2022 World Cup Knockout Stage Odds and Predictions

The Group Stage of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ tournament has provided its usual dosage of drama and upsets including Saudi Arabia upsetting Argentina, Japan beating Germany, and Morocco beating Belgium. But upsets in the World Cup don’t guarantee advancement.

Lionel Messi and Argentina rebounded to advance on to the Round of 16 and the Knockout Stage. Furthermore, as the tournament’s second odds favorites heading in, avoided any further embarrassment in what Messi says will be his last World Cup appearance.

But even after all that, World Cup Knockout Stage odds show it should be hard for Australia (250/1 to win 2022 FIFA World Cup, BetOnline), Senegal (110/1), and the USA (100/1) moving forward.

The favorites before the Tournament started, Brazil, are still that and the World Cup Knockout Stage betting odds have Brazil at +260 with France and Argentina both at +550. Although the Group Stage has been very entertaining, the big dogs are still on the porch.

Brazil star and Mbappé’s Paris Saint-Germain teammate, Neymar suffered an ankle injury and is doubtful for the Group Stage. His absence may be the biggest factor for Brazil moving forward and maybe hoisting the World Cup trophy when all is said and done.

USMNT member Pulisic also suffered an injury (Pelvis) on his game-winning goal against Iran on Tuesday, but expect the Chelsea FC star and Hershey, Pennsylvania native to be ready for Saturday’s Round of 16 showdown with Group A winners Netherlands.

When betting games in this stage of the tournament, remember that unlike the Group Stage, games can go Extra Time and/or to Penalty Kick Shootouts to determine who advances and that all 3-way bets are graded after 90 minutes plus added injury time.

Your team can advance and you can lose in this scenario, so use the “To Advance” market if you want to avoid any potential Draws or games decided after 90 minutes and just worry about who ultimately wins. We will definitely be seeing Extra Time and PK Shootouts.

Odds to Win 2022 FIFA World Cup

2022 FIFA World Cup Knockout Stage

Christian Pulisic's goal gives #USA the lead at the break 👊#FIFAWorldCup | #Qatar2022

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 29, 2022

Netherlands vs. USA

• Date: Saturday, December 2
• Match: 49
• Stadium: Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan (Grass)
• Time: 10 am EST/9 am CST/7 am PST
• TV: FOX

• 3-Way Moneyline: USA +340, Netherlands -105, Draw +244
• Total: 2, 2½ -121
• Odds to Advance: USA +195, Netherlands -245

The Netherlands continued its streak of making the Knockout Stage in the World Cup despite the Oranje not having as strong of a Roster in past years. Still, the Dutch have guys like Virgil van Dyke, Cody Gapko, Memphis Depay, and Daley Blind, and won Group A (2-1-0, 5 GF-1 GA).

But let’s face it. If Group B was the Group of Death, Group A was Group of Easy, a gift to Netherlands, getting to face tourney host Qatar, Ecuador, and Senegal, who also advanced. The Dutch did what they had to do to win and are the deserved World Cup Knockout Stage odds faves.

But beating the Netherlands (11/1 to win 2022 FIFA World Cup) will be the first offer of business and USMNT Coach Greg Berhalter has been great despite being second-guessed. As has starting GK Matt Turner, allowing just one goal in the three Group Stage games for the upstart USA.

Although Pulisic is expected to play, F Josh Sargent (Ankle) also hurt himself in the victory over Iran, and although his status is uncertain at press time, expect the 22-year-old to be ready to go by Saturday no matter what his scan reveals. There is only one World Cup. And only one Group Stage.

The USA didn’t lose a match in Group Stage play, the Red, White, and Blue won and scored when they had to, and the MMA midfield (Musah, McKenzie, Adams) continued to impress. Expect all three to start again on Saturday against the Netherlands. We may see the same Starting XI.

This team is no fluke and has found its identity and will relish the fact they are big underdogs against the UEFA side on Saturday. One key for the USMNT will be controlling Gakpo, and another will be trying to score against that great back line the Oranje now possess.

CBs Nathan Aké, Matthijs de Ligt and Van Dijk, LWB Blind, and RWB Denzel Dumfries give Netherlands GK Andries Noppert a wonderful orange wall of protection. But the USA are the second-youngest team in the World Cup and will again find a way to score in Qatar.

Beware here, this could end as a 1-1 Draw after 90 minutes +, but the USA are just as talented as the Netherlands and have a strong bench that Berhalter can turn to. Be it in Regulation, Extra Time or a PK Shootout, the USMNT will find a way to keep on playing with Pulisic the heartbeat.

Netherlands has won four of the last five meetings vs. the USA but were defeated in the last one.

AUSTRALIA HAS DONE IT 🇦🇺👏

The @Socceroos advance to the knockout stage for the second time in their history pic.twitter.com/uGyfDpxuEj

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 30, 2022

Argentina vs. Australia

• Date: Saturday, December 2
• Match: 50
• Stadium: Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan (Grass)
• Time: 2 pm EST/1 pm CST/11 am PST
• TV: FOX

• 3-Way Moneyline: Argentina -520, Australia +1800, Draw +625
• Total: 2½, 3o -108
• Odds to Advance: Argentina -1200, Australia +800

Things didn’t come easy for Lionel Messi and Argentina, after losing to Saudi Arabia in its Group C opener, but this CONMEBOL heavyweight rebounded to win its final two games and won the group and get the gift of facing Australia (250/1 to win 2022 World Cup) in the Round of 16.

Like the USA, the Socceroos will come in on a high and off their biggest win ever, shutting out Denmark on Wednesday to punch their ticket to the Knockout Stage. Australia went 2-0-1 (W-D-L), beating the Danes and Tunisia (1-0) and getting hammered by group winners France.

The Aussies were outscored by one goal (3 GF-4 GA) in Qatar, so like the Netherlands, their group was a blessing and remember this team barely covered for the World Cup by the hairs of their chinny, chin, chin. They should hang with Argentina for 20 minutes or so, before the worm turns.

Expect maestro Messi to do his magic to score once and create another. But how do you bet this game with these high Word Cup Knockout Stage odds? The Total.

After three-straight tournaments with a group stage exit for the defending FIFA World Cup Champion, the curse is broken 💪

France is moving on to the knockout stage 🙌🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/MAChmipRFj

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 26, 2022

France vs. Poland

• Date: Sunday, December 3
• Match: 52
• Stadium: Al Thumama Stadium, Doha (Grass)
• Time: 10 am EST/9 am CST/7 am PST
• TV: FOX

• 3-Way Moneyline: France -520, Poland +1800, Draw +625
• Total: 2½, 3o -108
• Odds to Advance: France -1200, Poland +800

Defending FIFA World Cup champions France have looked like the best team in this 2022 World Cup so far, even with star Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) not on the team. With Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, and the electric Mbappé, Les Blues didn’t flinch and went to Qatar to win.

Several UEFA sides have looked average, and even Spain’s 7-0 romp over Costa Rica was deceiving. Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium have all been underwhelming in this tournament and Portugal is always the same type of team, spearheaded by Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese are the type of team that can survive to the Quarterfinals, but ultimately lose as their game is too based on one player (CR7) scoring. France is quite the opposite. This is a team that is incredibly hard to eliminate in big Soccer tournaments.

In winning Group D, France (2-0-1, 6 GF-3 GA) knew it was in the Round of 16 after two games, so losing to Tunisia 1-0 on Wednesday won’t phase GK Hugo Lloris and Les Bleus and may of the players got some needed physical and psychological rest although wunderkind Mbappé came in.

Poland went 1-1-1 in group play and star Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) finally got his World Cup goal, but this team struggles to score too much and relies way too heavily on GK Wojciech Szczęsny (Juventus). In short, the forward and attackers are the difference here.

France can look to many players for scoring and comes in rested and off a loss while Poland looks to lwa to be the go-to guy and that kind of pressure is okay in the Group Stage, but once it becomes win or go home, it’s a completely different story. France is an elite international team.

Pick England's front three to start against Senegal 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿👀 pic.twitter.com/hfEQEfEWZc

— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) November 30, 2022

England vs. Senegal

• Date: Sunday, December 3
• Match: 51
• Stadium: Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor (Grass)
• Time: 2 pm EST/1 pm CST/11 am PST
• TV: FOX

• 3-Way Moneyline: England -185, Senegal +655, Draw +300
• Total: 2, 2½ -112
• Odds to Advance: England -425, Senegal +320

The Three Lions were also impressive in group play, but the match against the USA revealed this team can be held in check with good defense and a plan of attack. Stopping a team with Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Raheem Sterling (Chelsea), and Phil Foden (MCFC) isn’t easy.

Senegal (2-0-1, 5 GF-4 GA) made Africa and the CAF proud by finishing in 2nd place in Group A, but the simple handicapper’s truth here is that Senegal beat Ecuador and hosts Qatar and that’s nothing to write home to Dakar about.

Facing England (9/1 to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup) may be a very rude awakening for the Lions of Teranga on Sunday in the second game of the day. It would be hard with Sadio Mané, but without its best player, upsetting England in this spot will really take some luck in al Khor.

GK Wayne Pickford (Everton) has been great for Coach Gareth Southgate and England, and the Three Lions scored nine goals in the Group Stage, but remember that six of those came in a 6-2 pulverization of Iran in the Group B opener for both teams in Qatar. A great draw for England here.

Over to you Atlas Lions.

Spain 🇪🇸 vs 🇲🇦 Morocco, Tuesday.

Africa’s hopes now lie with Morocco. pic.twitter.com/Z4II4bc3Mz

— Usher Komugisha (@UsherKomugisha) December 4, 2022

Morocco vs. Spain

• Date: Tuesday, December 6
• Match: 55
• Stadium: Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan (Grass)
• Time: 10 am EST/9 am CST/7 am PST
• TV: FOX
• Referee: Fernando Rapallini (Argentina)

• 3-Way Moneyline: Spain -185, Morocco +550, Draw +285
• Total: 2½
• Odds to Advance: Spain -400, Morocco +300

Morocco will provide the last hope for an underdog to make the Quarterfinals, with all other CAF, OAF, and CONCACAF members eliminated with Japan and South Korean being the last two AFC confederation nations bounced with their losses to Croatia and Brazil respectively.

Morocco was very impressive in Group Stage play, but this is where the rubber meets the road and Álvaro Morata (3 goals) and Spain have been very fluid and scored seven goals in their opener and are the logical favorites in this game.

Lifetime, Spain has gone 2-1-0 against Morocco, outscoring them 6-4 with the two wins coming in 1961. The other, and last meeting was in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Group B play where the two teams played to a 2-2 tie, so Morocco won’t be scared.

But La Roja seem driven and are a very young group clicking at the right time and won’t want to be the team to let the lone non-UEFA or CONMEBOL team through to the Quarterfinals.

Morocco is led by Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea) and the Atlas Lions have allowed only 1 goal heading into Tuesday and won Group F and will now carry the heavy weight of the Dark Continent on their shoulders with Ghana and Senegal eliminated from the World Cup.

But holding Ferran Torres and Spain to one goal or less will be difficult and this team has a 20-year-old MF named Pedri who seems to be the heartbeat of La Roja now, even with vets like Sergio Busquets and Koke still leading the Spanish charge.

With Pedri and Morata (Atlético Madrid ), Spain has too much for Morocco to deal with, and although this could be a low-scoring affair, it will be harder for underdogs Morocco to generate as many quality Shots on Target as Spain.

🇵🇹 Portugal Vs Switzerland 🇨🇭

All Competitive + Friendlies
25 games
09 won
05 draws
11 lost
34⚽️ – 34⚽️

All Competitive
15 games
06 won
04 draws
05 lost
19⚽️ – 15⚽️

Ronaldo Vs Switzerland
03 apps ( all in competitive )
05 goals
03 won
00 draws
00 lost pic.twitter.com/MqwawxUET8

— ©️®️7️⃣ LEZIONI DI STILE (@DragoSoriano) December 2, 2022

Switzerland vs. Portugal

• Date: Tuesday, December 6
• Match: 56
• Stadium: Lusail Iconic Stadium (Grass), Lusail
• Time: 2 pm EST/1 pm CST/11 am PST
• TV: FOX
• Referee: César Arturo Ramos (Mexico)

• 3-Way Moneyline: Portugal -112, Switzerland +360, Draw +251
• Total: 2o -165, 2u +145
• Odds to Advance: Portugal -225, Switzerland +185

Switzerland defeated Portugal at EURO 2008 and lifetime, these two UEFA sides have played 25 times with the swiss holding a 11-5-9 edge and both teams scoring 34 goals.

Although they’ve met several times in World Cup Qualifying, they have never met in the World Cup. The obvious key here for Switzerland (2-0-1) will be to try to control Portugal’s Striker supreme, Cristiano Ronaldo.

On Monday we learned that the now 37-year-old CR7 signed with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassar in a reported $420 million deal. Ronaldo, who was released by Manchester United FC, will start playing for Al-Nassar on January 1, 2023.

This is another game where goals could be scarce as Switzerland knows its strength will be ball possession and limiting the Portuguese attack. With Xherdan Shaqiri (Chicago Fire), Haris Seferovic (Galatasaray), and Captain Granit Xhaka (Arsenal), this team can hang.

But can Switzerland actually beat Portugal? The two split in two meetings this year and the A-Team won’t be scared coming in and will look for that first goal so they can sit back more and be more defensive with a lead and play the style they prefer.

This one may also need more than 90 minutes and Added Extra Time (AET) to see which team is the last Quarterfinalist and i actually think there is much value on Switzerland both in the 3-way marketplace (+360) as well as in the To Advance Props market (+185).