Soccer
2022 World Cup Previews: Everything You Need to Know to Get Ready for the World’s Biggest Soccer Tournament in Qatar
Tim Crean started writing about sports in 2016 and joined Sports7 in 2021. He excels with his versatile coverage of the NFL and soccer landscape, as well as his expertise breaking down sports media, which stems from his many years downloading podcasts before they were even cool and countless hours spent listening to Mike & The Mad Dog and The Dan Patrick Show, among other programs. As a longtime self-professed sports junkie who even played DII lacrosse at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York, Tim loves reading about all the latest sports news every day and considers it a dream to write about sports professionally. He's a lifelong Buffalo Bills fan from Western New York who mistakenly thought, back in the early '90s, that his team would be in the Super Bowl every year. He started following European soccer — with a Manchester City focus — in the early 2000s after spending far too much time playing FIFA. When he's not enjoying a round of golf or coaching youth soccer and flag football, Tim likes reading the work of Bill Simmons, Tony Kornheiser, Chuck Klosterman, and Tom Wolfe.
Get to know Tim Crean betterUpdated09 Nov 2022
If it seems strange that it’s November, and we’re starting to talk about 2022 World Cup previews for the event in Qatar, you’re right. The prestigious soccer tournament is usually played every four years in June and July. However, due to the sweltering heat in the Qatari desert in the summer months, the tournament will run from November 20 to December 18, 2022.
Despite the odd timing, the 2022 World Cup will still feature the 32 best international teams in the world competing first in eight four-team, round-robin Group Stage games, followed by a 16-team single-elimination Knockout Round.
The 2022 World Cup will feature all the usual suspects like Brazil, Argentina, England, France, Germany, and Spain, as well as some nations we haven’t seen in the tournament in quite a while, such as Wales and Canada. And, after missing the 2018 Word Cup, the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) is also back in the action.
In our 2022 World Cup previews hub, we’ll get you up to speed with everything you need to know about the coming tournament with group previews, team news, roster analysis, and more.
** Check back often, as we will add new 2022 World Cup preview pieces as the tournament in Qatar gets closer! **
2022 World Cup Previews: The Netherlands and Senegal Headline Group A
Virgil van Dijk and the Netherlands try to make up for missing the 2018 World Cup and Sadio Mane looks to lead Senegal to new heights as the two powers try to beat up on Ecuador and the 2022 World Cup host country, Qatar.
2022 World Cup Previews: United States and England Clash in Group B
Group B in the 2022 World Cup will be the most important section for most Americans. The table features the USMNT as well as England, Wales, and Iran. Is this the year that the U.S. can finally make some substantial noise on the world soccer scene?
2022 World Cup Previews: It’s Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Everyone Else in Group C
Lionel Messi is looking to win the World Cup in what is likely his last appearance on soccer's biggest stage, but who will join Argentina in the knockout stage? Mexico and Poland are in the mix for that second spot (sorry, Saudi Arabia).
2022 World Cup Previews: Defending champs France and Denmark Lead Group D
France took home the 2018 World Cup and is looking to be the first team to win back-to-back World Cup trophies since Brazil in the 1960s. Can Denmark, Tunisia, or Australia stop the mighty French from repeating?
2022 World Cup Previews: Spain and Germany Headline a High-Quality Group E
While Germany and Spain are two conventional World Cup powers, they've drawn a tough group in Qatar. Can they both reach the knock-out rounds? Or is there an upset brewing?
2022 World Cup Previews: Belgium and Croatia Draw a Deep Group F
Kevin De Bruyne and the No. 2-ranked Belgium team in the world and Luka Modric and the 2018 World Cup runners-up, Croatia, will take one last swing at winning the gold as the two countries' golden generations come to the end of their line.
2022 World Cup Previews: Who Will Join Brazil as the Second Team out of Group G?
Neymar and Brazil are the class of Group G, but who will join them in the knockout rounds? You shouldn't sleep on Serbia, Switzerland, or Cameroon, but only one of those three can advance.
World Cup 2022: Who’s the Betting Favorite to Win the Title?
There are plenty of talented teams in the 2022 World Cup. Whether you're looking to place a bet or just build your bracket, here's our look at the oddsmakers' favorites.
