The 22nd World Cup kicks off in Qatar on November 20. This competition is made up of 32 of the best soccer nations in the world. The teams go through a series of qualification rounds throughout the years building up to the World Cup and a shot at winning it all. This year, the draw took place on April 1, but the competitiveness between the eight groups is going to be tougher than ever. As someone who has watched soccer since I can remember, these are my predictions for the Qatar World Cup Group Stage.

Group A
Group A is composed of the home team Qatar, Ecuador, the Lions of Senegal, and the Netherlands. In my opinion, this is one of the easier groups to predict. The Netherlands have proved that they are a big team, especially recently succeeding in their Nations League run to play in the Semi-Finals next summer. With this being said they will 100% take the top of the table. I have Senegal finishing second. I feel like the last few teams will battle a little bit more but they have big names like Eduoud Mendy in goal and Koulibaly in his back line. The Senegal team also has a magical team dynamic which will definitely influence their second place in this group. With the next two teams I can say confidently that Ecuador will take third and Qatar will take fourth. According to Google, Qatar has never qualified for a single World Cup since their independence in 1971. Since they have never even made it to the group stage of this competition – let alone made it out of the group – makes me believe that they will finish fourth. So in conclusion, group A finishes:
The Netherlands
Senegal
Ecuador
Qatar

Group B
This is where it gets interesting. The United States has been paired with the three lions of England, Iran, and England’s neighbors in Wales. Because this is a group composed of very top level teams, this is going to be a tough one to make it out of to proceed in the tournament. Normally I would say without a doubt that the US and England would make it out of this group, but after England’s recent winless streak of seven after their tie with Germany and the States losing 2-0 to Japan on September 27, it made me lose a bit of hope for my sides. As someone with an English dad I know a lot about the team. They have incredible players in their squad, but the coach just doesn’t seem to have a single idea on how to apply these players’ skills to the game. This being said, I feel like it would be a total shock if they didn’t make it out, so I have them making the top but it is definitely going to be tight.
Second, I have to have faith in my American boys. After the major loss of Robinson finishing the back line after tearing his achilles early in the MLS season, they have brought up a lot of young talent to help piece together the puzzle. Let’s hope that they can seal the deal, but Whales is definitely going to make them work for it. Whales is a very consistent side, only losing 1-0 or 2-1 throughout their friendlies leading up to the World Cup, and beat the reigning champions France. This proves that they are a tough side and are going to challenge the other teams, but I feel like they will just come up short by a point or two. Iran is also an incredible team, this is why this is such a tough group to predict. Compared to the big weight on names like England and the States, I feel like they will finish fourth in this group. As a wrap up, group B finishes:
England
United States of America
Wales
Iran

Group C
Group C consists of the big dogs: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Poland. Argentina is a very strong side led by Di Maria, Paulo Dybala, and one of, if not the best player in the world, Lionel Messi. They have an incredible lineup, and have recently won the CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup, smashing Euro 2020 winners Italy 3-0. Because of this recent major trophy win and their incredible lineup, I see Argentina winning the top of this group. Second I have Mexico. They are a great side and I definitely see them making it through to the next round over Poland and Saudi Arabia. In third I’ve got to go Poland. They have some great players like Lewandowski and Matty Cash just to name a few, but I’m not sure it will be enough to fight for the top of the group. This being said, Saudi Arabia is finishing fourth in this group. So in conclusion, group C finishes:
Argentina
Mexico
Poland
Saudi Arabia

Group D
Group D is another hard one to predict with the reigning champs France, the Aussies, Denmark, and Tunisia. Based on stats and reigning status many would go with France as being first, but I think Denmark is my first seed. They have an amazing squad and have gotten close in the past, so I definitely see them making it through. France is definitely second in the group though! With so many big names, especially those leading the front line with Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema, I don’t see how they couldn’t make it through to the next round. I have Australia taking third. They are a relatively good team, I’ve seen them play a couple of times, but they have been put in a really tough group which I don’t see them making it out of. With that being said, Tunisia will finish fourth. I have no recollection of seeing them play, but they have also been put in an impossible situation and it would take a lot for them to be able to move on to the round of 16. These are my standings for Group D:
Denmark
France
Australia
Tunisia

Group E
Group E is another easy one to predict. Based on recent friendly matches, Spain and Germany are 100% making it out of this group, but the real question is who will finish first. German star Kai Havertz recently slotted two against England in their last Nations League Game, securing Germany a point.
German native Leroy Sane and Joshua Kimmich have taken total control of the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich, their most recent being September 30 with a 4-0 victory over Bayern Leverkusen. This being said, I think Germany will take top of the table. In a tight second I have Spain. With young stars in Pedri and Gavi, as well as many experienced players being called up for the side, I definitely see them using this experience to make it into the round of 16. The last two are definitely going to be tough to predict as well. I have Costa Rica taking third and Japan in fourth. Japan has recently beaten the United States 2-0, but I don’t feel like they will have enough to knock out the big dogs in Germany and Spain. I think it will be tight, but Costa Rica will just edge out ahead of Japan. In conclusion:
Germany
Spain
Costa Rica
Japan

Group F
The 6th group in the Qatar World Cup consists of Belgium, Canada, Morocco, and Croatia. Anyone who knows ball has to put Croatia as first in this group. Not only have they done great in the past World Cup as well as the 2020 Euros, but just recently they have secured a top-four finish in the Nations League, heading to the finals next summer. They are a very strong side and I see them getting very far into this competition. This is another very tough group to predict because I feel like there is not one team that really stands out better or worse compared to the others. Just on what I know, I am going to have to go with Belgium just making the cut for the round of 16. They are a strong side, but it is definitely going to be a tough battle between this group. Finishing us off I think Morocco will finish third and Canada will finish fourth. There were no specific reasons for these predictions, it is just what I know and how I feel the points will lay out. So in group F I have:
Croatia
Belgium
Morocco
Canada

Group G
Group G consists of Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, and Cameroon, but I’m pretty sure we all know who is going to top this group. Brazil is one of the best nations in this competition by far, winning five times so far, hoping to find their sixth.
They have an incredible team with major names like Thiago Silva, Neymar, Viniscus Jr, and many other incredible players. With this lineup, their creativity, and the incredibly lucky group they’ve been placed with, I can definitely see Brazil going on to win the whole competition. In second place I’ve got Switzerland. They are a decent size and out of the bottom three I could see them being the most likely to move to the next round. Concluding this group, Serbia will finish third in a tight race for points with Cameroon, who I feel will finish fourth.
Brazil
Switzerland
Serbia
Cameroon

Group H
Last but not least we have Group H, composed of Ronaldo and Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, and Korea Republic. One thing I know I would love to see is Messi and Ronaldo playing each other for possibly the last time in the World Cup final. Would this finally decide the debate for who is the best player once and for all? Because of this massive pairing and their incredible squad, I see Portugal finishing at the top of this table. In second place I’ve got to go with Ghana. I think they are the unnoticed underdogs in this grouping and I would love to see them go through to the round of 16. Concluding my predictions I have Uruguay finishing in third after a tight race with Ghana and Korea Republic unfortunately finishing fourth.
Portugal
Ghana
Uruguay
Korea Republic

Finally to cap it off, the teams I see moving onto the Round of 16 are:
The Netherlands
Senegal
England
United States
Argentina
Mexico
Denmark
France
Germany
Spain
Croatia
France
Brazil
Switzerland
Portugal
Ghana

As a reminder, these are just my opinions and my predictions for the World Cup. I know a lot of opinions will vary. I’m very excited to see who will hold the title this December. The Blue & Gold and I will be updating World Cup coverage weekly throughout the competition. If you want to add your voice, please get in touch!