FIFA World Cup 2022 Group A Odds, Prediction, and Betting Picks

By Petko Stoyanov Published: Nov 04, 2022, Updated: Jan 05, 2024

The biggest soccer tournament is almost here, and I can’t wait! The 2022 World Cup will bring the best countries to Qatar to fight for the ultimate glory and a place in the history books.

The unpredictability of the World Cup always adds more excitement to the tournament for both observers and bettors. If you’re among the latter, you will be happy to hear that I will cover extensively every single group in the build-up to the competition.

Let’s begin with my preview of Group A, which the Netherlands should dominate. I explore the latest odds and go through all teams before sharing my 2022 FIFA World Cup Group A predictions and betting picks.

Note: This article is focused on futures markets. If you’re looking for picks for specific games, check our daily World Cup betting picks.

FIFA World Cup 2022 Group A Betting Odds

Note:

There’s no question that the best World Cup betting sites favor the Netherlands by a wide margin over every other team in Group A. The Dutch have never won a World Cup but finished runner-up in 1974, 1978, and 2010.

Senegal and Ecuador appear to be comparable and should fight for second. Qatar, the country hosting this year’s World Cup, is a major underdog to win Group A or progress to the knockouts.The Netherlands – Can Anyone Beat the Dutch?

FIFA Rank: 8th
Head Coach: Louis van Gaal
Key Player: Virgil Van Dijk

The Dutch are by far the best team in Group A, especially considering the roster’s breadth of talent. They’re simply too good to fail, and the group stage should be a cakewalk.The qualification process was a breeze for the Netherlands, who scored 33 goals in 10 matches. The national team only lost a single match en route to the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Memphis Depay is a big reason why the Netherlands’ offense is so deadly, and I expect him to deliver more goals.Tip:

The motivation of the team should be on another level too. Remember that the Dutch failed to qualify for the World Cup in 2018. This team is eager to redeem itself and live up to the expectations of finishing runner-up at three different World Cups. The Netherlands is arguably the best country yet to lift the elusive trophy.

The current squad is not good enough to change that, but getting out of this group won’t be a problem. The Dutch should win comfortably, which will put them in a good position before the knockouts.Ecuador – A Great Opportunity

FIFA Rank: 44th
Head Coach: Gustavo Alfaro
Key Player: Moises Caicedo

Ecuador will duke it out with Senegal for the chance to play beyond the Group Stage. Ecuador’s got plenty of young, speedy players who’re gritty and motivated.The guy to keep an eye on for Ecuador is Moises Caicedo. He’s only 21 years old but has all the physical tools and traits to succeed at the highest level. The Brighton midfielder recently became the first player born in the 21st century to score a goal during the World Cup qualifiers.The draw was kind to Ecuador, and the entire nation is pumped going into the World Cup.Ecuador’s chances to progress are legit, but the age of this team concerns me.It’s a young squad full of hungry players, which is obviously a positive, but the lack of experience could be costly in the most important moments.Senegal – What’s the Ceiling?

FIFA Rank: 18th
Head Coach: Aliou Cisse
Key Player: Sadio Mane

I really like Senegal’s squad, and I don’t think the 2022 World Cup Group A betting odds reflect just how good the African country is.Futher Info:

Players like Mane, Mendy, and Koulibaly play in some of the biggest teams in Europe. They have the quality and experience at the highest level to drive Senegal forward. We already saw how good they were earlier this year when the nation won the 2021 AFCON.

Senegal has one of the best defensive units outside of the top favorites, and Mane can always decide any game on the other end. I expect the country to progress to the next stage, and I don’t think many teams will be happy to face the team in the knockouts.Qatar – Are They More Than a Host Country?

FIFA Rank: 50th
Head Coach: Félix Sánchez
Key Player: Akram Afif

Qatar didn’t have to go through the qualification process because they’re the host country of this year’s World Cup. It’s also the national team’s first appearance in the World Cup, so there’s added pressure on the players.Important:

Experience isn’t an issue for Qatar’s national team, with a few players with over 100 caps in their careers. This particular group knows each other well and will feed off everyone’s energy. They’ve also had success in the Arabian Gulf Cup and Asian Cup in recent years.

The problem is that the 2022 World Cup will bring a completely different challenge. All other teams in this group are significantly stronger, so getting even a single point will be a success for Qatar.2022 Qatar World Cup Group A Predictions and Betting PickThe Netherlands should emerge as the top team in Group A rather comfortably. Only Senegal could trouble the Dutch, but they were just too good compared to the competition.The 2022 FIFA World Cup Group A winner odds of -225 are actually good value, too, so that’s a solid bet. I see another one based on my predictions.Senegal has a deep squad with superstar players at multiple positions. I believe they will leave a mark in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, so I’m more than happy to take -130 offered for the African nation to progress to the knockouts.

ODDS-225

MY PICK:

Netherlands to win Group A

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ODDS-130

MY PICK:

Senegal to qualify

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I’ve used BetOnline’s odds for this one, but the bookmaker is not available everywhere. Betway is a great alternative if that’s the case.You can find more previews of other groups below, stay tuned for more World Cup 2022 betting opportunities!