In four of the last five editions of the World Cup, the host nation has gone on to reach the quarter-final stage.
Undoubtedly, there will be some pressure on Qatar to deliver in front of their own supporters, despite this being their first ever World Cup appearance.
This Qatar vs Ecuador game is the second of Group A, and for both of these teams this match offers an excellent opportunity to get points on the board with, arguably, tougher fixtures to come.
So, will the hosts prevail or will the South Americans dampen their enthusiasm? Head to LV BET to get the best odds and betting options for every World Cup 2022 game.
- Can Qatar make the most of home advantage?
- Will Ecuador’s return to the tournament be a succcess?
- Could Ecuador be the surprise package of FIFA World Cup 2022 Group A?
- What are the best bets for Qatar vs Ecuador?
Will Home Comforts Prove Invaluable for Qatar?
Most football fans probably won’t give Qatar much of a chance of doing well at their own World Cup, but you should write them off at your peril.
Head coach Felix Sanchez has transformed them into a useful outfit. This is a team that won the ultra-competitive Asian Cup in 2019 and followed up with a run to the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2021.
Largely made up of players from the Qatari Stars League, the hosts will have an advantage in conditions they are familiar with, and will no doubt be boosted by having around 50,000 supporters cheering them on at the Al Bayt Stadium.
They qualified for the Qatar World Cup 2022 automatically as hosts, but their top goalscorers at the Gold Cup were:
| Name | Position | Matches | Goals |
| Almoez Ali | Striker | 5 | 4 |
| Abdulaziz Hatem | Forward | 5 | 3 |
| Akram Afif | Forward | 5 | 2 |
Qatar have mostly been playing friendly matches in preparation for the World Cup, although they did participate in the 2021 Arab Cup – they lost 1-2 in the semi-finals to Algeria.
Can Ecuador Be a Surprise Success In FIFA World Cup 2022 Group A?
Ecuador’s appearance at Qatar 2022 will be their first in a World Cup since 2014, and only the fourth time they have competed in the event in their history.
However, their lack of experience should not be confused with a shortage of quality, and their recent results confirm why the ‘away’ team are the favourites in the Qatar vs Ecuador betting odds at LV BET.
La Tricolor reached the quarter-finals of the high-class Copa America in 2021, and in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, they finished higher than the likes of Chile and Colombia – drawing with Argentina and Brazil along the way.
So, Ecuador are a pretty decent outfit judging by their results, and they could rise up to be a formidable opponent in FIFA World Cup 2022 Group A.
Their top scorers during the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers were:
| Name | Position | Matches | Goals |
| Michael Estrada | Forward | 17 | 6 |
| Enner Valencia | Striker | 12 | 4 |
| Gonzalo Plata | Forward | 16 | 3 |
Head coach Gustavo Alfaro has a talented bunch of players at his disposal, with a number of them – such as Moises Caicedo, Gonzalo Plata, Pervis Estupinan and Carlos Gruezo – playing for clubs in one of European football’s top leagues.
Betting Tips and Odds on Qatar vs Ecuador in FIFA World Cup 2022 Group A
LV BET have made Ecuador their 6/5 favourites for this contest, and based upon their pedigree in South American competitions – and the quality of their squad – most would conclude that those are fair betting odds.
Qatar will be cheered on by a lively home crowd, of course, and they will be desperate to make a big impression on what is their World Cup debut. However, they just don’t have the experience on the big stage, and the fact that their players compete in a weak domestic league – compared to Ecuador’s stars – is also to their detriment.
The hot weather won’t affect the Ecuadorians, and a win here – plus a positive result against one of, or both of, Senegal and the Netherlands – could see them reach the knockout stage of the World Cup for just the second time in their history.
Anyone wanting to watch Qatar vs Ecuador in the UK can do so via the BBC’s TV channel or iPlayer platform.
Bets on Qatar vs Ecuador at LV BET
You can have your say on this game, as well as the games on the other Qatar 2022 dates, at LV BET, where more than 300 betting markets await you.
There’s plenty to choose from: you can bet on the match winner market and a range of other handicap and Asian options, as well as correct score, half time/full time winner and so on.
If goals are more your thing, you can predict how many times the net will be breached in Qatar vs Ecuador and in which half.
With World Cup 2022 on the horizon, there has never been a better time to sign up for your new customer account at LV BET.