Qatar vs Ecuador Predictions: World Cup Group Stage Odds & Best Bets

The World Cup kicks off in Qatar, with the hosts making their debut on the global stage against Ecuador. It's a pivotal match in Group A for both teams, as they'll each need to secure three points here.

This is because the two group favorites, Netherlands and Senegal, face off against each other. A win for Qatar or Ecuador would put them in a great position to start this tournament.

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Qatar won the AFC Asian Cup in 2019 and had a strong showing in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2021. They made it to the semifinals before losing 1-0 to the United States.

Ecuador finished off CONMEBOL qualifying with a draw against Argentina. They narrowly edged Peru by two points for the fourth and final spot for qualifying.

Let's dive in to find out the best bets for Qatar and Ecuador in this World Cup Group A match.

Qatar vs Ecuador Odds

• 3-way handicap: Qatar (+210) | Draw (+240) | Ecuador (+115)
• Draw No Bet: Qatar (+135) | Ecuador (-192)
• Over/Under Goals: Over 2.5 (+105) | Under 2.5 (-152)

Qatar vs. Ecuador odds are current as of 9 a.m. EST on BetMGM.

It's no surprise to see Ecuador come in as the favorite in this match, given the inexperience of this Qatar side. The total is heavily juiced to the Under, which means they're projecting a low-scoring match. However, both teams play more of an offensive style, so there's value here.

There's also some value on Qatar in the Draw No Bet market. We can't underestimate the impact of playing as the host nation. Getting them at plus money here looks intriguing.

Qatar vs Ecuador Matchup

Qatar has a Spanish manager in Félix Sánchez, who has them playing with more of an attacking style. Throughout their successful Gold Cup run, they played a 3-5-2 formation that transitioned to 5-3-2 when on defense. As a result, they showed an ability to score goals at a high rate during the tournament, but they also had vulnerabilities on defense.

Ecuador plays a flexible style, shifting from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-1-1 formations under manager Gustavo Alfaro. They like to play a direct style, moving forward with the ball rather than seeking to maintain possession. Ecuador scored 27 goals during qualifying and was tied with Argentina for second-most in CONMEBOL.

Qatar vs Ecuador Betting Tips

The key in this match is that both teams aren't afraid to push forward and look for goals. In addition, they each have an attacking style of play that could result in a higher-scoring game than the odds indicate.

We've seen Qatar put up their fair share of goals in recent fixtures. In the 2021 Gold Cup, they scored a combined 12 goals in four games before falling short against the USA in the semifinals.

Ecuador has also demonstrated this, putting up at least one goal in eight of their last nine World Cup qualifying matches. So we could see a high-scoring match here.

Qatar vs Ecuador Prediction

Qatar 1-1 Ecuador

This is Qatar's first World Cup appearance, so I expect them to put forth a strong performance in front of the home crowd. However, they've demonstrated the ability to hold their own against relatively tough competition, as evidenced by their 2021 Gold Cup run.

Ecuador is projected to be the third-best team in Group A, so if there's any fixture where Qatar can find a way to get a result, it's this one. Both teams should generate enough scoring chances to find a goal here.

Qatar vs Ecuador Best Bets

We're rolling with the angle that Qatar will play well in a potential high-scoring match.

➕ Both Teams to Score: Yes (-111) at BetMGM Sportsbook

WAGER: 1 unit

We're getting an excellent price at -111 odds with Both Teams to Score. Each side prefers to push for goals. We'll project that to continue in the opening match at the 2022 World Cup.

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➕ Qatar: Draw No Bet (+135) at BetMGM Sportsbook

WAGER: 1 unit

I like the idea of getting the Draw No Bet on the host nation at plus money here. We've seen home teams make improbable runs at previous World Cups – just look at South Korea back in Korea/Japan 2002. While Ecuador is the more proven side, Qatar could give them trouble here.

• Place this Draw No Bet wager at BetMGM.