This tournament only comes around once every four years, which means that excitement for the 2022 FIFA World Cup is about to reach fever pitch. Fans from around the globe are arriving in Qatar, ready to cheer on the 32 participating teams, looking forward to what promises to be a thrilling event in the tiny Persian Gulf peninsula.
Adding to the huge sense of excitement is the regional flavour, this is the first time the World Cup has ever been hosted in the Middle East, providing a unique sense of occasion and cultural flavour. Furthermore, increasing the sense of enthusiasm will be five ‘local’ teams, expected to bring massive travelling support, ready to cheer on their heroes at the biggest event in global football.
Hopes & Dreams of the MENA Region
As the host nation, Qatar will certainly have the advantage of playing World Cup games at home, eager to prove they are worthy competitors. Regardless of being one of the lowest ranked sides in the competition, there is clear ambition within the Qatari side, which could provide the impetus they need to reach the knockout stage. In with a good chance of progress, they will face Ecuador, Senegal, and the Netherlands in Group A.
Iran has a short journey across the Persian Gulf to reach their World Cup base, although they will find an almighty challenge waiting in Group B. Hopefully, geopolitical tensions between countries will be cast aside, as fans of the teams unite and enjoy this great football spectacle. As for the chances of progress, that might be difficult for Iran, who will be testing themselves against England, Wales, and the United States.
Saudi Arabia will also feel quite at home in their neighbouring country, keen to make this a wonderful experience for thousands of travelling fans. They will take on Argentina, Mexico, and Poland in Group C, which is undoubtedly a punishing selection of rivals. Yet the Saudis have always produced the capacity to surprise, often causing problems for national teams perceived as being much stronger, giving them plenty of hope.
Tunisia will head into the 2022 World Cup as one of the underdogs, although that won’t reduce their ambitions in the slightest. Their first encounter against Denmark in Group D might indicate their chances of progress, before they take on Australia in a game they could also win. The final test in the group will undoubtedly be the toughest, up against reigning 2018 champions France, but never underestimate the Tunisian hunger for success.
Group F is arguably one of the most difficult to predict, which is certainly good news for Morocco, as they aim to become one of the surprise packages of the 2022 World Cup. They will face 2018 finalists Croatia, who aren’t expected to reach the same heights this time, while Belgium could find making the semi-finals beyond their capabilities. The unknown quantity is Canada, who haven’t played at the tournament since 1986.
Fans & Bookmakers Choosing Their Favourites
Considering the huge amount of interest for this event globally, it goes without saying, excitement across the region itself is also rising to unprecedented proportions. Despite many obstacles when it comes to gambling in general, millions of people throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) still enjoy wagering on sports.
Five national teams hailing from countries within the MENA region will be participating, and along with being glued to their screens throughout the tournament, fans will undoubtedly be searching for the best sites for betting on World Cup 2022 games. Via their latest guide for online betting in MENA countries, Arabian Betting covers where to find the safest and most secure options, along with how to locate the best value odds and promotions.
Punters are advised to choose carefully where they wager, choosing only trusted and reputable betting sites, backed by detailed and unbiased reviews. Indeed, along with learning more about the teams participating at the 2022 World Cup, and knowing more about the tournament itself, getting reliable information about how to where to place bets is always a good idea.
The vast majority of leading online bookmakers have already priced Brazil as favourites, while Argentina have increasingly become tipped as potent challengers. But can any of the MENA sides go all the way? Reaching the final and lifting the World Cup trophy, that may be a tall order, although there is always plenty of scope for surprises and upsets. This is what makes the tournament so popular, as there is always the possibility that anything can happen.
But which of the five MENA teams has the potential to go furthest? All of them will certainly be targeting qualification for the Round of 16 and the knockout stage, although getting there is another matter entirely. Looking at the group rivals each will face, on paper at least, Qatar and Morocco would appear to have the best chances. But never underestimate what Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Tunisia might be capable of achieving.