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2022 FIFA World Cup Group G preview 

Group G features the same clubs that comprised Group E back in the 2018 edition save for one. Would the outcome be the same or will there be surprises this time around?  

Brazil 

As most football fans are aware of, Brazil is the most successful team at the FIFA World Cup. They have not missed a single edition and they were the champions in five of those. 

The south American country is currently the number one-ranked team at the time of the group stage draw. This is due to a strong showing in this World Cup cycle, winning the Copa América in 2019 and topping the CONMEBOL 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers round robin. 

Seleção still have a match on hand in the south American qualifiers after their faceoff against rival Argentina in 2021 was suspended. Regardless of that result, they are still way ahead on the table for it affect the placings. They are six points ahead of their nemesis, compiling 45 points in 14 wins and three draws. 

Serbia 

Serbia continues the lineage of the former Yugoslavia, playing in the main stage for the 13th time this November. Their best finish so far is fourth. They reached the Round of 16 in 1998, the first time the current format was implement. However, they have not gone past the group phase since. 

The 25th-ranked team in the FIFA men’s rankings emerged on top of Group A of the UEFA 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, edging Portugal in the final day of matches, 2-1. They almost got to play at UEFA Euro 2020 but was eliminated by Scotland via penalty shootout in the play-off final. 

Orlovi are currently on League B at the UEFA Nations League. They almost got relegated back to League C in the 2020-21 staging, but a better tiebreaker with Turkey saved them. 

Switzerland 

Switzerland is the second-best team in the group, ranking 14th in the world during the draw. They finished first on Group C of the UEFA 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers ahead of Italy that missed the World Cup altogether. 

This is their 12th appearance in the tournament proper and their fifth consecutive. They have gone as far as the quarters, the last time in 1954. They reached the second round in 2018. The only time they missed the knockout rounds this millennium was in 2010. 

The Swiss defeated reigning World Cup champs France in the Round of 16 of UEFA Euro 2020 but was stopped by 2010 World Cup winners Spain via shootout the next round. They also staved relegation at the UEFA Nations League after their last match in the 2020-21 tourney against Ukraine was called off due to health reasons. 

Cameroon 

Cameroon took the place of Costa Rica as the fourth team from 2018. Ranked 37th in the world in March and sixth at the CAF as of May, they had to go through two close calls in as many rounds of qualifying before making the big dance. 

In the concluding matchday of the second round of the CAF 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, Les Lions Indomptables beat Ivory Coast with a Karl Toko Ekambi goal at the 21st minute to advance. The following round had them eliminating Algeria via away goals. 

This is the eighth time the Cameroonians will be at the men’s football World Cup. Missing 2018, their best string of stints was from 1990 to 2002. They finished 7th in Mexico, their highest placing to date. They have not gone past the first round in their other appearances. 

Prediction 

If it plays out like in 2018, then Brazil and Switzerland would advance. It now remains on Serbia and Cameroon to play spoiler to make things more interesting.