
By Carl Anka, Michael Bailey, Alexander Abnos, Jeff Rueter, Raphael Honigstein, and Ajay Rose
In an alternate reality, FIFA has decided to take unprecedented action to ensure the 2022 World Cup, the last before the tournament expands from 32 to 48 teams, features as many of the game’s stars as possible. To achieve this, they award each participating nation a 27th squad place that can only be filled in an American-style draft of active players who either did not qualify for this World Cup or did not get selected by a team that did qualify. For the duration of the tournament, national affiliations of the players drafted are temporarily irrelevant. The draft order is the reverse of the current FIFA world rankings.
Advertisement
Carl Anka is behind picks 1-5, Michael Bailey makes picks 6-10, Alexander Abnos has picks 11-15, Jeff Rueter handles 16-21, Raphael Honigstein selects 22-26, and Ajay Rose finishes it off with picks 27-32.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup draft is now underway…
1. Ghana (World ranking: 61) — Erling Haaland, forward
Ghana are likely to start Jordan Ayew in their front three for their opening group stage game. The Crystal Palace forward is hard working but hasn’t scored for his national team for over a calendar year. The Black Stars need goals, and Haaland is the best goal-scorer on the planet not already going to the tournament.
2. Saudi Arabia (51) — Victor Osimhen, forward
Managed by two-time AFCON winning coach Herve Renard, Saudi Arabia have taken to recent games in an attacking 4-3-3 that has plenty of pace on the wings, but could do with a better striker up front. In comes Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian striker is blessed with pace, isn’t afraid to play hero ball, and isn’t afraid to use his very stretchy, explosive frame on the line to get a goal for his club side, Napoli.
3. Qatar (50) — Marco Verratti, midfielder
Qatar’s 3-5-2 / 5-3-2 often calls upon patient build-up play to draw opponents out of position, before Felix Sanchez’s side attempts to quickly pass through the lines. Midfield metronome Verratti would fit right into such a side, albeit he is someone constantly on the verge of being booked. Given that he plies his trade for PSG, consider this a “mates rates” draft pick.
4. Ecuador (44) — Thiago Alcantara, midfielder
At their best, Ecuador defend compactly before attacking on the transition. Gustavo Alfaro’s side rarely control games as they want to play from back-to-front as soon as possible. Thiago can help with both, assisting Ecuador in holding onto the ball during nervier moments and also making line-breaking passed when need. He’ll slot in well next to the likes of Moses Caiedo and Alan Franco in a 4-3-3. There’s no guarantee he’ll stay fit throughout the tournament, but on his day he is one of the best midfielders in the world.
Advertisement
5. Cameroon (43) — Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, winger
Rigobert Song’s side are a work in process, caught somewhere between a 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 (their most likely shape in the tournament). Eric Choupo-Moting is enjoying a purple patch with Bayern Munich at the moment, but Cameroon’s attack could do with some extra pizzaz. That’s why they are drafting Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, one of the most exciting wingers in the world and someone who already has a good playing relationship with Cameroon midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa. Georgia are ranked 78 in the world, but the idea of the World Cup possibly never seeing “Kvaradona” is a little sad. He comes in here.
6. Canada (41) — Sandro Tonali, midfielder
Canada have some exciting talent and will look to play a game of transitions as much as possible, but to make that a success they could do with a calm, quality defensive midfielder to tie things together. Milan and Italy’s promising, and possible Pirlo successor, Tonali would be a lovely addition (assuming he is fit!).
7. Australia (38) — Mohamed Salah, forward
Not much is expected of Australia but there is talent in their goalkeeping, midfield and attacking departments providing they find rhythm quickly. What they really need though, is some top-class spark. Someone to take matters into their own hands and show individual brilliance, as they have done at Liverpool and with Egypt. Cue Mo!
8. Costa Rica (31) — Emiliano Buendia, forward
Costa Rica are going to sit and wait. They have an excellent defensive record and are comfortable in their low block. They also have pace to burn when trying to break out, but they have been short of making enough good chances from those positions. Therefore, Aston Villa’s left-out Argentine will be ideal for breaking lines with his excellent vision and weight of pass, or driving forward himself before releasing those who are slightly quicker ahead of him. He knows how to create a good goalscoring opportunity.
9. Tunisia (30) — Federico Chiesa, forward
Tunisia have a difficult group but could be a surprise given how solid they appear across their defensive line and in midfield. But they have struggled to score and create goals from open play. Juventus’ Italian star Federico Chiesa is a strong carrier of the ball, and can create and finish chances for them.
Advertisement
10. South Korea (28) — Martin Odegaard, midfielder
Son Heung-min, fitness-willing, will provide the scoring threat, and South Korea look to have a relatively strong centre-back pairing in Kim Min-jae and Kim Young-gwon. But a calming presence in midfield that can dictate play as well as create openings would surely improve their chances of progressing from a difficult Group H. Odegaard has all of that, as well as good form with Arsenal and a free month from Norway.
11. Poland (26) — Sergio Ramos, defender
This will more than likely be Robert Lewandowski’s last chance to make a run at a major international tournament, but this Poland squad are light on a key ingredient of many such runs: a center back who is both experienced and in good form. What better way to remedy that than adding Ramos, who has three major international trophies to his name, has been playing well and consistently with PSG, and has more experience than just about anybody alive in trying to stop group-stage foe Lionel Messi?
12. Japan (24) — Jan Oblak, goalkeeper
Japan doesn’t have a star who can carry the team on his own in difficult situations, but the squad has shown to have a unity of purpose strong enough to overcome that. I’m hesitant to upset those vibes much by inserting a focal point into a team that has thrived without one, so instead I’ll upgrade at the position that analysis has shown to be the single most impactful one on the pitch: goalkeeper. And Oblak is one of the best in the world.
13. Morocco (22) — Merih Demiral, defender
Morocco’s likely front three (Hakim Ziyech, Youssef En-Nesyri and Sofiane Boufal) don’t always fire, but I’m still comfortable with that group and the midfield behind them. A good, rangy center back has a way of giving confidence to the players in front of them, and Demiral’s aggression should be a welcome addition to this group. Aside from that, his aerial ability could be key when you have the likes of Ziyech and Co. whipping in service from set pieces.
14. Serbia (21) — Franck Kessié, midfielder
I actually really like Serbia’s squad overall — there isn’t a position where that I feel needs a major upgrade. They have a treasure trove of attacking talent and solid players in roles that make sense in defense. I’m adding Kessié to the mix because he does a little of everything; the perfect complementary player to link both lines.
15. Iran (20) — Jorginho, midfielder
Carlos Queiroz’s Iran love to sit back, absorb pressure, and attack on the counter through an underrated attacking trio (Sardar Azmoun, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, and Mehdi Taremi). Putting Jorginho’s rangy passing in the mix would give Team Melli another outlet to hit those three. Even in more conservative scenarios, his ability to dictate play will help Iran be more efficient when they have the ball, which doesn’t figure to be especially often in a group with two teams (England and the U.S.) which prefer to possess.
16. Wales (19) — Nicolò Barella, midfielder
Wales have a few areas that could use an upgrade, but central midfield stands out above the rest. Joe Allen is projected to start despite playing under 500 minutes for Swansea City this season, while a trio of selections currently play further down the EFL pyramid in Leagues One and Two. You could essentially turn this entire draft into an Italy dispersal exercise, but the Inter Milan man has put himself on Real Madrid’s wishlist by being one of the very best passers in the world. For a team that loves to send their forwards on sprints behind the back line, he’s a luxury they can’t afford to overlook.
Advertisement
17. Senegal (18) — Luis Diaz, winger
The timing of this exercise couldn’t be more prescient, as Sadio Mané’s failure to recover in time for the World Cup has sent Senegal into a crisis. Have no fear: Luis Diaz has proven he can play a similar role to Mané at Liverpool, and has no issue spelling the Bayern winger yet again. The parallels run further, as Senegal had only hoped to get its talisman back for the final group-stage match and Diaz is expected to return for Liverpool’s friendlies during the World Cup break. It’s a risky pick, but there’s nobody in the world who’s done better to replace Mané like-for-like.
18. USA (16) — Roberto Firmino, striker
It’s baffling to me that arguably the biggest snub is still on the board here. For a U.S. side starved at striker, Firmino is a prolific finisher who isn’t shy joining a press. He’s a dream fit to drop into the build-up and give wingers like Christian Pulisic, Brenden Aaronson, Tim Weah, and Giovanni Reyna someone off of which they can operate. Firmino makes this attack downright terrifying.
19. Switzerland (15) — Tammy Abraham, striker
While there’s plenty of quality on the roster, Switzerland have averaged a goal a game since 2022 began. That won’t cut it if they want to make a deep run, and Abraham leading the line would help put Breel Embolo and Xherdan Shaqiri into more logical roles.
20. Uruguay (14) — Fikayo Tomori, defender
It feels odd to throw a traditionally staunch defense yet another option, but the reality is that the established hierarchy of Diego Godín, José María Giménez and Sebastian Coates are awfully slow to keep up with the world’s quickest attacks. Tomori brings fleet feet and sharp positioning into the mix, and his seasoning with AC Milan should add the steel necessary to hang with La Celeste.
21. Mexico (13) — Wissam Ben Yedder, forward
I really, really wanted to go with Javier Hernández here. For a nation that has exited in the round of 16 in seven consecutive World Cups, veteran savvy and goals are going to be essential to break into the quarterfinal. Rather than telling a team to pick their aging record goalscorer, I’ll take another, more versatile option. Ben Yedder is in the form of his life at age 32, having scored 69 goals in 113 games since joining AS Monaco in 2019. A technical player who can thank futsal for a lot of his tricks, he’d add hunger and flair to El Tri.
22. Croatia (12) — Ciro Immobile, forward
Croatia need a top-class centre-forward. Andrej Kramaric is a decent target man and lovely passer of the ball but a real goal-scorer would give this team another dimension. Ciro Immobile might not be the best fit for a side that likes to control the ball in slow build-ups but the Lazio striker would certainly get on the end of many crosses.
23. Germany (11) — Giovanni Di Lorenzo, full-back
Germany need full-backs. Andy Robertson would have been a fantastic addition but then there’s even more of a problem on the right side of defence. Di Lorenzo is the perfect addition in that respect. Excellent going forward, as well as defensively, he’d be the best right-back since Philipp Lahm in a Germany shirt. Please Giovanni, give the German FA a call by Wednesday.
Advertisement
24. Denmark (10) — Moussa Diaby, midfielder
Denmark are one of the best collective units at the 2022 World Cup. No real superstars but solid quality throughout, great team spirit and superb tactical organisation. What they haven’t got, though, is real pace and trickery on the break. That’s where Bayer 04 Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby comes in. It’s frankly ridiculous that a guy running at 36km/h isn’t in the France squad, but Kasper Hjulmand would happily take him to do a job against his countrymen.
25. Portugal (9) — David Alaba, defender
The Euro 2016 champions are Denmark’s opposites, in many ways. There’s star power in almost every position but very little cohesion. A top class defensive midfielder would make a difference, but more importantly, they could do with the organisation, positivity and quality that David Alaba brings alongside Rúben Dias.
26. Netherlands (8) — Andy Robertson, full-back
Louis van Gaal favours a wing-back system with either the young and raw Tyrell Malacia of Manchester United or the more senior and less dynamic Daley Blind of Ajax on the left side. The position is Oranje’s obvious weak spot. Just imagine “Robbo” bombing up and down that flank… The Scotsman would relish the freedom to attack even more as a wing-back.
27. Spain (7) — Pierre-Emerick Aubemayang, striker
If Alexander Isak was fit, the Sweden striker would’ve been the pick here, but he’s set to be sidelined with a thigh injury for the duration of the World Cup. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was also in contention, but Pierre-Emerick Aubemeyang gets the call-up instead. The Chelsea striker has been inconsistent since arriving at Stamford Bridge and, at times, appears to have lost the decisiveness in front of goal that made him so deadly a few years back, but he should still have enough left in the tank to challenge for a starting spot under Luis Enrique.
28. England (5) — Oleksandr Zinchenko, full-back
Somehow we’d got through 26 picks before someone picked Andy Robertson, the player who would’ve been my first-choice addition to England’s team. Alaba was another in consideration, but with those two already off the board, Oleksandr Zinchenko is next in line. England only have one recognised left-back in their squad in Luke Shaw. Zinchenko, who hasn’t featured much since early October but is said to be nearing full fitness, would provide another reliable option for Gareth Southgate. He’s comfortable operating in tight spaces and can play in a few different positions, depending on which formation England choose to go with.
29. France (4) — Jadon Sancho, winger
We’re 29 picks in and Sancho is yet to be selected. Until now. France’s attackers need no introduction, but they were equally as potent at Euro 2020, and were eliminated in the quarter-finals. A spark may be needed from the bench, and Sancho can provide that. His fearless dribbling and composure in the box would be a valuable asset for any side at this year’s World Cup.
30. Argentina (3) — Riyad Mahrez, winger
Mahrez has only made one appearance at a World Cup, back in 2014. At 31, he may have missed the opportunity to play in another. But then this draft came along and now he’s been selected as Argentina’s 27th player. Whether he starts or not is up for debate, but at the very least, he should be considered as a super-sub and brings with him a wealth of title-winning experience, having won four Premier League titles.
Advertisement
31. Belgium (2) — Kieran Tierney, full-back
With plenty of stamina and a strong work ethic, Tierney may even be a starter for Roberto Martinez’s side if he was picked to go to Qatar. Eleven of the 26 players Belgium selected are over 30. At some point, Martinez may have to rotate, and Tierney offers a safe pair of hands in the event that he needs to give someone rest or replace an injured player.
32. Brazil (1) — Endrick, striker
At this point in the draft, there are not many players left that could realistically make a meaningful impact in one of the World Cup’s most talented squads. In the same way a 17-year-old Theo Walcott was chosen to go to the 2006 World Cup in order to prepare for him for future tournaments, Endrick could do that for Brazil. Still just 16 years old, there would be no expectation for him to contribute, but that’s fine. At the 2026 World Cup, he may be more comfortable shining on the biggest stage if it wasn’t his first rodeo.
(Photo: James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
ncG1vNJzZmismJqutbTLnquim16YvK57knJobGtobXxzfJFrZmppX2aGcMPOq6OdZZOqvW6w0ZqdrWWYlq6trc2dZKirmaK1prqO