2022 WCQ Betting Odds: Favorites to Go Through in Toughest Groups

After last night’s draw we get to know the 2022 World Cup European qualifying groups where teams will fight for the first two places. We can find clear favorites in most groups but there are some where the competition can get tighter. Like in Group E where Belgium, Wales and the Czech Republic can all fight for the first two spots. Let’s see the 2022 WCQ betting odds here and at the other exciting groups. 

55 teams will play in the European section of the 2022 World Cup qualification and fight for the 13 slots. They have been divided into ten groups of 5 or 6 teams with the group winners qualifying for the World Cup. While the runner-ups in each group will be joined by the two best Nations League group winners, who finished outside the top two places in their groups. These teams will take part in a three-way play-off with the three winners joining the already qualified teams. The first three rounds will take place next March then continue in September. In most groups the top ranked teams are likely to win their groups but there can be a bigger contest for the second place. Bookmakers already offer odds for the group winners and the further order, see them below.

2022 WCQ betting odds for one of the tightest groups

Belgium, Wales and the Czech Republic will play against each other in Group E, where the 2018 bronze medalist Belgium should win the group. They have the odds of 1.22 to do so, but for the second place the Welsh and Czech team can be in a tight race. Wales haven’t qualified yet to any World Cup but they have another chance to achieve it. Under Ryan Giggs’ management the team qualified for Euro2020.  They also won the Nations League group and gained promotion to League A.

While their biggest rival in the team, the Czech Republic are only 42nd in the world ranking. But they still qualified for the Euro2020 behind England. Next year’s tournament will be their 7th European Championship. Like Wales, they also won their group in the Nations League ahead of Scotland and got promoted to the top tier. So two very similar teams will face each other, but Wales still seem the stronger one. Online sportsbooks in the UK offer the odds of 6.50 for their qualifying. The Czech Republic has the odds of 8.00 for the same in the 2022 WCQ betting odds.

Group G sounds interesting with the Dutch, Turkish and Norwegian teams

The Netherlands are the top seed in Group G and have the odds of 1.36 to qualify from the group. But even online gambling sites in the UK can’t decide between Norway and Turkey. They offer the same odds, 6.00 for both teams’ qualifying. Turkey will try to play in the World Cup for the first time since 2002 when they finished in 3rd place. But since then the team hasn’t achieved such great results.

They had a great campaign in the Euro2020 qualifying, even beating world cup winner France in the group games. But the team was struggling in this year’s Nations League and finished at the bottom of their group. Meanwhile Norway will miss next year’s European Championships after losing the play-off against Serbia. So might fight even more now for a place in the 2022 World Cup. Which would be their first appearance since 1998. But with players like Erling Haaland or Martin Odegaard they might have a real chance to be there.

The toughest group with Croatia, Russia and Slovakia

In Group H we can find the teams of Croatia, Russia and Slovakia along with Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta. Probably we should see the most exciting games here, teams with similar strength and mentality. Croatia who were the runner-ups in the last World Cup are still favored to qualify with the odds of 1.83. But the Russian and Slovakian team can go head-to-head for second place. Both qualified for next year’s European championship, with Russia finishing as a runner-up behind Belgium. But the team suffered defeats against Turkey and Serbia and only finished 2nd in their Nations League group.

Slovakia needed to win the play-off against Northern Ireland to qualify for Euro2020. They managed to win after extra time so we can see them as well. But they could only win one of the six Nations League games and finished in the last place of the group. It also means Slovakia were relegated to League C. There are only six places between the Russian and Slovakian teams in the FIFA ranking so really any of them can qualify. Russia has the slightly better odds with 3.25 against Slovakia’s odds of 5.00.

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