The World Cup fever is upon us, and SKY is bringing all the action from the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar live on SKY Pay-Per-View via WCTV.
With 32 nations worldwide vying for the coveted cup trophy, only one will prevail and take all the glory to their motherland.
Before jumping into the exciting action and drama on the pitch, here are some of the teams that can win it all and to watch out for in the latest edition of the World Cup:
1) The defending champions France
Undoubtedly, France re-enters the World Cup scene as one of the favorites to win it all and go for a rare back-to-back feat in the quadrennial tournament, headlined by 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema and next-generation superstar Kylian Mbappe.
The challenge now for France in their hopes for the title is the slew of injuries to their core players, heading in without the key players instrumental to their previous championship run, including N’Golo Kante, Paul Pogba, and Presnel Kimpembe.
2) The stacked Brazilian squad
Never count out the winningest nation in World Cup history, Brazil. Now hungrier than ever, their squad features an array of world-class players currently in tip-top form.
Arguably one of the best line-ups they’ve showcased in the grandest stage of the sport, the team comprises all-star names, from vicious attackers up front in Neymar Jr., Vinicius Jr., Richarlison, and Gabriel Jesus; seasoned veterans Thiago Silva, Casemiro, Allison Becker, and Dani Alves; to promising talents Rodrygo and Gabriel Martinelli.
3) South America winners, Argentina
Argentina, the two-time World Cup-winning nation, continues to be favored to make a deep run in the competition—especially coming in as the Copa America champions and previously beating Euro 2020 victors Italy in their Finalissima match-up.
Still led by one of the greatest to ever grace the sport, Lionel Messi, he has his sights fixed anew on the elusive World Cup to add to his stacked trophy cabinet throughout his illustrious career. Helping him along the way to capture the gold are Angel Di Maria, Lisandro Martinez, Emi Martinez, Paulo Dybala, and Lautaro Martinez.
4) 2018 runners-up Croatia
From doubters to believers, many fans are still astounded by Croatia’s historic run in the 2018 World Cup, with odds stacked against their favor to win the coveted gold. But with Luka Modric’s string of world-class performances, which won him the tournament’s best player distinction and the 2018 Ballon d’Or, Croatia managed to book a ticket to their first-ever finals appearance. Although they ended up short against France, they won the hearts of football fans worldwide for their heroics on the grand stage.
They may enter as one of the tournament’s eyed underdogs this year, but the spirits are high for Croatia, headlined by Modric, Ivan Perisic, Mateo Kovacic, Marcelo Brozovic, and co., as they continue to convince the world of their capabilities as a unit.
5) World’s number two Belgium
With more nations also favored to win the cup, including England, Germany, Netherlands, and Spain, another European heavyweight stands out as a top title contender—the second-world-ranked Belgium squad.
Despite their high FIFA ranking, the concern for the Belgians as of late is their inconsistent form, previously losing two-consecutive times against a resilient Dutch squad during the international break. But with their world-class depth, led by their midfield maestro Kevin de Bruyne with goal-seekers Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku, plus Europe’s top goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, they may turn the odds to win it all.
Which of these squads can make a run for the gold? It’s up to the world to find out, as SKYcable subscribers can catch all the action in the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 via WCTV, available on SKY Pay-Per-View.
Watch all the games live, plus more special content from November 20 to December 19, with its All Access Pass priced at P1,999. To avail, visit mysky.com.ph/worldcup.
