World Football

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar officially kicks off Sunday when the host nation squares off against Ecuador in Group A at Al Bayt Stadium, which will play host to nine total matches throughout the tournament.

The 22nd edition of the World Cup will be played from Nov. 20 to Dec. 18, with all of the action taking place across eight stadiums in Qatar, the first Arab country to host the tournament.

This year's competition marks the final time 32 nations will qualify, as it is set to expand to 48 teams when North America hosts in 2026. This year's group-stage action begins on Nov. 20, with the round of 16 starting Dec. 3.

Brazil enters the 2022 World Cup having won the most titles (five) while Germany and Italy have won four titles each. Other nations to win at least one World Cup include France, Argentina, Uruguay, England and Spain.

Here's a look at what you need to know for the upcoming tournament:

Groups

Group A

Qatar

Ecuador

Senegal

Netherlands

Group B

England

Iran

USA

Wales

Group C

Argentina

Saudi Arabia

Mexico

Poland

Group D

France

Australia

Denmark

Tunisia

Group E

Spain

Costa Rica

Germany

Japan

Group F

Belgium

Canada

Morocco

Croatia

Group G

Brazil

Serbia

Switzerland

Cameroon

Group H

Portugal

Ghana

Uruguay

Korea Republic

Group-Stage Points and Elimination Rules

The four teams in each group will compete against each other in the round-robin group stage, and the standings are based on the points gained from those matches.

Three points are given for a win, one point is awarded for a tie and none are dished out for a loss. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage, while the bottom two are eliminated.

If two or more teams are tied in the group stage, tiebreakers are first based on goal differential, which is a team's total goals scored minus their goals conceded. If they are still tied, goals scored will determine who moves on.

If teams are still tied, head-to-head records will be used to decide which side progresses.

In the knockout stage, if two teams are tied after 90 minutes, two extra 15-minute periods are played. If the two teams are still tied, penalty kicks will be taken to determine the winner.

After the group stage, the tournament moves into the round of 16. From there, eight teams will compete in the quarterfinals, four in the semifinals and two in the final to crown a champion.

The runners-up of the semifinals will compete to determine the third-place winner.

Full list of World Cup regulations available here.

Prize Money

There will be millions on the line at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the international governing body has allotted $440 million in prize money for this year's tournament, a $40 million increase from the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Here's a look at what teams will make depending on their finish in Qatar:

• Winner: $42 million
• Runner-up: $30 million
• Third place: $27 million
• Fourth place: $25 million
• Quarterfinals: $17 million
• Round of 16: $13 million
• Group stage: $9 million

The two teams vying for third place will meet on Dec. 17 at Khalifa International Stadium, while the two sides vying to be crowned champion will meet the following day at Lusail Stadium.

France is aiming to become the first nation to win back-to-back titles since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Les Bleus would be just the second country to accomplish the feat.

The United States, meanwhile, has never won a World Cup. The country's best finish came in 1930, when it finished third behind Uruguay and Argentina.

The Americans begin their quest to become world champions on Nov. 21 against Wales in Group B.

The FIFA men's World Cup starts Sunday, kicking off the first-ever iteration of the competition in the fall.

Qatar will host the tournament, which will feature 32 teams split into eight groups of four. Those quartets will undergo a round-robin schedule within their groups, and the top two teams in each will advance to the 16-team knockout round.

As is the case every year, there are "Groups of Death" in the tournament. Some quartets appear far more competitive than others on paper, either because the group is deep or because of numerous heavyweights getting drawn together.

This year, three groups stand out over the others. Here's a look at that trio as the World Cup nears.

Group B: England, Iran, United States, Wales

Group B is the only group that features four teams in the top 20 of the FIFA rankings. England is fifth, followed by the United States (16th), Wales (19th) and Iran (20th).

Per DraftKings Sportsbook, England is the overwhelming favorite to win the group at -280 ($280 bet to win $100), followed by Wales and the United States (+500 each; bet $100 to win $500) and Iran (+1600).

Led by Harry Kane, who scored 12 goals in eight World Cup qualifying matches, England should (in theory) roll to the top of the group. That was the thought in 2010, when England was matched with Slovenia, the United States and Algeria.

However, England scratched and survived just to advance after a win and two draws, one of which was a 1-1 game against the U.S.

The two sides will face off yet again this year, with the game coming on Black Friday. For the U.S., it could be do-or-die if they lose their opener to Wales. For England, it could be win-and-in if the favorites handle business versus Iran. Regardless of the circumstances, that's the match to watch in Group B as a trio of teams look to knock off the world power that is the Three Lions.

Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan

Two of the six teams on the top of the DraftKings Sportsbook World Cup odds ledger reside in Group E. Spain is there at +850, while Germany sits at +1000.

Those two teams are the clear favorites to advance. Their matchup in the group stage is the one to watch here.

Don't sleep on Costa Rica and Japan, though.

Costa Rica caught fire near the end of its World Cup qualifying round thanks to four wins and a draw in its last five matches. They beat New Zealand in the World Cup playoff to advance.

Japan could be a dangerous side in this tournament thanks to the dynamic duo of Takumi Minamino and Yuya Osako, who scored 10 goals each during World Cup qualifying.

Both teams have tall tasks ahead of them against the European powers, but chaos has happened before in the group stage and could well happen again.

Group G: Brazil, Cameroon, Serbia, Switzerland

Brazil is the clear World Cup favorite. DraftKings Sportsbook lists them as +350 to win it all atop the 32-team list.

FIFA's No. 1 team features one of the game's top all-time players in Neymar, who features on a talented roster including English Premier League attackers Richarlison, Antony, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli.

It won't be a cakewalk for to the top of the group for Brazil (-300 odds to win the group), however. Switzerland (+550), Serbia (+650) and Cameroon (+1200) are all quite capable of advancing to the knockout round.

Switzerland only allowed two goals over eight qualifying matches en route to finishing 5-3-0 for 18 points to top Group C. Serbia also won its group, besting Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal by three points. The matchup between these two could determine one of the two knockout spots in this group.

Cameroon is the underdog of this group, but that was also the case in 1990 when the Indomitable Lions made a sensational run to the quarterfinals of the World Cup. They haven't been able to get out of the group stage since, but they sport a deep roster capable of advancing to the knockout round.

For all the latest betting information and reaction, check out B/R Betting.

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For many fans of international sports competition, there are two quadrennial events that outshine all others. There is the Olympics—which occurs every two years, alternating between winter and summer games—and there is the FIFA World Cup.

The World Cup is the highest level of football (or soccer) competition, pitting the best players each country has to offer against one another on an international stage. The FIFA Women's World Cup last took place in 2019 in France, with the United States topping the Netherlands in the championship bout.

Now it's time for the men's tournament.

The 2022 FIFA Men's World Cup is slated to kick off on Sunday, with host nation Qatar taking on Ecuador roughly two hours after the opening ceremony begins. It promises to be the first of many great matches, as national teams compete for glory and a place in world football history.

Oh, and there will be some big financial prizes on the line, too. Below, you'll find a look at this year's payout information for the World Cup, along with a quick preview of the tournament's top teams and odds.

2022 FIFA World Cup Opener

Who: Qatar vs. Ecuador

Where: Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar

When: Sunday, November 20

Time: 11 a.m. ET

TV: FS1

Prize Purse and Earnings Information

FIFA has set aside a whopping $440 million for prize payouts for the 2022 tournament, with $42 million going to the winning team.

According to FIFA, the rest of the prize purse will break down as follows.

The runner-up will earn $30 million, while the third-place team will take home $27 million. Coming in fourth will earn a team $25 million. Teams finishing 17th through 32nd will receive $9 million apiece, while those who make it to the round of 16 are guaranteed $13 million.

Teams finishing fifth through eighth will receive $17 million each. Additionally, FIFA allotted each qualified team $1.5 million ahead of the tournament to help cover preparation costs.

This marks a notable increase from the 2018 payout for the World Cup in Russia. That tournament had a prize pool of $400 million, with $38 million going to the champion. It's also a significantly larger sum than what was awarded for the women's tournament.

The U.S. women's team took home just $4 million—from a $30 million prize pool—for their victory in 2019. The disparity led to the U.S. national teams' decision to split prize money equally between the men's and women's teams through 2028.

And the 2023 tournament in Australia and New Zealand could mark the start of rising purses for women's events.

"Today, the men's World Cup is the one that is funding all the FIFA competitions, including the Women’s World Cup. But we have seen new trends in terms of revenues," FIFA secretary-general Fatma Samoura said, per Anne M. Peterson of the Associated Press.

As the women's game grows in popularity, so too should the payouts. The men's payouts for 2022 are historically high, and it's unlikely that the prize pool for the North American 2026 World Cup will be lower.

2022 World Cup Grouping and Preview

Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands

Group B: England, Iran, United States, Wales

Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland

Group D: France, Australia, Denmark, Tunisia

Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan

Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia

Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon

Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea

Brazil is the favorite to win the 2022 World Cup, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. This isn't a major surprise, as the Brazilian team—headlined this year by the likes of Neymar and Vinicius Jr.—traditionally fares well in the tournament.

While Brazil last won in 2002, the team has made the quarterfinals in each appearance since.

According to Bleacher Report's panel of world football experts, however, Argentina is the team to beat in this year's tournament. All four panelists—Alex Windley, Nick Akerman, Shane Evans and Meg Swanick—have Argentina in the final.

From Akerman:

"I just can’t look beyond a side that hasn’t lost in 35 games and are brushing teams aside while scoring a lot of goals. Argentina have so many huge characters in their squad that you’d be inspired to go to war with, even away from the likely goal scorers. Emiliano Martínez, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, the list goes on.

"Throw in Messi and a little dash of exciting youth, including Julian Alvarez, and you’ve got the recipe for world champions."

While Brazil (7-2) is the betting favorite, Argentina isn't far behind at 5-1. France (7-1), Spain (17-2), England (9-1) and Germany (10-1) are also among the favorites.

The United States team is considered a heavy long shot at 130-1, and that's no surprise. While the U.S. women's team is regularly among the last World Cup teams standing, the men's team hasn't had similar success. It has never placed higher than eighth.

According to Swanick, it's hard to know how Team USA will fare in Qatar:

"This is the second-youngest team in Qatar but among the most talented generations the U.S. has ever had," Swanick wrote. "That combination of talent and youth makes their success in 2022 hard to predict. ... I think the United States will reach the round of 16."

Will we a team like the U.S. go on a surprise run? Perhaps, but fans can and should expect one of the favorites to win it all. It will be rewarded handsomely for doing so.

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The 2022 FIFA World Cup features a well-balanced group stage that should create plenty of drama as countries battle for a spot in the Round of 16, but that makes it tricky to identify a "Group of Death."

Group E (Spain, Germany, Japan and Costa Rica) and Group G (Brazil, Switzerland, Serbia and Cameroon) each have a strong case as the toughest pools, but at least based on the average FIFA ranking of the national teams, Group B takes the top spot.

That's in large part because none of the sides in the pool—England, the United States, Wales and Iran—are a pushover. Every team has a legitimate chance to make at least a modest run in Qatar, with the Three Lions being a title contender if they survive the tricky group.

Let's check out predictions for each of the Group B fixtures and analyze how the teams that advance will do for the remainder of the World Cup.

Match Predictions

Nov. 21: England 1, Iran 0

Nov. 21: United States 2, Wales 1

Nov. 25: Wales 0, Iran 0

Nov. 25: England 2, United States 0

Nov. 29: England 1, Wales 1

Nov. 29: United States 1, Iran 1

Predicted Table and Outlook

• England: 7 points (2-1-0)
• United States: 4 points (1-1-1)
• Wales: 2 points (0-2-1)
• Iran: 2 points (0-2-1)

England heads to the World Cup on a six-match winless streak (0-3-3), which includes a 1-0 loss to Italy and a 3-3 draw with Germany during September's UEFA Nations League window, the final warm-up matches before Qatar.

It's far from ideal, and the skid led to questions about whether a last-ditch coaching switch from Gareth Southgate should be considered, but it doesn't change the reality that the Three Lions will feature one of the most talented rosters in the tournament.

A forward group led by the likes of Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford has the potential to match up with any attacking group in the tournament, and England's defense stepped up in a major way last year in the Euros.

The opening match against Iran, a defensive-minded opponent capable of containing England's pace, is a perfect first test. It'll quickly show whether the side has turned the page after its recent struggles or whether they may carry over into the World Cup.

Outside expectations for the Three Lions may have faded over the past six months, but this is still a squad with the potential to reach the semifinals or beyond.

Meanwhile, assuming a return to form from England, the battle for the second qualification spot out of Group B figures to come down to the final matchday.

The United States faces a lot of pressure to resume the program's growth after the extreme disappointment of missing the 2018 World Cup. It was a major setback at the outset of what was supposed to become a golden era of American soccer.

While the USMNT features a solid attacking core, led by Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Timothy Weah and Giovanni Reyna, the single biggest question that will determine the side's fate is how the defense performs, particularly the central defenders.

Manager Gregg Berhalter has leaned heavily on the tandem of Aaron Long and Walker Zimmerman but the results, especially in terms of building attacks out of the back, have been mediocre at best.

If that issue can be solved, either by better play from Long and Zimmerman or involving other options like Tim Ream and Cameron Carter-Vickers, making it out of the group and possibly even reaching the quarterfinals is within reach.

One thing's for sure: the Group of Death is going to present a challenge for all four teams.