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The 2022 World Cup is fast approaching with an exciting offer of international football for an entire month.
Hence, the winter tournament will have fans engaged with a yet-to-be-announced fantasy football game.
A 2022 FIFA World Cup Fantasy game should be released soon following on from the most recent World Cup and European Championship, given the demand and attention the game gets from several people.
Based on recent international tournaments, the 2022 World Cup fantasy game would be expected to open between one to two weeks before the commencement of action in Qatar which starts on November 20, 2022.
The McDonald’s FIFA World Cup Fantasy was the official game in past World Cups and it should be launched before the first fixture of the tournament between hosts Qatar and Ecuador which kicks off at 16:00 GMT.
In terms of gameplay, this is quite similar to the UEFA Champions League Fantasy, with the ability to make substitutions and captaincy changes in-between matchdays. The game is free to play and there are sensational prizes available for the top player.
In order to compete effectively in the World Cup Fantasy game, who are the best players to purchase in your team? We will base our conclusions on tips and odds for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Goalkeepers
Alisson
The Liverpool man is expected to be Brazil’s main shot-stopper despite fierce competition with Manchester City’s Ederson.
The 30-year-old is one of the best in the world due to his distribution and ability in one-on-one situations. Alisson is a well-rounded modern-day stopper and he was named the best goalkeeper as Brazil won the 2019 Copa America.
Alongside his ability to get assists, no keeper in Europe’s top five leagues has a better penalty-stopping record than Alisson from 15+ penalties faced since the 2017-18 season.
He will be confident of establishing enough Fantasy points in the group games against Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon as Brazil are one of the favourites to win the tournament.
Kasper Schmeichel
Denmark’s influential custodian will be a calming presence between the sticks as he looks to surpass his heroics that led The Red and Whites to the Round of 16 in Russia 2018.
Schmeichel left Leicester City after 11 years in order to seek a new challenge, and his adventure at Nice could inspire another memorable tournament for the Danish Dynamite.
The 35-year-old conceded only three times in 10 games during the qualifiers and he could become a revelation at another international tournament for the ever-improving Danes.
Defenders
Theo Hernandez
One of the best left-backs in the world is a must-have in your 2022 World Cup Fantasy team due to his wonderful performances up and down the flank.
The 25-year-old is suitable for the Fantasy game having produced the most goal involvements for any defender as AC Milan won the Serie A last season. Hernandez has become a reliable outlet for France and he could be forming a partnership with his brother Lucas at left centre-back and left wing-back during the World Cup.
Achraf Hakimi
The 23-year-old is one of the best full-backs in world football and simply must be in your World Cup fantasy team for the numerous qualities he possesses.
Hakimi is a quick and dynamic attacking full-back whose game is brilliant in both phases of play. He also has the experience of thriving in international tournaments after being involved in Morocco’s squads for the 2018 World Cup as well as the 2019 and 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
The PSG ace has 53 caps for the Atlas Lions and will surely look to deliver in a group containing Belgium, Canada and Croatia.
Denzel Dumfries
A typical Dutch wing-back, Dumfries is known for his pace and attacking instincts on the right side.
The 26-year-old has cemented the right-wing back role for his national team and looks to provide service at the World Cup which would bolster his prospects in the Fantasy game.
Dumfries scored his first international goal at EURO 2020 and he now has five for the Oranje, those consistent attacking numbers will serve him well in a group that contains World Cup hosts Qatar, Ecuador and Senegal.
Joao Cancelo
The Manchester City man is perhaps the most complete full-back in the game currently as he mixes his eye-catching flair and versatility on either left or right-back with solid defensive abilities.
Cancelo is one of Portugal’s dangerous weapons as his attacking qualities help to unlock their host of talented forwards, making for a dream Fantasy option for a defender.
The 28-year-old is nailed on to start in either full-back position as A Seleção take on Uruguay, Ghana and South Korea in Group H.
Joakim Maehle
Another dynamic option in defence for your Fantasy team is the Danish wing-back who rose to prominence in the EURO 2020 game where he scored twice and assisted once in six games en route to the semifinal.
Maehle scored five goals during World Cup qualifying and possesses the ability and the tactical framework to keep getting forward to affect games for Denmark.
Kasper Hjulmand’s side are up against World Champions France, Tunisia and Australia in Group D and their current form suggests they will remain a strong side on the world stage.
Midfielders
Kevin De Bruyne
Undoubtedly one of the best midfielders on the planet, KDB should be a mainstay in your Fantasy team as he seeks to inspire Belgium to unprecedented glory.
De Bruyne’s passing, vision, creativity and technical quality is world class and he will be influential in the attacking moves of the Red Devils. Thus, the 31-year-old should be a key player during the campaign as Belgium look to better their third-place finish in the 2018 World Cup.
Thomas Müller
The ‘Raumdeuter’ remains one of German football’s best talents at the age of 33, Müller is the most decorated footballer from his homeland with 32 trophies.
The one-club man enters the 2022 World Cup as one of the veteran heads having won the Best Young Player, Golden Boot and Silver Ball including the World Cup itself at previous tournaments.
Müller’s positioning, teamwork and consistency in scoring and creating goals makes him the record-holder for most assists in Bundesliga history. There is enough pedigree to include him as a top performer in Qatar.
Neymar
Brazil’s poster boy is expected to be the centrepiece of their attacking play thus he is set to register good returns in the Fantasy game.
Neymar will be playing at the last World Cup of his distinguished career and many fans hope he will lead the Seleção to their sixth title.
The forward will most certainly break Brazil’s all-time goalscoring record in Qatar as he’s only two goals behind Pele. Expect Neymar and Brazil to go far in the tournament.
Sadio Mané
The Bambali-native arrives at the World Cup hoping to close out an incredible year with further glory in Qatar.
Mané led Senegal to AFCON glory as they repeated their heroics against Egypt by beating them in the World Cup playoff only a month later. The country’s all-time top scorer finished second in the Ballon d’Or rankings after a golden year and group A rivals The Netherlands, Ecuador and Qatar will be wary of facing the Bayern Munich attacker.
Bruno Fernandes
Fernandes scored the two goals that defeated North Macedonia in their final playoff game and will be looking to engrave his name in World Cup history in Qatar.
The Manchester United ace is one of Portugal’s key men and his creativity, passing and eye for goal are key attributes that translate to good returns in the Fantasy game.
Son Heung-Min
One of the greatest Asian footballers of all time, the Tottenham man is known for his speed, ability to link play and finishing with both feet.
Son is the first Asian player to win the Premier League Golden Boot having shared it with Mohamed Salah last season. South Korea’s joint-top scorer at World Cups with three goals should outrightly break the record at his third tournament, and Fantasy managers should keep an eye on Son as he comes up against Portugal, Uruguay and Ghana.
Forwards
Harry Kane
The England captain is a renowned goalscorer and Fantasy Premier League managers will need no introduction to his exploits in Fantasy football.
Kane led the Three Lions to fourth place in Russia 2018 for their highest finish in 28 years as he won the Golden Boot award. He also captained them to their first major final since 1966 at Euro 2020 and will be looking to inspire his countrymen over the finish line in December.
The 29-year-old is desperate for the next three goals which will take him above Wayne Rooney’s England all-time goalscoring record. Having him in your Matchday 1 Fantasy team should be a priority.
Karim Benzema
Not many will be arriving in Qatar in better form than the first French player to win the Ballon d’Or in 24 years.
Although the most decorated French footballer in history, Benzema’s immediate focus will be on adding the one international trophy he so missed out on in 2018, there is no doubt Les Blues’ number nine will be the lynchpin in their attack.
The striker hit four goals en route to their Round of 16 exit at Euro 2020, and he will be similarly looking to make up for lost time at the World Cup. You get a guarantee of goals and assists from the 34-year-old.
Lionel Messi
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner needs little introduction for anyone playing the Fantasy game with any seriousness.
Messi is one of the greatest to ever kick a ball and his performances at the 2022 World Cup could eclipse any of his previous fine accolades in the tournament.
This will be the final hoorah for Argentina’s all-time top scorer and he could well walk away with the World Cup trophy.
It would be fun to receive the value of his exploits in terms of Fantasy points.
Aleksandar Mitrovic
The Serbian goal-machine has maintained his prolific goalscoring form at club level with talismanic showings for the Eagles during the qualifiers.
Serbia’s all-time highest goalscorer scored a last-minute winner against Portugal to send his country to the World Cup and you can expect more of the same when a much-improved team lands in Qatar.
Mitrović will be their focal point and ably supported by quality forwards who will both create space and chances for him.
Richarlison
The Tottenham forward has been in prolific form for Brazil in 2022 and Tite’s trust seems to be paying dividends for him.
Richarlison has seven goals and two assists in their last six games as he is expected to lead the line of a fluid attack. This makes the 25-year-old an exciting prospect in Fantasy
Brazil are one of the favourites to extend their record World Cup titles hence Richarlison could have a long stay in the tournament.
