this is largely here. There has long been debate over whether the 2022 World Cup will take place in Qatar, but the winter tournament will take place over the next five weeks on pitches in the Middle East.
The mid-season timing has resulted in plenty of intrigue and injuries, but there are still plenty of traditional favorites as Brazil, France and England are named World Cup winners.
[ MORE: Sadio Mane out of 2022 World Cup ]
With the addition of fellow Costa Rica and Mexico to CONCACAF’s neighbours, there are also new faces like Canada and (sort of) the US men’s national team.
It is set to be Lionel Messi’s last World Cup, and possibly Cristiano Ronaldo’s as well.
The staff of Joe Prince Wright, Andy Edwards and Nick Mendola have provided their predictions for the group stage, knockout rounds and awards below. We also made some USMNT predictions for him ahead of the Yanks’ Group B games against Wales, England and Iran.
World Cup Predictions: By Group
Group A
JPW: Netherlands, Senegal, Ecuador, Qatar
Andy: Netherlands, Senegal, Qatar, Ecuador
Nick: Netherlands, Senegal, Qatar, Ecuador
Group B
JPW: England, Wales, USMNT, Iran
Andy: England, Wales, Iran, USMNT
Nick: England, USMNT, Iran, Wales
Group C
JPW: Argentina, Poland, Mexico, Saudi Arabia
Andy: Argentina, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Poland
Nick: Argentina, Mexico, Poland, Saudi Arabia
Group D
JPW: France, Denmark, Australia, Tunisia
Andy: France, Denmark, Tunisia, Australia
Nick: France, Denmark, Tunisia, Australia
Group E
JPW: Spain, GermanyJapan, Costa Rica
Andy: Germany, Spain, Japan, Costa Rica
Nick: Spain, Japan, Germany, Costa Rica
Group F
JPW: Belgium, CroatiaCanada, Morocco
Andy: Belgium, Croatia, Morocco, Canada
Nick: Belgium, Croatia, Morocco, Canada
Group G
JPW: Brazil, SerbiaSwitzerland, Cameroon
Andy: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
Nick: Brazil, Switzerland, Serbia, Cameroon
Group H
JPW: Portugal, Uruguay, Ghana, South Korea
Andy: Uruguay, Portugal, South Korea, Ghana
Nick: Uruguay, South KoreaPortugal, Ghana
World Cup Prediction: Kknockout round
JPW – Round of 16
Dutch def.wales
Danish def.Argentina
French diff.Poland
Deaf in England.Senegal
Croatian def.Spain
brazilian diff.Uruguay
german diff.Belgium
Serbian def.Portugal
JPW – Quarterfinals
brazilian diff.Croatia
Dutch def.Denmark
german diff.Serbia
Deaf in England.France
JPW – Semifinals
brazilian diff.Netherlands
Deaf in England.Germany
JPW – Final
brazilian diff.England
Andy – Round of 16
Welsh Def.Netherlands
Def in Argentina.Denmark
german diff.Croatia
brazilian diff.Portugal
Deaf in England.Senegal
French diff.Mexico
Belgian Def.Spain
Uruguay Def.Serbia
Andy – Quarterfinals
Def in Argentina.wales
brazilian diff.Germany
French diff.England
Uruguay Def.Belgium
Andy – Semifinals
Def in Argentina.Brazil
French diff.Uruguay
Andy – Final
Def in Argentina.France
Nick – Round of 16
Dutch def. USMNT
Def in Argentina.Denmark
spanish def.Croatia
brazilian diff.Korea
Deaf in England.Senegal
French diff.Mexico
Japan Def.Belgium
Uruguay Def.Switzerland
Nick – Quarterfinals
Def in Argentina. USMNT
brazilian diff.Spain
French diff.England
Uruguay Def.Japan
Nick – Semifinals
brazilian diff.Argentina
French diff.Uruguay
Nick – Final
brazilian diff.Uruguay
World Cup Predictions: Golden, Silver and Bronze Balls
JPW
Golden Ball: Vinicius Jr.
Silver Ball: Harry Kane
BRONZE BALL: Jamal Musiara
Andy
Golden Ball: Lionel Messi
Silver Ball: Kylian Mbappe
BRONZE BALL: Emiliano Martinez
Nick
Golden Ball: Neymar
Silver Ball: Kylian Mbappe
BRONZE BALL: Bruno Guimaraes
World Cup Predictions: Golden, Silver and Bronze Boots
JPW
Golden Boot: Harry Kane
Silver Boots: Kylian Mbappe
Bronze Boots: Neymar
Andy
Golden Boot: Kylian Mbappe
Silver Boots: Vinicius Jr.
Bronze Boots: Romelu Lukaku
Nick
Golden Boot: Neymar
Silver Boots: Luis Suarez
Bronze Boots: Richarlison
World Cup Predictions: Who Will Win the Golden Glove Award?
JPW: Alison
Andy: Emiliano Martinez
Nick: Alison
World Cup Prediction: who will win Young Award?
JPW: Jamal Musiara
Andy: Eduardo Camavinga
Nick: Eduardo Camavinga
World Cup Predictions: All-Star Team/Best XI
JPW
Allison
Trippier, Marquinhos, Van Dijk, T. Hernandez
Casemiro, Musiara, Kimmich
Neymar, Kane, Vinicius Jr.
Andy
Martinez
Pavard, Varane, Jimenez, Taliafico
Casemiro, Bentancur
Vinicius Jr, Messi, Mbappe
Lukaku
Nick
Allison
Koulibaly, Kunde and Jimenez
Betancourt, Camavinga, Mitma, De Bruyne
Mbappe, Richarlison, Neymar
World Cup predictions: USMNT Top Scorer
JPW: Christian Pulisic
Nick: Christian Pulisic
USMNT Worst Realistic Outcome
JPW: Eliminated in group stage with 1 point
Andy: Eliminated in the group stage with one point
Nick: Eliminated in group stage in tiebreak
Unrealistic Worst Results for USMNT
JPW: Eliminated in group stage without winning
Andy: Eliminated in group stage with 0 points
Nick: Clean sheet out of group stage, one point against Wales
USMNT Best Realistic Results
JPW: Round of 16
Andy: Round of 16
Nick: Round of 16
USMNT unrealistic best results
JPW: Quarterfinals
Andy: Quarterfinals
Nick: Semifinal
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