World Cup winner odds: Leading contenders for Qatar glory
Published:Guide to the favourites in the World Cup winner odds
The line-up for the semi-finals at Qatar 2022 is complete and we have looked at the updated World Cup winner odds to assess the likely contenders to go all the way.
With only four of the 32 teams left standing, all will be dreaming of lifting the World Cup at the end of the final on Sunday.
France
Les Bleus are looking to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups and are now favourites to do so after Brazil’s surprise elimination in the quarter-finals.
They are yet to keep a clean sheet but have the firepower to make up for any defensive shortcomings, with Kylian Mbappe leading the way in the Golden Boot standings with five goals and Olivier Giroud just one behind.
Didier Deschamps has had to contend with a lengthy injury list with Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante and Karim Benzema amongst the absentees but France have coped well without them.
Deschamps conceded his team rode their luck at times as they beat England 2-1 in the quarter-finals which set up a clash with surprise semi-finalists Morocco, so France are now just 11/10 in the World Cup winner odds.
Argentina
Winners in 1978 and 1986, Argentina have a strong pedigree which has also seen them finish runners-up on three occasions.
They won a first major trophy of the Lionel Messi era with last year’s Copa America success and were well fancied heading to Qatar after a 36-match unbeaten run so their stunning defeat against minnows Saudi Arabia in their opening game was one that few predicted, especially after Messi’s early penalty.
Argentina have been impressive since then and that early setback could prove to be a blessing.
Routine wins against Mexico and Poland saw them progress as group winners before a 2-1 win against Australia which was easier than the scoreline suggested.
They threw away a two-goal lead and needed penalties to get past the Netherlands but the dream of Messi winning the World Cup is still alive – boosted by avoiding a showdown with Brazil – and Argentina are now second in the World Cup outright betting at 13/8.
Croatia
Croatia were runners-up in Russia in 2018 and are 7/1 to go one step further by winning the World Cup for the first time.
They only finished second in their group and have been taken to penalties in both knockout games but have held their nerve in the shoot-outs to beat Japan and, more impressively, Brazil.
Knocking out the favourites will have boosted their confidence and Luka Modric is in fine form so a repeat of the 2018 final and the chance to get revenge against France remains a possibility.
Morocco
Morocco are through to the semi-finals for the first time in their history and are now dreaming of becoming the first African winners of the World Cup.
They beat Belgium in the group phase and claimed another huge scalp after winning a penalty shoot-out against Spain following a goalless draw in the round of 16.
That was followed by a 1-0 victory over Portugal as they sent Cristiano Ronaldo home in tears and the only goal they have conceded remains an own goal against Canada.
Morocco remain the outsiders in the World Cup betting at 9/1 but have shown they are a match for the European heavyweights ahead of their meeting with France.
View the latest World Cup odds
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication