brainchild of former FIFA President Jules Rimet, whom the trophy is named after.
The very first tournament was held in 1930, with hosts Uruguay seeing off 12 other nations to win. Two further tournaments followed in 1934 and 1938, before the 1942 and 1946 competitions were cancelled due to the Second World War. Things got going again in 1950, and since then, the competition has been held every four years.
Over time, the competition underwent several format tweaks. In 1982, the number of teams was expanded to 24, with 32 being admitted from the 1998 tournament onwards. From 2026, 48 teams will be admitted.
The World Cup has only been ever won be 8 different Countries, 5 from Europe and 3 South American countries, the most dominant of which is Brazil who have won 5 trophies. Germany have been the most consistent however, reaching the final 8 times and routinely making it to the knockout stages.
The World Cup is hosted somewhere different every year. The tournament has been held in five continents so far, with Australia the only continent not to host at the time of writing.
Previous World Cup Winners
| Year | Winners | Score | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | France | 4-2 | Croatia |
| 2014 | Germany | 1-0 (aet) | Argentina |
| 2010 | Spain | 1-0 (aet) | Netherlands |
| 2006 | Italy | 1-1 (aet) 5-3 (pen) | France |
| 2002 | Brazil | 2-0 | Germany |
| 1998 | France | 3-0 | Brazil |
| 1994 | Brazil | 0-0 (aet) 3-2 (pen) | Italy |
| 1990 | West Germany | 1-0 | Argentina |
| 1986 | Argentina | 3-2 | West Germany |
| 1982 | Italy | 3-1 | West Germany |
| 1978 | Argentina | 3-1 (aet) | Netherlands |
| 1974 | West Germany | 2-1 | Netherlands |
| 1970 | Brazil | 4-1 | Italy |
| 1966 | England | 4-2 (aet) | West Germany |
| 1962 | Brazil | 3-1 | Czechoslovakia |
| 1958 | Brazil | 5-2 | Sweden |
| 1954 | West Germany | 3-2 | Hungary |
| 1950 | Uruguay | 2-1* | Brazil |
| 1938 | Italy | 4-2 | Hungary |
| 1934 | Italy | 2-1 (aet) | Czechoslovakia |
| 1930 | Uruguay | 4-2 | Argentina |
*The 1950 World cup did not have a final but implemented a round robin league system. The last game of the tournament did decide the champions. Uruguay beat hosts 2-1 in a shock result known as The Maracanazo and has the highest football attendance ever at around 200,000 spectators.
Who Has Won the Most World Cups?
| Team | Number of World Cup Wins |
|---|---|
| Brazil | 5 (1958, 1962,1970, 1994, 2002) |
| Germany | 4 (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014) |
| Italy | 4 (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006) |
| Argentina | 2 (1978, 1986) |
| France | 2 (1998, 2018) |
| Uruguay | 2 (1930, 1950) |
| England | 1 (1966) |
| Spain | 1 (2010) |
World Cup Key Stats
- Qatar is by far the smallest country to host a World Cup, both in terms of land mass and population.
- Germany’s Miroslav Klose is the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer, with 16 goals.
- Brazil is the only team to appear at every World Cup in history.
- Germany have appeared in the most World Cup finals – eight in total, winning four of them in all.
- Prior to the 2022 tournament beginning, only three players have played in five World Cups: Antonio Carbajal, Rafael Marquez (Mexico), and Lothar Matthaus (Germany).
- Pele is the only player to have won three World Cups.
- Only eight different countries have won the World Cup, three of them being South American and five European.
- Luis Monti is the only player to play in two World Cup finals for different teams: Argentina (1930) and Italy (1934).
| Team | Number of World Cup Wins |
|---|---|
| Brazil | 5 (1958, 1962,1970, 1994, 2002) |
| Germany | 4 (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014) |
| Italy | 4 (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006) |
| Argentina | 2 (1978, 1986) |
| France | 2 (1998, 2018) |
| Uruguay | 2 (1930, 1950) |
| England | 1 (1966) |
| Spain | 1 (2010) |
World Cup 2022 Betting FAQs
The tournament final will take place on December 18, 2022, at the Lusail Iconic Stadium at 18:00 local time (UTC+3).
In the UK, the BBC and ITV are sharing coverage of the tournament.
Brazil hold the record for the most World Cup wins, with five trophies to their name.
The 2022 World Cup was initially scheduled to be played in the summer as normal. However, it was switched to November and December to avoid the sweltering Qatari heat.
Yes – the major leagues which take place around this time have all been halted to accommodate the World Cup taking place in the winter.
2022 World Cup tickets vary in price, with the final World Cup match tickets starting from £443 to as much as £1,174. It comes down to which game it is and which category seat you choose.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
The World Cup is the biggest football event across the globe, and although the 2022 tournament is completely unique to any other previous tournaments, it’s still set to be a classic World Cup. With so many shock results already playing out, we’re excited to see what else Qatar has in store.