For the very first time in the history of this prestigious international football tournament, the FIFA World Cup will be hosted in a Middle East country, which is inevitably generating tremendous enthusiasm and excitement throughout the region.
2022 tournament filled with Arabian flavour
Making up the 32 teams competing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, 13 are from Europe, 6 are from Asia (with Australia included), 5 are from Africa, 4 are from Central and North America, while the remaining 4 represent South America. Adding plenty of extra flavour at this particular tournament, 5 of those nations hail from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) zone, guaranteeing an unprecedented level of regional interest.
Not only are fans from those countries expected to travel and attend games in huge numbers, but countless millions more across the region will be eagerly watching live broadcasts from home. Likewise, there will also be those who are keen to wager on the outcome of games. Covering options available in the MENA region, Arabian Betting has carefully selected the best football betting sites, reviewing and rating the safest and most secure wagering options.
As the 2022 FIFA World Cup gets ever closer to commencing at the end of November, online bookmakers are competing to provide the most appealing odds and promotions, making now a good time to start searching for bountiful bonuses and the broadest range of markets. But how are the competing MENA countries expected to fare at the tournament later this year? Let’s take a look at the national teams and what the oddsmakers are predicting.
Qatar
Since presenting the winning bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the level of infrastructure investment in the Gulf state of Qatar has been quite remarkable, albeit not without some controversies. This includes changing the traditional summer scheduling of the tournament, due to the habitually high temperatures.
Nevertheless, the chance to compete at their first ever World Cup is a source of unquestionable pride for Qatar, who could be boosted by playing their games on home turf. They are actually one of the MENA countries expected to progress the furthest, amidst strong expectations they can qualify from Group a containing Ecuador, Senegal, and the Netherlands.
This tournament could be a huge success for Qatar as hosts, but can their national football team equal the already high expectations of their fans? Well, the team already has a minimum objective of reaching the knockout phase of the 2022 World Cup, which is actually quite a realistic aim. They will certainly fancy their chances, rising to what will be a tough but not insurmountable challenge.
Saudi Arabia
The first time Saudi Arabia qualified for the finals was at the 1994 World Cup in the USA, making it beyond the group stage and ranking as the 12th best side at the tournament. The 2022 World Cup will mark their 6th appearance in the finals, although ‘The Green Falcons’ are priced as huge underdogs this time around, yet this could make their talented squad even more determined to succeed.
Iran
Qualifying from Group B at the 2022 World Cup will be no easy feat for Iran, who begin their challenging schedule against England, considered by some bookies to be amongst the tournament favourites. The outcome of that encounter for ‘Team Melli’ could set the rhythm for their following matches, in a tough group that also features the United States and Wales.
Morocco
Arguably the strongest national team amongst those representing the MENA region, this will be the 5th time that Morocco has played in the World Cup finals tournament, reaching the knockout phase just once in 1986. Oddsmakers actually fancy the ‘Atlas Lions’ to perform well at the 2022 World Cup, boasting a squad packed with promising talents, more than capable of competing well against Group F rivals Belgium, Canada, and Croatia.
Tunisia
Take nothing for granted when it comes to the chances of Tunisia making progress, although they will be more than conscious of the huge challenge they face at the 2022 World Cup. The ‘Eagles of Carthage’ face a tough test of their character as a team, up against reigning 2018 World Cup champions France in Group D, along with Denmark and Australia. Although not expected to progress, they could be one of the surprise teams.
