The 2024 men’s World Cup is underway in Qatar. It’s the last time the famous tournament will feature 32 teams before it expands to 48.
The host cities include Al Khor, Al Wakrah, Al Rayyan, and Doha.
FIFA governed qualifying berths among regions, including Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America. Those 32 teams get broken down into eight groups of four.
Some top teams includes Brazil, England, France, and Spain.
Who are the best players in the 2024 World Cup?
Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal (Forward)
Cristiano Ronaldo, 37, plays forward for the Portugal national football team. He’s one of the most famous athletes in the world.
At the start of the tournament, Ronaldo got released by Manchester United. He made comments in the prior week in an interview with Piers Morgan. In that interview, he criticized the club’s manager and owners.
Ronaldo is the world’s leading scorer in international competitions. With 117 goals in 191 matches, he’s scored seven goals in 17 FIFA World Cup games.
If he scores this year, he’ll be the first player to score at five World Cups.
Portugal faces Ghana in their first Group H matchup. Group H also includes Uruguay and South Korea.
Frenkie de Jong – Netherlands (Midfielder)
Frenkie de Jong, 25, plays midfield for the Netherlands national team. Jong joined FC Barcelona in July 2019.
Jong scored a goal against Almeria in one of Barcelona’s last games before the World Cup. The Netherlands national football team is getting +1200 odds to win this year.
For that reason, this young player might be one to watch as a standout midfielder.
The Netherlands beat Senegal 2-0 in their opening-round game. They’ll also need to face Ecuador and Qatar in Group A.
Niclas Füllkrug – Germany (Forward)
Niclas Füllkrug, 29, is a forward for the German national football team. While playing for Werder Bremen, he scored 29 goals in 47 Bundesliga matches.
Füllkrug remains a leading German scorer in the Bundesliga. Here’s a player to watch with the German team slated for a sixth-place finish.
Germany faces Spain, Costa Rica, and Japan in Group E. They lost 2-1 to Japan in their first game.
Pedri – Spain (Midfielder)
Pedro González López (“Pedri”), 19, plays as a midfielder for the Spain national team. So far in 2024-23, he scored three goals in 14 matches for FC Barcelona in La Liga.
Last year, Pedri signed a contract that included a record €1 billion release clause. Pedri scored 13 goals in 94 matches in three seasons with FC Barcelona.
Spain walloped Costa Rica 7-0 in their first game. They’ll face Germany in their next match.
Lionel Messi – Argentina (Forward)
Lionel Messi, 35, is among the world’s most popular footballers. He is the captain and forward of the Argentina national team.
At 18 years old, Messi played at the World Cup for the first time in 2006. He’s the team’s leading goal-scorer with 95 goals.
In 19 World Cup games, Messi scored six goals. In 2014, he came one game away from winning a World Cup – Germany beat Argentina, 1-0.
Saudi Arabia beat Argentina 2-1 in their opening-round matchup. It represents one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.
In Group C, Argentina will face Mexico and Poland in their next games.
Harry Kane – England (Forward)
Harry Kane, 29, is the captain and forward of the England national team. He’s scored 51 goals in 76 matches. He needs two more goals to tie Wayne Rooney as the team’s top scorer.
Kane injured his ankle in England’s 6-2 opening victory against Iran.
England faces the U.S. for their second match at the 2024 World Cup. Kane remains questionable. He’s critical to England’s chances of winning this year’s tournament.
In Group B, England also faces Iran.
Kylian Mbappé – France (Forward)
Kylian Mbappé, 23, is a forward for the France national team. Known for his speed and exceptional dribbling skills, he’s scored 28 goals for France.
Mbappé scored in the team’s opening 4-1 victory against Australia.
France is the second favorite to win this year’s World Cup. In Group D, they’ll also face Denmark and Tunisia.
Neymar – Brazil (Forward)
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior (“Neymar”), 30, plays forward for the Brazil national team. He’s scored over 400 goals in his career. With Brazil, he’s scored 75 goals.
The football star remains favored to win this year’s World Cup.
Brazil faces Serbia, Switzerland, and Cameroon in Group G.
Who Will Win This Year’s World Cup? Betting Odds
Once favored to win the 2024 World Cup, Argentina historically lost its opening round game. They’ll need to wage a major comeback to advance to the knockout stage.
Bovada offers +850 odds for Argentina to win it all.
Portugal is getting +1400 odds as a longshot. After the Netherlands, Germany remains favored at +1100. Span comes next at +1000.
Here are the top three favorites:
- England +700
- France +650
- Brazil +325
The earlier you place your wagers, the better odds you’ll get. To find the best overseas sportsbooks in the industry, research or visit SafestBettingSites.com.
First-time bettors may want to look for a welcome bonus. Get a match on your initial deposit. Make sure to check the Terms and Conditions for wagering or play-through requirements.
Check out different sportsbooks for suitable odds. You’ll want to go with an option that offers the highest payouts.
Final Thoughts
The World Cup is one of the most popular sporting events in the world. It’s also a major opportunity for the sports betting industry.
About 20.5 million Americans may wager on this year’s tournament. According to the American Gaming Association, that might total $2 billion in volume.
The tournament offers plenty of benefits to players with new promotions.
Get the latest betting odds from your favorite sportsbook. Check out some of the prop bets for wagers on individual players.
