With the World Cup draw for this summer just coming out, a lot of exciting and interesting groups were created. The top 2 teams from each group advance with also the 8 best 3rd placed teams on. These teams will go into a round of 32 which is different from previous editions, which had fewer teams and went straight to a round of 16. Group A is anyone’s game with the countries, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, and the winner from European playoff D (Denmark, North Macedonia, Czechia, Ireland) . Mexico being one of the host countries and the favorite of the group has fallen on some rough form and has not won in their last 6 games. South Korea, who made the round of 16 in the last World Cup, could take this group by surprise. Group B consists of another one of the host countries, Canada, as well as Switzerland, Qatar, and the winner of European Playoff A (Italy, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Wales). This is another group that has no outstanding favorite with the highest ranked team being Switzerland. Also, Italy who failed to directly qualify for the 3rd year in a row could be in this group.
Group C has Brazil, Haiti, Scotland, and Morocco who surprised the world by making the World Cup semifinals in 2022. Even though Brazil is the heavy favorite in this group they have struggled with recent form and have gone through many different managers. Group D has the last of the host countries, the USA, but also has Australia, Paraguay, and the winner of European Playoff C (Slovakia, Kosovo, Turkiye, Romania). This group is extremely hard to predict with all teams being of equal caliber, but the USA will be favored to win it. Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, and tournament debutants Curacao are in Group E. Germany and Ecuador are expected to easily cruise past this group but it is never certain with the amount of talent in these Ivory Coast and Curacao teams.
Group F consists of Japan, Tunisia, The Netherlands, and the winner of European Playoff B (Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, Albania). Japan is one of the underdogs in this tournament with their squad consisting of a lot of high quality players. Nonetheless, the favorite to win this group is The Netherlands led by former Barcelona legend Ronald Koeman.Group G is the worst group on paper with Belgium, Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand. The reason being is that Belgium, who is considered the favorite of this group, has not been able to keep up with other strong teams in Europe like Spain, France, and Portugal. The rest of the teams in this group have a great chance to surprise the world as not many people consider them as strong teams but one of them will have to qualify for the next round.
Group H has European giant Spain, as well as Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, and Cape Verde who are making their first appearance in a World Cup after their impressive qualifying round in which they knocked out Cameroon. Spain is expected to win this group due to Uruguay not having a great qualifying campaign. Group I is one of the strongest groups in the tournament with France, Norway, Senegal, and the winner of FIFA Playoff tournament 2 (Bolivia, Iraq, Suriname). This group almost looks too strong for whichever of these three teams advance. France is the favorite as they made the final in 2022 and won it all in 2018. Norway is coming off a 12 game unbeaten streak in which they had 11 wins and 1 tie. Senegal is one of the strongest teams in Africa and was unbeaten in the qualifying rounds.
Group J is composed of the reigning champions Argentina, plus Austria, Algeria, and Jordan. Argentina is predicted to win this group as Messi will participate in what is probably his last World Cup. The rest of the countries all have a very solid chance to advance with Austria being favored to get 2nd place. Austria scraped past Bosnia and Romania to top their qualifier and make the World Cup. Algeria are unbeaten in their last 19 games and are playing in the Africa Cup of Nations right now, so it is not going to be an easy path to the round of 32 for Austria. Group K is made up of Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, and the winner of FIFA Playoff tournament 1 (DR Congo, Jamaica, New Caledonia). This will be Cristianio Ronaldo’s last chance to win a World Cup in his accomplished career and his country Portugal is favored to win this group. Colombia has been amazing recently and could be one of the biggest underdogs in this tournament. DR Congo, which is in the FIFA Playoff tournament 1, knocked out African Giants Nigeria in the qualifiers and have been impressive recently.
The final group, Group L has Croatia, England, Ghana, and Panama. England is looking to break their curse and win their first World Cup since 1966. Croatia were underdogs in the last two World Cups, getting 3rd in 2022 and being finalists in 2018. Now, they are one of the favorites to make it far into this tournament. Ghana is a team with a very powerful offense with the likes of Mo Kudus, Inaki Williams, and Joseph Paintsil. Panama is actually ranked the 30th best team in the world by FIFA ahead of teams like Poland, Wales, and Nigeria. The World Cup is always filled with world class players and underdog teams. Who will be the winner of the next World Cup?
