Illinois sportsbooks are preparing for an upcoming major sporting event of global significance.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup, held in Qatar, begins on Sunday, November 20th to determine the top soccer team in the world. This tournament, held every four years, will last for a month, with the championship game scheduled for December 18th.
This marks the inaugural tournament being held in the Middle East.
Where in the world is Qatar?
Qatar, a small country in the Middle East, is a peninsula in the Persian Gulf. It is located east of Saudi Arabia, northwest of the United Arab Emirates, southeast of Kuwait, and west of Iran, across the Gulf.
Qatar, pronounced kuh·taar, covers an area of 4,468 square miles, making it smaller than the state of Connecticut which spans 5,543 square miles.
This year’s tournament, typically held in the summer, is taking place in the fall due to the high average temperatures in Qatar. With temperatures reaching 106° in July, it is more comfortable for players and spectators to compete in the cooler fall weather.
The tournament will take place at eight various venues in and around Doha, the capital city of Qatar.
- Al Bayt Stadium
- Ahmad Bin Stadium
- Al Janoub Stadium
- Al Thumama Stadium
- Education City Stadium
- Khalifa International Stadium
- Stadium 974
- The final will be played at Lusail Stadium.
How the FIFA World Cup tournament works
The 32-team tournament is divided into eight separate groups, each consisting of four teams. These groups are labeled A through H.
In a round-robin tournament, each group competes against each other. Teams earn three points for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss. The top two teams from each group move on to the 16-team knockout stage.
The knockout stage of the tournament is a single-elimination round where the winner is determined through extra time and penalty shootouts if needed.
After this round, the competition progresses to the quarter-finals, followed by the semi-finals, a match for third place, and ultimately the final.
Illinois’ connection to the World Cup
No players from Illinois are participating in this year’s World Cup, but two players hail from St. Louis, located just across the Mississippi River from the Illinois border.
Josh Sargent and Tim Ream, who hail from the St. Louis area, are both included in the United States roster.
Sargent, a 22-year-old forward, represents Norwich City club in England and hails from O’Fallon, MO, near St. Louis. In 2017, he earned the title of US Soccer Young Male Player of the Year and has competed in 21 matches for Team USA.
Ream, a 35-year-old defender hailing from St. Louis, serves as the club captain for Fulham in the English Premier League. With over 250 games under his belt, he has also represented Team USA in 46 matches.
10 best places in Chicago to watch the games
1934 West Irving Park Road
The Globe Pub in Chicago is widely recognized as one of the top sports bars in the city, if not the absolute best. It is the perfect spot to catch any World Cup game, with a specially designed menu for the occasion. In 2014, it was awarded the title of “Best Sports Bar in America” by Nightclub & Bar Magazine. The pub boasts multiple large HD screens and serves delicious pub fare like shepherd’s pie and bangers and mash.
100 W. Grand Ave
Fado’s Irish Pub proudly proclaims itself as the ultimate destination for the 2022 World Cup, showcasing every game of the tournament along with a special match day brunch menu and drink specials. With a focus on Irish cuisine and beverages, including the iconic Guinness, Fado’s is the go-to spot for fans looking to enjoy the matches in a lively and authentic setting.
1935 W. Chicago Ave.
Cleo’s, an official Chicago Fire soccer bar, will be broadcasting every 2022 World Cup game. Additionally, the menu includes a wide selection of delicious pizzas and sandwiches.
Fire Pitch and the Aon Grand Ballroom
The address for Fire Pitch is 3626 N. Talman Ave.
Aon Grand Ballroom is located at 840 E Grand Ave.
The Chicago Fire’s indoor/outdoor community soccer facility, the Fire Pitch, will serve as the official home for 2022 World Cup watch parties. Soccer enthusiasts can enjoy a variety of amenities such as specialty food, drinks, exclusive merchandise, and interactive games during the tournament. The Pitch will open at 10 a.m. CT on Nov. 20 for the opening match between Qatar and Equador at 11 a.m. Throughout the tournament, the Pitch will open 30 minutes before the start of the first game each day (excluding the 4 a.m. CT matches) and will close after the last match of the day. Please note that the Pitch will be closed on Thursday, November 24 for Thanksgiving.
The Chicago Fire will be hosting a watch party at Navy Pier in the Aon Grand Ballroom on Nov. 25 at 1 p.m. CT when the United States plays against England. Admission is free and first come, first serve. Doors open at 11 a.m. CT.
3626 N. Talman Ave
The Heineken Pub97 at the Fire Pitch will have a special brunch and lunch menu inspired by countries in the World Cup 2022. Enjoy dishes like Swiss Quiche Lorraine, Polish potato pierogis, and Mexican tacos. Don’t miss out on themed beer specials from Belgium, England, Poland, and Germany.
9 W. Hubbard St.
If you’re seeking a higher-end sports bar experience, Theory is the perfect option for you. In addition to delicious food, Theory boasts numerous TV screens and offers 25 lucky guests the opportunity to elevate their experience to VIP status, allowing them to watch the games on massive 133-inch flat screens.
3801 N. Ashland
AJ Hudson’s Public House has been a favorite destination for Northside residents to catch international soccer matches for three decades. Additionally, the bar offers a wide selection of over 100 beers.
The Graystone Tavern and The Rambler Kitchen and Tap
The address for Graystone is 3441 N Sheffield Ave.
The address is 4128 N Lincoln Ave.
The Graystone Tavern in Wrigleyville and The Rambler Kitchen + Tap in North Center are joining forces to host World Cup viewing parties. Both bars will feature a special “around the world” menu. The Rambler, known as a Team USA bar, will be showing all of the US team’s games.
How to watch / stream the games
The 2022 FIFA World Cup will be televised on the FOX Sports network, including both Fox and FS1. FOX is the official English-language broadcast partner for the tournament in the US.
The games will be broadcasted in Spanish on Telemundo and Peacock.
Full World Cup games replays can also be streamed for free on Tubi.
The opening match of the 2022 World Cup featuring Qatar and Ecuador is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. CT on Sunday, Nov. 20. This game will be broadcast in the US on FS1 and in Spanish on Peacock.
Best places in Illinois to bet on the games
FIFA predicts that the amount wagered on the 2018 World Cup globally reached $155 billion. With the increase in sportsbooks in Illinois and worldwide since then, it is expected that this record will be exceeded during the 2022 tournament.
There are currently seven legal and regulated sportsbooks in Illinois.
All will be accepting a diverse range of bets on the World Cup.
It is possible that the Circa Sportsbook will be operational before the tournament concludes. Circa is anticipated to debut alongside Full House’s The Temporary by American Place Casino opening in Waukegan, potentially in early December.
Additionally, there are plans for more IL sportsbooks to launch in the near future, but none are expected to open until after the conclusion of the 2022 World Cup.
Brazil currently favored to win the World Cup, USA ranks 17th
DraftKings currently has Brazil, the top-ranked team in the world, as the favorite to win the World Cup with odds at +400.
Brazil has won the most World Cups with five titles, closely followed by Germany and Italy with four each. However, it has been two decades since Brazil last claimed victory in the tournament.
Here is the breakdown of the favorites in futures betting for the team that will win the World Cup championship:
- Brazil +400
- Argentina +500
- France +700
- Spain +850
- England +850
- Germany +1000
- Netherlands +1200
- Portugal +1400
- Belgium +1600
- Denmark +2500
DraftKings has the United States ranked 17th with odds of +13000.
Player props futures
DK also has player prop futures for the following players:
Top goal scorers: Harry Kane is the favorite at +700, followed by Kylian Mbappe at +800, Neymar and Lionel Messi tied at +1000, and Karim Benzema at +1200.
Top Player (Golden Ball) winners: Messi (+550), Neymar (+900), Mbappe (+1100), Benzema (+1600), Vinicius Junior (+1600).
The winner of the Golden Glove award for best goalkeeper is Alisson at +350 odds, followed by Thibaut Courtois at +500, Emiliano Martinez at +700, Unai Simon at +800, and Jordan Pickford at +900.
When is the USA playing?
Group B consists of the US Men’s National Team (USMNT), England, Iran, and Wales.
The US team will play their first match against Wales on Monday, Nov. 21, at 1 p.m. CT in the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. The game will be broadcast on Fox and in Spanish on Telemundo and Peacock.
The United States is also set to compete in:
- The match against England will take place on Friday, November 25th at 1 p.m. CT at Al Bayt Stadium.
- The match against Iran will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 1 p.m. CT at Al Thumama Stadium.
DK currently has the odds for the USMNT’s three group games as:
- In the matchup between the US and Wales, the US is favored at +165, while Wales is the underdog at +195. A draw is also at +195.
- USA vs. England betting odds: USA +500, England -165, Draw +275
- US is favored to win against Iran with odds of +100, while Iran has odds of +280 and a draw has odds of +230.
US history in the World Cup
The United States team has now qualified for the World Cup 11 times, with eight appearances in the last nine tournaments.
The team’s most successful performance was in the first tournament in 1930, where they made it to the semi-finals and placed third overall.
Despite not qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, the US had successful finishes in the tournaments leading up to that one.
- 15th in 2014
- 12th in 2010
- 25th in 2006
- 8th in 2002
- 32nd in 1998
- 14th in 1994
- 23rd in 1990
Complete 2022 World Cup field
Here is the complete list of teams participating in the World Cup:
Group A
- Qatar
- Ecuador
- Senegal
- Netherlands
Group B
- England
- Iran
- USA
- Wales
Group C
- Argentina
- Saudi Arabia
- Mexico
- Poland
Group D
- France
- Australia
- Denmark
- Tunisia
Group E
- Spain
- Costa Rica
- Germany
- Japan
Group F
- Belgium
- Canada
- Morocco
- Croatia
Group G
- Brazil
- Serbia
- Switzerland
- Cameroon
Group H
- Portugal
- Ghana
- Uruguay
- Korea Republic
Past World Cup champions
2018: France
2014: Germany
2010: Spain
2006: Italy
2002: Brazil
1998: France
1994: Brazil
1990: West Germany
1986: Argentina
1982: Italy
1978: Argentina
1974: West Germany
1970: Brazil
1966: England
1962: Brazil
1958: Brazil
1954: West Germany
1950: Uruguay
1938: Italy
1934: Italy
1930: Uruguay
US, Canada and Mexico playing hosts to World Cup 2026
In 2026, the World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with 46 teams competing for the first time.
Despite games being held in 11 US cities, Chicago will not be one of them.
The Windy City, which hosted games in the 1994 World Cup, decided not to participate in the 2026 event for several reasons.
- Rahm Emanuel, the ex-mayor, declined to provide FIFA with unlimited funds to cover expenses for the event.
- Soldier Field’s capacity of 61,000 spectators may not be sufficient to accommodate a World Cup match.