Top 10 Strongest Contenders for the 2022 World Cup

The Belgium national team, which has dominated the FIFA rankings for the past three years, achieved its best result in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where they finished third. However, in other major tournaments like the 2014 World Cup, 2016 Euro, and the 2020 Euro, Belgium was eliminated early despite being highly regarded.

For the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, this might be the last chance for the golden generation of players such as Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Jan Vertonghen, and Axel Witsel to compete together, as they are all over 30 years old. Drawn into a relatively easy group with Canada, Morocco, and Croatia, Belgium is expected to breeze through the group stage. Croatia, the 2018 World Cup runners-up, is likely to be Belgium's biggest challenge in the quest to top Group F, but the current Croatian team is not as formidable as they were four years ago. Canada and Morocco, while not highly rated, could still be potential surprises for Belgium. Belgium's strong qualification campaign, finishing unbeaten in Group E of the European qualifiers with 20 points, 25 goals scored, and only 6 conceded, has given them an edge. They were one of the top scorers in the European qualifiers, averaging more than three goals per match.

After qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, Belgium is making its 14th appearance in the global football spectacle. Kevin De Bruyne has become a key player at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola, consistently providing assists for his teammates. His creativity and leadership will be crucial for Belgium in the upcoming World Cup.

The England national team has undergone a significant transformation under the guidance of manager Gareth Southgate. The team has become more cohesive and much harder to break down compared to the past. Over the past few years, England has firmly established itself as a formidable force both in European and global football.

Achievements like reaching the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup and the final of Euro 2020 are clear indicators of the team's strength. Despite their progress in major tournaments, Harry Kane and his teammates have yet to win a title. In recent years, the team has beaten other powerful nations like Germany and Spain, but major trophies continue to elude them. As a result, Southgate's managerial abilities have been a frequent topic of discussion in the British press. The 2022 FIFA World Cup presents a golden opportunity for Southgate to prove his credentials as a talented, seasoned, and passionate coach. Fans of the England team have every reason to be hopeful heading into the 2022 World Cup. England had an impressive qualification campaign, winning 8 of their 10 matches and drawing the other 2. They scored 39 goals and conceded just 3, boasting the highest goal difference in the European qualifiers.

The team’s youthful squad, adaptable tactics, and a wealth of talent in all areas make England one of the most exciting teams to watch. With 2 or 3 top-quality players in every position, Southgate has plenty of options to choose from when it comes to his match strategies.

Spain was placed in the first seed group for the World Cup 2022 draw, highlighting their strength. Since Luis Enrique took over as coach, he has breathed new life into the Spanish team. The former Barcelona manager made bold decisions, phasing out veteran players in favor of younger, promising talents eager to contribute.

UEFA Euro 2020 was the first major tournament under Enrique’s leadership, and he proved his approach was successful. Under his guidance, Spain became a cohesive unit, blending experience with youthful energy. Young players like Pedri, Ferran Torres, and Gavi showed great maturity, playing alongside seasoned professionals like Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets. Spain revived the famous tiki-taka style that Barcelona and Spain once dominated with, employing smooth passing, movement, and teamwork to great effect. Spain reached the Euro 2020 semifinals, only falling to Italy in a penalty shootout. Spain is among the 8 nations that have won the World Cup, with an illustrious streak of three consecutive major trophies: Euro 2008, World Cup 2010, and Euro 2012. This remarkable feat is considered one of the greatest in football history. Spain also held the record for the longest unbeaten run in international football, lasting 35 matches over nearly three years. The 2022 World Cup marks Spain’s 11th appearance at the tournament. Their qualification campaign was strong, finishing top of Group B with 19 points, including 6 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss, scoring 15 goals and conceding 5.

The Netherlands team is packed with stars and emerging talent. Virgil van Dijk, a top defender at Liverpool in the early years, cemented his reputation as one of the best defenders in the world. However, this season, the 31-year-old has struggled, facing criticism as Liverpool’s defensive stability faltered. Still, van Dijk remains the most reliable defender for the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup, provided he is in good physical condition. In Qatar, he will need to balance his captaincy duties with his own performances on the pitch. Similarly, the 2022 World Cup is a chance for Frenkie de Jong to prove his worth after losing his starting spot at Barcelona. The 25-year-old midfielder has only started 9 games this season, with 7 full 90-minute appearances. He was also overlooked by coach Xavi for key matches in the Champions League and La Liga. De Jong thrives as the player who links defense and attack, and he is expected to reprise this role in Qatar. Memphis Depay is in a similar situation—despite no longer being a regular starter under Xavi’s management, Depay chose to remain at Barcelona in the summer of 2022 rather than seek playing time elsewhere, like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. This decision has appeared to backfire, with Depay struggling to secure a spot in the starting lineup and battling injuries. He has only scored one goal in La Liga so far this season. Despite these challenges, Depay is likely to wear the number 10 shirt and remain the Netherlands’ biggest attacking hope at the World Cup. Alongside these key players, coach Louis van Gaal also has a strong crop of young talents ready to make an impact.

The orange wave of Dutch fans is one of the defining features of the World Cup. Dutch supporters, draped head to toe in orange, create an electric atmosphere in the stands. Known as Oranje, the Netherlands will undoubtedly play with the passionate support of their fans under the bright lights of Qatar.

In the Portugal squad, Ronaldo remains the top scorer with 117 international goals. However, his situation at Manchester United has taken a turn, as he finds himself frequently on the bench under coach Erik ten Hag.

Despite the challenges surrounding his form, there is still hope for the Portuguese team, with standout players such as Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, Bernardo Silva, and Ruben Dias. Bruno Fernandes has been regaining his best form under Ten Hag, linking up well with Fred to create numerous chances for Manchester United. In their recent match against Tottenham, Fernandes scored a crucial goal, helping secure a 2-0 victory. He also netted twice in Portugal's 2022 World Cup playoff final against North Macedonia. Meanwhile, Diogo Dalot has been consistently performing well as a right-back for Manchester United. Both Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias have been key figures for Manchester City, signaling a strong foundation for the Portuguese national team. Winning the World Cup is a dream that coach Fernando Santos has openly expressed.

However, to turn this dream into reality, the 68-year-old coach must address the inconsistencies within his squad. Only by improving the form of underperforming players can Portugal stabilize and re-establish their competitive rhythm.

The Germany national team has one of the most successful records in World Cup history, with 4 titles in 1954, 1974, 1990, and 2014, placing them just behind Brazil, who has won 5 times.

Out of the 21 World Cups that have taken place before, Germany has reached the top 4 an impressive 13 times, making them the team with the best performance in the tournament. Their triumph in the 2014 World Cup was particularly dominant, as they defeated teams like Portugal, France, Nigeria, and Argentina. The most unforgettable moment came in the semi-finals when they stunned Brazil with a 7-1 victory. Known for their tactical, disciplined, and highly efficient style of play, Germany has always been a fearsome opponent. However, in the 2018 World Cup, the reigning champions suffered a shocking exit in the group stage, including a loss to South Korea, a team considered far weaker, with a 2-0 defeat. As they returned for the 2022 World Cup, Germany’s goal was clear: to reclaim the prestigious title after their setbacks. In their European qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, they topped Group J with 9 wins and 1 loss, accumulating 27 points. The team scored a total of 36 goals, averaging 4 per game, and conceded only 4. Germany became the second team to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, after Qatar. Since August 2021, Hansi Flick has taken the reins as coach, replacing Joachim Low. Flick has won every match in charge, including seven victories in the World Cup qualifiers.

With his deep understanding of German football, having worked with the national team for years, Hansi Flick is seen as the man to restore Germany’s former glory and lead them back to the top of world football.

Denmark has consistently been one of the top teams in Europe. By the 2022 World Cup, they had qualified for the tournament six times, with their best performance being a quarterfinal finish in 1998.

After a challenging qualification process for the 2018 World Cup, Denmark made significant improvements. At UEFA Euro 2020, they performed exceptionally well, advancing to the quarterfinals. The tournament became particularly emotional as their star midfielder, Christian Eriksen, suffered a cardiac arrest during the opening match. Despite the psychological toll, Denmark's team showed incredible unity and determination, defeating Wales, the Czech Republic, and Russia before narrowly losing 2-1 to England in the semifinals. In the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Denmark secured their spot in Qatar early, finishing second in their group behind Germany. With Scotland, Israel, Austria, the Faroe Islands, and Moldova in their group, Denmark dominated, winning 9 out of 10 matches and only losing once. They went on an impressive 8-match winning streak, scoring 27 goals and conceding none. The team’s strength lies in their balanced squad, with strong performances from all positions. Under coach Kasper Hjulmand, Denmark displayed a confident and high-pressing style of play, which they had demonstrated in Euro 2020.

Christian Eriksen’s return to the team has been a game-changer for Denmark. The Manchester United midfielder plays a crucial role in the team, operating both as a central and attacking midfielder, bringing creative flair and leadership to the heart of Denmark’s midfield.

For the first time in years, the Argentina national team enters the 2022 World Cup with high expectations. The key difference this time around is the tactical expertise of coach Lionel Scaloni. A common strategy for strong teams before a major tournament is to face weaker opponents in friendly matches, boosting morale through easy wins. However, Scaloni’s approach has been to prepare Argentina for tougher challenges. Playing against teams like Honduras and Jamaica, who focus on defensive strategies and seek to draw, Argentina learned the importance of breaking down teams that sit deep in defense.

Unlike their underwhelming performance at the 2018 World Cup under Jorge Sampaoli, when they drew with debutants Iceland and were humiliated by Croatia, Argentina enters the 2022 tournament as one of the strong contenders for the title. In 2018, Sampaoli's tactical philosophy failed to mesh with the available players, leaving the team with little direction and ultimately resulting in his costly dismissal. This time, however, Scaloni has successfully integrated Argentina’s strengths, and their form heading into the tournament is strong.

For Lionel Messi, the 2022 World Cup is likely to be his final appearance in the tournament, marking the end of an era for one of football's greatest legends. It is a sad farewell for fans, as they may never again see Messi grace the world’s biggest football stage in this competition.

The French national team enters the 2022 World Cup as the reigning champions. With a star-studded lineup, coach Didier Deschamps is aiming to become the third manager in history to successfully defend the World Cup title, following Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962).

However, France faces significant challenges with several key players sidelined due to injuries. Despite this, the team remains a formidable force and is considered one of the top contenders for the 2022 World Cup. After a long wait, the reigning champions are poised to return to the biggest football stage with the goal of protecting their title. In the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, France demonstrated their strength, finishing unbeaten in their group. Drawn in Group D with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Finland, and Ukraine, France secured 5 wins and 3 draws from 8 matches. They scored 18 goals, averaging 3.6 per game, while conceding only 3.

Additionally, the team's recent performances have been strong, including a redemption victory in the 2021 UEFA Nations League after their unexpected exit from Euro 2020. Compared to the squad that won the 2018 World Cup, the current French team retains its core and has added several top-tier players. With such depth and talent, France's primary goal for the 2022 World Cup is clear: to defend their championship.