The 2022 World Cup in Qatar is less than a week away and there is already plenty of content around the tournament here on The Athletic. There’s lots more coming, from in-depth features about the Qatar’s readiness as a host to detailed data of the 32 teams.
But let’s have some fun with the World Cup. Let’s have a World Cup draft. You ever been in an office pool where you have to pick teams? We replicated that with four people from our staff. You can see how our draft went, learn from our mistakes and tell us where we went right and wrong in the comments.
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Ed Malyon, John Hayes, Andrew DeWitt and Dan Santaromita participated in a snake draft of all 32 teams with the goal of picking the teams that will have the most combined success. Here’s how it went:
2022 World Cup team draft
1. Argentina (Hayes)
2. Brazil (Santaromita)
3. France (DeWitt)
4. Spain (Malyon)
5. England (Malyon)
6. Germany (DeWitt)
7. Belgium (Santaromita)
8. Netherlands (Hayes)
Argentina was the top pick despite Brazil being the tournament favorite on BetMGM. Spain and Germany went in the top six despite both being in Group E. No one picked any Group H teams in the first eight picks, but that quickly changed.
9. Portugal (Hayes)
10. Denmark (Santaromita)
11. Uruguay (DeWitt)
12. Croatia (Malyon)
13. Serbia (Malyon)
14. South Korea (DeWitt)
15. Senegal (Santaromita)
16. Poland (Hayes)
Three teams from Group H went off the board with group favorite Portugal followed by Uruguay and South Korea in the next five picks. There may not be a classic group of death in this World Cup, but where we picked the teams from that group showed a lack of confidence in who will advance from it.
After Argentina and Brazil started the draft, the next eight teams were European.
17. United States (Hayes)
18. Switzerland (Santaromita)
19. Mexico (DeWitt)
20. Wales (Malyon)
21. Morocco (Malyon)
22. Japan (DeWitt)
23. Ghana (Santaromita)
24. Canada (Hayes)
The North American teams finally go off the board. The U.S. was taken ahead of Group B foe Wales, but neither were taken in the top 16. Wales was the last European team taken. Mexico went just a few picks below Poland, the expected rival for second place in Group C. Canada was first in CONCACAF qualifying, but was the third team drafted from the region.
25. Ecuador (Hayes)
26. Iran (Santaromita)
27. Cameroon (DeWitt)
28. Tunisia (Malyon)
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29. Qatar (Malyon)
30. Australia (DeWitt)
31. Costa Rica (Santaromita)
32. Saudi Arabia (Hayes)
The hosts fell all the way to 29th. Only one host has failed to make it past the group stage, but we didn’t show much confidence in that remaining true after this tournament.
John Hayes’ teams
Argentina (1), Netherlands (8), Portugal (9), Poland (16), USA (17), Canada (24), Ecuador (25), Saudi Arabia (32)
With the first pick I was torn between Argentina and Brazil. Ultimately I picked with my heart, hoping that Lionel Messi will lift the World Cup trophy in what likely will be his last dance at the tournament. The squad around the superstar is good enough to win the tournament. Christian Romero being healthy enough to play on the back line will be a huge plus.
When the snake draft came back around I selected the Netherlands and Portugal. Heading into the World Cup with both Messi and Ronaldo? Not bad. Ronaldo is in the press right now for all the wrong reasons. I think he’ll be motivated to play well on the pitch and return to his goal-scoring form.
Poland and USA were my next two picks. I debated picking first-place CONCACAF finishers Canada during this window, but ultimately settled on getting Robert Lewandowski on the squad and adding a USMNT that is as healthy as its been for quite some time. I never expected the Canadians to make it back to me for my sixth pick and was pumped to pick up Ecuador in the late rounds as a dark horse in Group A.
Dan Santaromita’s teams
Brazil (2), Belgium (7), Denmark (10), Senegal (15), Switzerland (18), Ghana (23), Iran (26), Costa Rica (31)
I wanted Argentina first, but Brazil was an easy second choice. I’m not completely sold on this team as the favorite of the tournament, but I think the Brazilians are safer than France to make a good run. France’s showing at the Euros last year and history of drama off the field makes me a bit wary despite obvious talent.
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By the time it got back to me again, Belgium was the best of what was left of potential winners. The Netherlands and Portugal have more questions to me, although Belgium likely has a tougher Round of 16 draw against potentially Spain or Germany.
After the top nine teams are off the board, it’s all about picking teams that are likely to advance. I think Denmark, Senegal and Switzerland will advance, even with Sadio Mane’s injury. I also think Iran has a chance in Group B for a team at the back end of the draft.
Andrew DeWitt’s teams
France (3), Germany (6), Uruguay (11), South Korea (14), Mexico (19), Japan (22), Cameroon (27), Australia (30)
First, I think this World Cup will be incredibly weird. It’s being played in November and in the middle of most domestic seasons. The schedule is compacted with no days off in the entire competition until a break between the Round of 16 and the quarterfinals.
Picking France is a pretty easy selection, given that it is the defending champions. I’ll take the forward trio of Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema any day on a team that I’m supporting.
South Korea has one of the youngest teams at the World Cup, and with the compacted schedule, I like its chances to emerge from Group H with Uruguay.
My squad lacked a South American team when I picked Uruguay. While acknowledging their tough draw in the group stage and with Brazil possibly awaiting in a Round of 16 matchup, Uruguay always punches above its weight for a country of only 4 million people with the stars of Edinson Cavani, Darwin Nunez, Luis Suarez and Federico Valverde.
Ed Malyon’s teams
Spain (4), England (5), Croatia (12), Serbia (13), Wales (20), Morocco (21), Tunisia (28), Qatar (29)
Obviously I missed the top tier sides, but my feeling is there are about six or seven teams that could win it all and Spain and England are firmly among them. Luis Enrique is one of the better coaches at the tournament, and either of these two sides can beat anyone on their day.
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Croatia I don’t love, but they have enough quality to pick me up some points and they’ve shown that if things break right for them they can make a run in any tournament.
Serbia are my favourite dark horse alongside Uruguay so I was delighted to grab them so late. Wales could easily finish second in England’s group so are just a value pick at this stage, while Morocco and Tunisia are dart throws.
Qatar? Well, if we get some South Korea ‘02 refereeing then they might be going deep!
(Photo of Argentina: Vincent Carchietta / USA Today)
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