Betting Guide to FIFA U20 Soccer World Cup 2023

FIFA, U-20, World Cup, Soccer, Teams, Goal, Stadium

The 23rd edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup is set to take place in Argentina. 24 teams placed into six different groups will compete for a chance to lift the coveted trophy. The competition also showcases the most talented young players in the soccer world.

Do you want to bet on the FIFA U20 Soccer World Cup 2023? Allow me to help you get started with this preview.

I analyze all groups and share my 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup predictions for the standings in each of them. I also offer a betting pick for the outright winner, but let’s start with the format of the competition.

2023 FIFA U20 Soccer World Cup Format and Key Info

The U20 World Cup begins on May 20 and will run through June 11, with 24 teams competing for the title. The entire tournament includes a group stage and a knockout stage. Games will be played in the cities of La Plata, Mendoza, San Juan, and Santiago del Estero.

Info Box Icon
FURTHER INFORMATION:

Each group consists of six teams. The top two teams in each group, as well as the four best third-placed teams, will advance to the knockout stage. That’s when the Round of 16 will commence, with teams competing in an elimination bracket.

During the knockout stage, teams will play the normal 90 minutes of regulation for each game. If there’s a tie, there will be extra time. A penalty shoot-out will determine the winner if the score remains tied after extra time.

It’s easy and simple, so let’s move on to each group.

U20 Soccer World Cup 2023 Group A Preview and Predictions

  • Argentina
  • Uzbekistan
  • Guatemala
  • New Zealand

Argentina is the big name here. The South Americans are among the strongest teams according to the best soccer betting sites and have an easy path to the knockout stage. Their toughest challenge will be Uzbekistan, the country that won the AFC U20 Asian Cup in 2023.

The other nations in this group will struggle to leave a mark in the tournament simply because they don’t have the talent to compete with the big guns.

Guatemala is making just its second appearance in the FIFA U20 World Cup, while New Zealand qualified as the reigning Oceania Champion. Reaching this state was a big achievement for these countries, but I don’t expect much from now on.

My Group A final standings prediction:

  • Argentina
  • Uzbekistan
  • New Zealand
  • Guatemala

U20 Soccer World Cup 2023 Group B Preview and Predictions

  • USA
  • Ecuador
  • Fiji
  • Slovakia

When betting on the U20 Soccer World Cup in 2023, you should also pay attention to Group B. The U.S. has never finished better than fourth in the tournament. However, the Americans should be a major contender this year.

The U.S. won the Concacaf Men’s U20 championship in 2022. Their biggest competition in Group B is Ecuador, a country that struggled to qualify for the FIFA U20 World Cup. They ultimately secured their spot with a victory over Paraguay.

Fiji is under the leadership of new manager Rodolfo Zapata. Zapata has been coaching at the club level in Africa for the past decade. It’s interesting to see what he can do at youth level.

The last team here, Slovakia, qualified for the U20 World Cup for just the second time ever. Still, you should never underestimate European countries that reach this stage because the region is extremely competitive.

The U.S. should top group Group B and get into the knockout stage with ease. The second place is wide open, and anything can happen. My pick would be Slovakia, but all three teams could make it.

My Group B final standings prediction:

  • USA
  • Slovakia
  • Ecuador
  • Fiji

U20 Soccer World Cup 2023 Group C Preview and Predictions

  • Senegal
  • Japan
  • Israel
  • Colombia

Senegal is the reigning African champion and the best team in Group C. However, Israel is a much better team than you think. They recently advanced to the UEFA U19 Final in 2022 but lost to England in extra time.

Colombia enters the FIFA U20 World Cup, having finished third in the CONMEBOL. Keep in mind that Colombia was much better than expected during qualifications. They defeated Argentina and tied Brazil on the road to the finals.

Japan is also expected to perform well, but I believe the other sides are slightly better. Israel is one of the sleepers for the title, while Senegal is the main favorite here.

My Group C final standings prediction:

  • Israel
  • Senegal
  • Colombia
  • Japan

U20 Soccer World Cup 2023 Group D Preview and Predictions

  • Italy
  • Brazil
  • Nigeria
  • Dominican Republic

Group D is tough to predict too. Italy and Brazil are two powerhouses in men’s youth soccer, so the expectations are always high. Brazil’s U20 team is the reigning CONMEBOL champion, while Italy recently lost to England in the EUROs semi-finals.

Nigeria is the underdog that you simply can’t ignore in this group. They’re a dynamic team that’s had the most success in the U20 Africa Cup of Nations. As for the Dominican Republic, they’re making their U20 World Cup debut.

Brazil is the team to beat in Group D, but I expect both Nigeria and Italy to join them in the knockouts.

My Group D final standings prediction:

  • Brazil
  • Nigeria
  • Italy
  • Dominican Republic

U20 Soccer World Cup 2023 Group E Preview and Predictions

  • Uruguay
  • Iraq
  • England
  • Tunisia

England is now the reigning U20 European champion. The team is extremely talented, and I expect them to advance. Their main challenger is Uruguay, who finished runner-up in the CONMEBOL. Iraq finished runner-up in the AFC U20 Asian Cup, losing to Uzbekistan.

I don’t expect much from them or Tunisia, to be fair. England and Uruguay are on a different level and could win the U20 Soccer World Cup. They should easily reach the eliminations from this group.

My Group E final standings prediction:

  • England
  • Uruguay
  • Iraq
  • Tunisia

U20 Soccer World Cup 2023 Group F Preview and Predictions

  • France
  • South Korea
  • Gambia
  • Honduras

Group F is arguably the weakest one out of all six. If you follow U20 soccer, you know that France lost to Israel in the UEFA semi-finals – an outcome no one expected. All the other countries in Group F narrowly qualified for the U20 World Cup.

The French side is much better than anyone else in this group and should top it with ease. What happens with the other teams is hard to predict. Honduras and South Korea have the potential to reach the next stage, while Gambia will be happy to be here.

My Group F final standings prediction:

  • France
  • Honduras
  • South Korea
  • Gambia

FIFA U20 World Cup 2023 Winner Prediction and Betting Pick

The best country at the U20 World Cup is Brazil. The team has potential stars in almost every position. The top European teams and Uruguay are also solid, but the South American champs are on another level.

Argentina and the USA deserve your attention too. They have the depth and quality for a deep run. The problem is the lack of consistency that will hurt them in the knockouts.

All things considered, Brazil is the smart choice.

Where to Bet on the FIFA U20 World Cup 2023?

Are you ready to place bets based on your 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup predictions? I didn’t find odds on the tournament winner, but you can find prices on the matches from the first round at 22Bet.

That’s one of the best online bookmakers for soccer. The odds are high, and each new player can receive a solid welcome bonus that can be used to bet on the U20 World Cup.

US players can bet on the tournament at Bovada, one of the best sportsbooks for soccer.