As Qatar and Ecuador kickoff the World Cup on Nov. 20, Harry Kane, Chtistian Pulisic and Brazil are some players and teams to watch battle it out on the pitch.
Last World Cup’s leading goal scorer, Harry Kane, is favored to win the Golden Boot, awarded to the player that scores the most goals in the tournament. Behind Kane in the race for the Golden Boot are French superstars Kylian Mbappe and 2022 World Player of the year, Karim Benzema. The French are defending champions and have the second best odds of winning the competition.
Making what will most likely be their final World Cup appearances are legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi, leading Argentina, will look to win his first World Cup and the country’s second ever. Messi fell just short of winning the tournament in 2014 in Argentina’s loss in the final to Germany. Now, the Argentinian team which is full of talent has 13-2 odds of winning it all according to Caesar’s Sportsbook. Portugal, who are less likely to win the tournament at 14-1 odds, are seeking to win their nation’s first World Cup in Ronaldo’s last attempt. Spain, who sit at 8-1 odds, and Germany at 10-1 odds, are also other likely contenders.
Meanwhile, the favored Brazilian side led by superstar Neymar Jr. have a 4-1 chance to win the tournament according to Caesar’s Sports Book. Brazil has the most World Cups with 5 and their attacking duo of Neymar Jr. and Vinicius Jr. are looking to lead their squad to victory.
The United States of America, led by young star Christian Pulisic, are 100-1 odds to win the Cup. Following their failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, America’s first game against Wales on Nov. 21 marks their first appearance in the tournament since 2014. Next, the USA is set to face off against a strong English side on Nov. 25, the day after Thanksgiving. The English national team that sits at 7-1 odds to win the tournament are led by Harry Kane and Harry Maguire. So while the USA are underdogs, upsetting England and making a run would be a spectacle.
