*All of the odds presented in this article are subject to change.

Every time a major football tournament rolls around, there is talk of a “Group of Death”. That name might be a tad melodramatic, but being drawn into the toughest group at the World Cup is always a bit of a downer. This article will look at the World Cup draw 2022 Group of Death, including which group it is this time around (and why). We’ll also glance at the current odds and predict who will emerge from the group.

World Cup Draw 2022 Group of Death

England fans may be surprised to learn that their side is in the World Cup draw 2022 Group of Death. Yes, Group B – where we find England, Wales, Iran and USA – is the Group of Death this year.

On paper, some fans may look at that quartet and believe it isn’t such a bad draw. In terms of the outright betting odds for the 2022 World Cup, there are certain groups that look more threatening. Yes, England is among the favourites to go all the way in Qatar, but the USA are next, priced at over 150/1 (though they are as short as 100/1 with some World Cup betting sites).

Why, then, is Group B the Group of Death? Well, whilst the odds suggest that all four teams are very much in with a chance of qualifying for the last 16, in terms of FIFA’s official rankings, this is technically the toughest group.

With just a couple of weeks, until the tournament begins, England is ranked fifth in the world, the USA 16th, Wales 19th and Iran 20th. With all four sides inside the top 20 in the world, at least according to FIFA’s questionable ranking system, it seems fair to suggest this is a tough group after all.

What is a Group of Death?

“Group of Death” is just an unofficial nickname given to one of the groups at a major tournament such as the Euros or the World Cup. It has no strict definition or criteria but generally means a group that will be difficult to progress from. It is often a group where there is a very real chance that a strong, high-ranked nation may fail to progress.

Groups of Death occur due to the seeding and draw process used for many tournaments. At the World Cup, there are four pots, the first featuring the host nation and the next seven best teams (according to FIFA rankings). Seeds nine to 16 are the eight qualified nations that come next in the rankings and so on (with a few technical restrictions).

A Group of Death comes together through a combination of factors. First, the fact that the hosts Qatar are not on a strong side means that a much better side is pushed down into the second pot of seeds. Next, there is the luck of the draw to consider: a World Cup group may feature the four weakest sides from each pot, but if the four strongest are drawn together, this helps to create a true World Cup Group of Death.

There are also the vagaries of the FIFA rankings to consider, plus the fact that the seeding pots are created based on rankings months prior to the tournament. Concerning the first point, FIFA’s system is far from perfect, so a nation can easily be placed in a pot that does not reflect its true merits. This could mean that a very capable nation gets placed into the second or third pot when they are actually much better than that.

Is there another Group of Death at the World Cup?

Ignoring the rankings and considering which groups look the hardest to exit, there are various contenders for the Group of Death tag at this World Cup. Group E features Germany and Spain but based on the FIFA rankings from 6th October 2022, Group D is the only one with two top-10 sides.

Group D features France (4th), Denmark (10th), Tunisia (30th) and Australia (38th), so it looks very much like D for Death, certainly for the two underdogs. The average ranking for this quartet is 20.5, a good degree higher than England’s group. Even so, it is certainly one to watch.

Group H, featuring Portugal, Uruguay, Ghana and South Korea, also looks attractive. This may be one of the most even, fiercely contested quartets of the Qatar World Cup. We fancy Portugal should win it easily enough, but the battle for second place looks fascinating.

What are the Odds for the Group of Death at Qatar 2022?

In terms of the outright World Cup odds at betway, the Three Lions are priced at 8/1 to lift the trophy. The USA are 150/1, Wales 250/1 and Iran 500/1. If we look at their chances to win the group, England are the big favourite at odds of 1/2, with the US and Wales priced at 9/2 and Iran at 10/1. Iran can be backed at 3/1 to qualify, with Wales 5/4, USA 10/11 and England just 1/9.

There is a range of other World Cup draw 2022 Group of Death odds available. You can bet on a team to finish second in the group, third, or bottom of the pile. There are also various forecast and tricast bets available if you want to get even more specific with how this group will play out.

Nostrabet’s Predictions for the World Cup 2022 Group of Death

Here are our main expert betting tips and predictions for the key issues in the 2022 World Cup Group of Death.

Who will win the group?

It is hard to look past the favourites, England. Wales will be highly motivated for their clash with Gareth Southgate’s men, but the Three Lions should have enough to top the pile. This group could be tight, so don’t be surprised if they draw one or perhaps even two games.

Which two teams will qualify for the 1/8 finals?

The World Cup draw 2022 Group of Death is not packed with genuine title contenders. It does, however, have four decent nations, all of whom have an excellent chance of making the 1/8-finals or last 16.

The bookies think it will be an England-USA 1-2, but at the odds, the Nostrabet tip is to back Wales. The USA has some good players, not least Leeds United’s Brenden Aaronson, Tyler Adams and Christian Pulisic of Chelsea. However, none has the star quality or big-game experience of Gareth Bale.

Bale might be past his best but playing for Wales at the World Cup is a dream for the fiercely patriotic former Real Madrid ace. He has a decent supporting cast, too, and so at odds slightly longer than those for the US, back Wales to make the Round of 16 along with England.

FAQ