Oddschecker: Who Are The Bookmakers’ Favourites To Lift This Year’s World Cup?

While Europe’s elite might have made their return from the international break last weekend, players from across the globe will have one eye firmly on this year’s World Cup finals.

With under two months until world sport’s biggest tournament gets underway out in Qatar, a host of heavyweight countries have their sights set on making their own piece of history.

On a list that includes both European and south American powerhouses, we have taken an early glance at who the bookmakers have installed as their pre-tournament favourites to be crowned world champions come December.

Brazil – 9/2 with 888sport

Signing off their pre-World Cup preparations with a routine 5-1 romp against Tunisia and with the mood in their camp appearing to be at a red-hot high, Brazil will make the trip to Qatar later in the year riding a stellar wave.

While the Selecao might have been left disappointed after settling for a quarter-final finish out in Russia four years ago, the south American icons have enjoyed a remarkable resurge under Tite.

Booking their World Cup ticket and unbeaten in each of their 17 qualifying showdowns, Brazil are also in the midst of a record-breaking 29-match unbeaten run across all competitions.

With that extended purple patch stemming all the way back to November 2019, Tite’s superstar squad have also gained a fearsome reputation for their free-scoring displays in the final third.

Opening up their adventure in seven weeks’ time when they meet Serbia in Lusail, Brazil will undoubtedly be smelling the chance to claim their first world crown since 2002.

France – 33/5 with Betfair

Laying down what was a dominant marker four years ago as they claimed their second world title, France opened 2022 with many tipping Les Bleus to make more history this time around.

However, while the European giants might be seen as a landslide pick to find their way out of Group D – a group that they share with Australia, Denmark and Tunisia – Didier Deschamps finds a huge amount of pressure on his shoulders.

While the Blues might have just about clung to their elite Nations League status during September’s international break, France really limped their way over the finish line.

Along with signing off their World Cup preparations with a toothless 2-0 loss away at Denmark, France remarkably managed to win just one of their six League A1 appearances this year.

Although Kylian Mbappe might be enjoying his own eye-catching run since opening the 2022/23 campaign, Deschamps will know that he needs more if they’re to defend their crown in Qatar.

Argentina – 38/5 with Unibet

While Brazil might have continued to gain plenty of praise for their extended unbeaten run, they’re not the only south American giants who have continued to break recent records.

Picking up back-to-back 3-0 victories against Honduras and Jamaica last month as they signed off their pre-World Cup preparations with a flurry, La Albiceleste are clearly enjoying life under Lionel Scaloni.

Sharing Group C alongside Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland, Argentina also make the trip out to Qatar in the midst of a 35-match unbeaten run – a run that stems all the way back to July 2019.

Along with conceding just a single strike in almost 800 minutes of action, Scaloni’s squad also have an attacking icon who is enjoying a remarkable romp while on international duties.

Desperate to hand Lionel Messi a first world crown and the chance to put the cherry on his historic career, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has now bagged nine strikes in his last three friendly appearances.