2022 World Cup Group H preview, teams, odds: Final bows for Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Uruguay’s Luis Suarez?

Group H at the 2022 World Cup features another pair of veteran stars who could be saying their goodbyes to the competition this year in Qatar. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and Luis Suarez’s Uruguay are favored to advance, but South Korea has Song-Heung min while Ghana tries to re-establish itself as a threat out of Africa.  

2022 World Cup Group H preview

Ghana

• FIFA Rank: 61st
• Qualification: Defeated Nigeria in CAF 3rd Round
• Previous World Cup appearances: 3
• Best finish: Quarterfinals (2010)
• Odds to win group: +1000
• Odds to make knockout stage: +250
• Odds to win World Cup: +25000

This isn’t the Ghana you knew from 10 or 15 years ago that carried a legitimate threat on the world’s stage. In Qatar, Ghana is the lowest-ranked team in the field of 32, but they’ll bring in talented threats on the wing to try and surprise a group that many see as a two-team race.

X-Factor: Mohammed Kudus Ghana’s next great soccer star, Kudus is off to a brilliant start with Dutch side Ajax, recording nine goals in 20 matches across all competitions. His contributions will be vital for a Ghana side that simply doesn’t have that legitimate goal-scoring threat on the international stage. 

Ghana World Cup Roster

Portugal

• FIFA Rank: 9th
• Qualification: Defeated North Macedonia in UEFA play-off
• Previous World Cup appearances: 7
• Best finish: 3rd Place (1966)
• Odds to win group: -145
• Odds to make knockout stage: -650
• Odds to win World Cup:+1600

What version of the Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal will we see in Qatar? Will it be the side that won the European Championships six years ago? Or will it be the squad that bounced out of the Round of 16 at Euro 2020 and the 2018 World Cup? We’ll see, but there is plenty of intrigue surrounding the style of play we’ll see from the Selcao — specifically if they’ll be too defensive-minded.

X-Factor: Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal has its fair share of stars in the making, whether it’s Bernando Silva or Bruno Fernandes, or Rafael Leao. But this is still very much Ronaldo’s team even if he’s having problems with Manchester United. 

Portugal World Cup Roster

South Korea

• FIFA Rank: 28th
• Qualification: Finished 2nd in Group A of AFC qualifying
• Previous World Cup appearances: 10
• Best finish: Semifinals, 4th place (2002)
• Odds to win group: +1100
• Odds to make knockout stage: +260
• Odds to win World Cup: +20000

It’s become commonplace over the last 20 years to see South Korea play with a certain brand of ferocity. That will still be the case in Qatar, but they’ll think twice about playing an attacking brand considering the major question marks that come with their defense. 

X-Factor: Son Heung-min The Tottenham superstar had joint share of the Premier League Golden Boot last season with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and is the generational, transcendental talent that will carry South Korea as far as they’ll go. Whether or not a recent facial surgery inhibits his contributions remains to be seen, but he’ll have to be on another level to keep the Taegeuk Warriors on par with the likes of Portugal and Uruguay.

South Korea World Cup Roster

Uruguay

• FIFA Rank: 14th
• Qualification: Finished 3rd in CONMEBOL qualifying
• Previous World Cup appearances: 13
• Best finish: Champions (1930, 1950)
• Odds to win group: +185
• Odds to make knockout stage: -220
• Odds to win World Cup: +4000

You wouldn’t think Uruguay would be favored to advance from Group H given how difficult qualifying was, forcing them to change managers. But a team blended with a young, dynamic midfield to go with established, star veterans up front creates an intriguing side that’s anchored by a resolute defense. 

X-Factor: Federico Valverde Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani can’t do it alone anymore, and Valverde is the young star to help pull the strings for Uruguay’s attack in Qatar. The 24-year-old midfielder has six goals in 14 La Liga matches for Real Madrid this season, adding another dimension — and danger — for the Uruguayans to boast.

Uruguay World Cup Roster

*Odds courtesy of DraftKings

2022 World Cup Group H schedule