We always focus on the bets you should be making at the 2022 World Cup. We look for good value and how to make you the most money. But look, not every bet hits. You probably know this already. So while it’s important to point out the bets that will hit, it’s just as important to point out the ones that won’t.
So instead of focusing on how to make you money, we’re going to look at how to help you avoid losing money. Here are a few bets to avoid at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
All odds used in this piece come from sportsbook Sportsbook.
If you’re looking for more 2022 World Cup betting resources or odds, check out our World Cup odds and futures page or our soccer betting hub.
Bet On The 2022 World Cup Here
2022 World Cup Worst Bets
France to win world cup (+850)
The defending World Cup champions hold the third-best outright odds for the 2022 World Cup. That’s something you need to avoid.
We haven’t seen a repeat World Cup champion since Brazil did it all the way back in 1962. It’s been a while. Not to mention that over the last three tournaments, the defending World Cup champion hasn’t even exited the group stage.
And while France likely exits the weak Group D, they probably don’t go much further in the tournament. Consider they’re missing a number of big names from the squad. Their injured list includes 2022 Ballon D’or Sportsbook Karim Benzema, midfielders N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba, and central defender Raphael Varane could miss significant time or even the entire tournament.
All four are massive pieces of the French side. That’s going to be too many injured bodies for France to defend its title. Avoid France as the outright World Cup Sportsbook.
Instead, I’d focus on Argentina to take the 2022 World Cup. They have the second-best odds at +525.
Senegal to qualify from Group A (+108)
Continuing on the injury thread, Group A side Senegal will be without main man Sadio Mane. The Bayern Munich striker was ruled out of the World Cup just days before the tournament was set to begin.
Mane is the primary focus of Senegal’s attack. Through CAF qualifications, no Senegalese player had more goals and assists than Mane’s seven (four goals, three assists). Not only is Mane responsible for putting the ball in the back of the net, but he’s an important player in linking the midfield to the attack with his endless work rate and incisive passing.
Missing that link throws a massive wrench in Senegal’s strategy for the 2022 World Cup.
Senegal’s odds didn’t drop much after the news, sitting at +108. They were at -110 before word of Mane’s injury. So you might have the appetite to get some extra value on a team that was expected to qualify. But I’d avoid it. Missing Mane is going to sink Senegal.
Qatar vs Ecuador 1-0 exact score prop (+750)
A report surfaced that Qatari officials bribed at least seven Ecuadorian players with $7.4 million to lose the Sportsbook game of the World Cup by a score of 1-0. Why is this “the worst” bet, you ask? Shouldn’t this be the best bet?
The allegation that Qatar is trying to influence the World Cup is a big deal. Even for FIFA. And Ecuador knows this. They’ll do everything they can to show the world they aren’t in the bribe-taking business. They will not allow a Qatari side that’s ranked six spots lower in the FIFA rankings to win 1-0.
A World Cup host has scored at least one goal in their Sportsbook match all but twice in tournament history. Qatar likely gets their goal against Ecuador, but the South Americans also get their own goal. This game likely goes down as a 1-1 draw. Avoid tailing a 1-0 Qatari win.
