Brazil favored to win 2022 FIFA World Cup

After the exciting conclusions to both Copa America and the European Championships, the soccer world now turns its attention to Qatar and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

With the opening match just over 16 months away, let’s take an early look at the four teams with the brightest outlook heading into the remainder of the qualifying cycle.

Brazil

While they fell short of lifting the trophy at Copa America on their own soil, the depth and talent of Brazil have them atop the betting odds and atop the lists of many around the world as the favorites to win the tournament for the sixth time. Neymar is in outstanding form but is closing in on the end of his 20s, so he feels some pressure as he may only have two or three opportunities left. The back line for Brazil has loads of quality depth and talent, although stalwart Thiago Silva is nearing the end of his career and might be too old and slow for the tournament.

The biggest question for Brazil will be their ability to find a consistent goal-scoring threat at striker. Gabriel Jesus was sorely missed in the final, but even he is not as lethal as number nines in Brazil’s past. The emergence of Lucas Paqueta means the reliance on Neymar to do everything in attack is lessened, but if the Selecao are to lift the trophy for the first time since 2002, he needs someone to pick up the slack further up the pitch as well.

England

Germany won the World Cup in 2014, but the groundwork was laid with a pair of semi-final defeats at World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012. Likewise, France finally reached the promised land at the 2018 World Cup, following a quarter-final defeat at World Cup 2014 and a finals loss at Euro 2016. When you have a large crop of promising young talent, they often need the experience of losing in big matches to find a way to win them later. The older players had already tasted that defeat in the semi-finals of World Cup 2018, but now the younger players have learned how it feels to come up just short of lifting the trophy.

Of the 23 outfield players in the England squad for Euro 2020, 13 of them were 25 year olds or younger, including the starting midfield of Declan Rice (22) and Kalvin Phillips (25). Their roster will feature many talented players entering their prime, with another year’s worth of experience, and the painful experience of defeat this weekend might be enough to help them end decades of heartbreak for England fans.  

France

While the French disappointed many who viewed them as the favorites to win Euro 2020, there was always likely to be a bit of a letdown after winning World Cup 2018, especially given the difficult road they had to reach the final. France had a 3-1 lead in the Round of 16 and should have reached the quarter-finals, but manager Didier Deschamps did not make the proper adjustments and France left themselves exposed.

There was plenty of in-fighting taking place within the camp as well, which may have distracted the players from their final mission. However, Kylian Mbappe will be a bit more mature and the younger talent coming through the ranks should allow them to freshen things up and be more professional. Deschamps is expected to still be the manager in 2022, meaning a tactical refresh might also be required for France to be the first nation to win consecutive World Cups since Brazil in 1962.

Italy

We cannot finish the list without the very Azzurri who are two results away from setting a new record for most consecutive matches without defeat for an international side. Italy’s dominant midfield is in their prime, and players like Federico Chiesa and Leonardo Spinazzola still have multiple cycles ahead of them. Gianluigi Donnarumma is just 22 years old, and should be an imposing presence in goals for the better part of the next two decades.

The biggest concern for Italy will be the partnership of Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, who looked renewed in the tournament and were the best defensive duo in the European Championships. Age is a real issue, with Chiellini turning 38 before the World Cup kicks off next year and Bonucci turning 35 next spring. Asking them to repeat their performance is a tall order, and their likely replacements are a step-down. If they can figure out the spine, this team is poised to continue their impressive run right into Qatar.