The World Cup is nearly upon us and we have profiled all 32 teams and each of the eight groups ahead of the tournament getting under way on 20th November.
The 22nd edition of the World Cup in Qatar will of course be the first to be contested during the winter, but which teams are looking in good shape ahead of the finals and who still has plenty of work to do?
| What | World Cup |
| Where | Qatar |
| When | 20th November - 18th December 2022 |
| How to watch | All matches will be shown on either the BBC or ITV |
| Odds | Brazil 9/2, England 11/2, France 6/1, Argentina 7/1, Spain 8/1 |
Group A
Hosts Qatar will be competing at the World Cup finals for the first time and they will have the honour of kicking off the tournament when they face Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium on 20th November.
African champions Senegal and European giants the Netherlands complete Group A and they are perhaps the two teams best placed to advance through to the knockout stages at odds of 8/11 and 1/8 respectively.
Those two teams lock horns at the Al Thumama Stadium on 21st November in a match that could go a long way to deciding which nation tops the group.
World Cup - Football: Group A preview
World Cup - Football: Ecuador team profile
World Cup - Football: Netherlands team profile
World Cup - Football: Qatar team profile
World Cup - Football: Senegal team profile
Group B
Euro 2020 finalists England appear to be the standout team in Group B, with Gareth Southgate's side priced at 11/2 to go on and win their first senior international tournament since 1966.
First the Three Lions must navigate a group which also contains Iran, the United States and Wales - the latter have made it through to the World Cup finals for the first time in 64 years.
All eyes will be on the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on 29th November when Wales take on England in a 'Battle of Britain' which will also be the final match in the group for both teams.
World Cup - Football: Group B preview
World Cup - Football: England team profile
World Cup - Football: Iran team profile
World Cup - Football: USA team profile
World Cup - Football: Wales team profile
Group C
Argentina are the pick of the teams in Group C, as La Albiceleste go in search of a third world title at odds of 7/1, while this could also be the final tournament where we see Lionel Messi competing on the global international stage.
Messi is not the only world superstar set to feature in this group, as Poland's Robert Lewandowski will also be hoping to play a prominent role, with those two players set to go head-to-head when Argentina take on Poland on 30th November.
Mexico are experts of making it through to the knockout stages at World Cups and they will rival Argentina and Poland for a place in the last-16, while Saudi Arabia complete what looks a competitive group.
World Cup - Football: Group C preview
World Cup - Football: Argentina team profile
World Cup - Football: Mexico team profile
World Cup - Football: Poland team profile
World Cup - Football: Saudi Arabia team profile
Group D
Reigning champions France are 6/1 to successfully defend their title in Qatar, but Les Bleus may face a battle for supremacy in Group D, as they have been drawn alongside Euro 2020 semi-finalists Denmark.
The Danes, 3/1 to top the group, could be dark horses at this year's tournament, their showdown with France at Stadium 974 on 26th November certainly looks set to be a key fixture.
Australia and Tunisia are the other two teams in the group, but both seemingly face an uphill task if they want to make it through to the knockout stages.
World Cup - Football: Group D preview
World Cup - Football: Australia team profile
World Cup - Football: Denmark team profile
World Cup - Football: France team profile
World Cup - Football: Tunisia team profile
Group E
European heavyweights Germany and Spain will lock horns in Group E, with the two sides set to meet at the Al Bayt Stadium on 27th November in what should be one of the highlights of the group stage.
Both teams disappointed at the 2018 World Cup, but Spain are 5/6 to top the group this time around, while Germany, who failed to make it through to the knockout stages four years ago, are 11/10.
It is certainly not a foregone conclusion that Spain and Germany make it through their group, with Japan capable of mixing it with the very best on their day, while Costa Rica were World Cup quarter-finalists as recently as 2014.
World Cup - Football: Group E preview
World Cup - Football: Costa Rica team profile
World Cup - Football: Germany team profile
World Cup - Football: Japan team profile
World Cup - Football: Spain team profile
Group F
This may be the last chance for Belgium's 'Golden Generation' to win a major international trophy, but Roberto Martinez's side, who are 14/1 to be crowned world champions, have been drawn in a difficult looking Group F.
Croatia, World Cup finalists four years ago, will expect to rival Belgium for top spot in the group, while Morocco and Canada were arguably two of the strongest teams to have been drawn out of pots three and four.
Canada will be competing at their first World Cup finals since 1986 and with the likes of Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Alphonso Davies in their ranks, they cannot be underestimated.
World Cup - Football: Group F preview
World Cup - Football: Belgium team profile
World Cup - Football: Canada team profile
World Cup - Football: Croatia team profile
World Cup - Football: Morocco team profile
Group G
Brazil are 9/2 to be crowned world champions for a record-extending sixth time and they will be facing familiar foes in Group G, as they also took on Serbia and Switzerland in the group stage four years ago.
It was Switzerland who went through alongside A Selecao to the knockout stages at the expense of Serbia in 2018 and one of the key group battles could be when the two European nations meet at Stadium 974 on 2nd December.
Cameroon are the other team in the group and they will be keen to make an impact after winning just one of their last 15 matches at World Cup finals.
World Cup - Football: Group G preview
World Cup - Football: Brazil team profile
World Cup - Football: Cameroon team profile
World Cup - Football: Serbia team profile
World Cup - Football: Switzerland team profile
Group H
Portugal are the standout team in Group H and Cristiano Ronaldo and co can be backed at 12/1 to be crowned world champions for the very first time.
Fernando Santos' side should have no problems emerging from a group that also contains Uruguay, South Korea and Ghana, although all four of these nations have made it through to at least the quarter-finals of a World Cup since the turn of the century.
The key group showdown could come on 28th November when Portugal take on two-time world champions Uruguay at the Lusail Iconic Stadium.
World Cup - Football: Group H preview
World Cup - Football: Ghana team profile
World Cup - Football: Portugal team profile
