Football Ground Map
Football Ground Map
The FIFA World Cup is almost upon us, with the opening ceremony of Qatar 2022 on 20th November, with the final played less than a month later on 18th December. Delayed for five months to accommodate the dangerously high temperatures in the region, this will be the first tournament of its kind not to be played during the summer months. It's a year of firsts, as this will also be the World Cup's first appearance in the Arab World.
There has been no expense spared during the build-up, with organisers and backers in Qatar spending millions to put on a show and mark the occasion. The region may not be famous for its love of football; this will be the first time Qatar has qualified for the group stages, achieved due to its status as the host nation. But it does have the finances, infrastructure and skills to do the games proud. With the next World Cup shared between the United States, Mexico and Canada, Qatar knows it has a real chance to set the bar high.
The scene is set, the groups have been drawn, and the fixtures confirmed. Now all that's left for fans to do is sort their travel to Qatar, or with games so close to Christmas, watching the play live on television is more likely. Which nation do you expect to win the World Cup? The latest World Cup Vegas betting odds are available and make for interesting reading. Traders working at the biggest online sportsbooks know which side they are backing.
It's now up to soccer fans to agree and back the favourites or go against the grain. There are some interesting teams that have been written off just a little too quickly and present an opportunity for backers to get their share of the value. This page looks at some of the most important stats and trends relating to the World Cup. These figures can be used to showcase your sports knowledge to other fans, impress family members while watching the games or make predictions.
The biggest names from the online betting industry offer odds on the winner of the World Cup as well as other outright markets. Have your say on the top goalscorer, to qualify from the group, stage of elimination, player of the tournament and lots more. When seeking out an online gambling app to bet on the games, you should look for one with the most markets, specials and betting promotions. The top apps even offer new players a welcome bonus free bet when they sign-up and gamble.
When you have had your fill of betting on the World Cup outright markets, such as Brazil to lift the trophy or Harry Kane winning the golden boot, it's time to look at the upcoming games. Every fixture has over 100 pre-match betting markets, with many remaining live and available to bet on throughout the 90 minutes. This is achieved through in-play betting and can be used alongside the live streaming of matches.
There are a few stats worth keeping in mind when making your World Cup predictions. We look at the best of those in this section. Following the stats isn't a guaranteed way to beat the bookies, and it doesn't ensure you will be correct on every play. But it is a smart approach that throws up more than a few positive results.
France is the current World Cup champion and arrives in Qatar looking to bank their second title on the bounce and third overall. Even if Les Bleus were to make it a third winner's medal, they would still be some way off the competition's most successful team, Brazil.
The Samba Boys have lifted this trophy five times in the past, first getting their hands on the prize in 1958, with the most recent gong claimed in 2002. Brazil has also been runners-up twice and has finished in the top four on 11 occasions.
The nearest rival to Brazil's lead is Germany, who sit on four wins alongside European champions Italy. If the Germans win in Qatar, they will become the sport's most successful international team with five wins, four seconds, four thirds and a fourth.
Taking my son to his first football match was one of the best experiences I've had as a father so far. I've written this article for Alex to read when he gets older.
My daughter's first ever football match - Orlando City v Atlanta United, August 2019. Written for Izzy to read when she gets old enough. Vamos Orlando
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