2022 FIFA World Cup Odds, Picks & Predictions: Target the Total for Qatar vs. Ecuador

It is time for the greatest tournament in the world to kick off. Regardless of your feelings about the host nation, we are keeping all the talk on the pitch. I usually jump in for three or four matches an article but wanted to show the opening match the respect it deserves. 

World Cup Betting Predictions

Qatar vs. Ecuador Pick: Under 2 | -110 at DraftKings

Sunday, Nov. 20 | 11 a.m. ET

Qatar are automatic qualifiers for being the host nation but they have been in excellent form. Former Barcelona youth manager Felix Sanchez took over the senior squad in 2017 for this opportunity.

Installing Barcelona’s mindset will always be difficult without the talent to back it up. Qatar has not been a major football nation recently but has held their own against some well-known nations. Qatar have won four straight friendlies, plus had a very respectable 2-2 draw with South American Chile.

Almoez Ali is arguably Qatar’s best player with 85 caps and 42 goals — his next goal will make him Qatar’s all-time leading scorer. Look for him to go all out with the world watching. 

Ecuador snuck into the World Cup on the final day of South American qualification with a 1-1 draw with Argentina. Ecuador have several players on some big clubs but lack experience. Piero Hincapie (Bayer Leverkusen), Carlos Gruezo (Augsburg) and Pervis Estupinan (Brighton) are some of the more familiar names but everything in Ecuador runs through defense.

Alexander Dominguez, the leader of this squad and the best keeper you’ve never heard of, had six clean sheets in a row. Dominguez has blanked some big nations such as Mexico and Nigeria so I see that continuing against a Qatar side that struggles to score.