With Qatar and Ecuador kicking off the World Cup on Day 1, England and Iran will be the second match on the second day of action. Both Group B teams will look to start their respective World Cup campaigns on the right foot with a win.
Iran comes into the clash as the underdog, having not made it past the group stage in their country's history. England looks to make a statement right away after finishing fourth in 2018.
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England were one of 13 teams to qualify out of Europe, as they were one of 10 group winners. However, they have struggled as of late internationally, losing to Italy in the 2020 Euro Finals and being relegated to League B of the Nations League.
Iran were one of the first teams to qualify out of Asia, making 2022 their third consecutive World Cup appearance.
Let’s take a look at some best bets for England and Iran in this World Cup Group B game.
England vs Iran Odds
- 3-way handicap: England (-275) | Draw (+400) | Iran (+800)
- Draw No Bet: England (-1100) | Iran (+575)
- Over/Under Goals: Over 2.5 (-115) | Under 2.5 (-125)
England vs Iran odds are current as of Wednesday, Sept. 21, from BetMGM Sportsbook, unless otherwise noted.
It shouldn't be a shock to anyone that England enters the match as the favorite, given their success and dominant play over the years. England’s talent is one reason why this match is projected to hit the Over.
The lines should continue to shift in England’s favor as we approach the World Cup, so grabbing them at this price would be ideal.
England vs Iran Preview
Heading into this match, England and Iran will be playing each other for the first time, so there should be a feeling-out process to start.
However, England knows what it takes to make a deep run in international tournaments, while Iran has yet to make it past the World Cup group stage.
Manager Gareth Southgate will have England running a 4-3-3 formation as they'll look to come out of the gates attacking. England looked sharp in qualifying, scoring the most goals (39) and conceding the fewest (three), while Harry Kane led all scorers with 12 goals.
Iran is led by manager Carlos Queiroz, who previously managed the team from 2011-19. Having led Iran during the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, Queiroz hopes to have a different outcome this year. Iran runs a 4-5-1 formation, with Sardar Azmoun at the striker position.
England vs Iran Betting Tips
Even though this is the first meeting between these two teams, Iran should know what they're in store for against England. They'll need to play on their heels — England boasts a strong attack led by Kane.
Though Iran scored the second-most goals in qualifying, the skill level of England's roster is far superior to that of their own. That's not to say Iran can't sneak out a victory, but they'll need to focus on the counterattack to get the job done.
Both sides have talent and players that can score, so this will be a high-scoring match. However, a vast majority of the scoring will likely come from one side.
England vs Iran Prediction
England 3-1 Iran
Iran has a slight location advantage, having previously played in the Qatar heat. However, England is the much stronger team and currently have the third-shortest odds to win the World Cup, so this should be a good opportunity for them to walk away with three points.
It won't be an easy win for England, though, as Iran has some stars that will cause headaches in Sardar Azmoun, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Mehdi Taremi, and Saman Ghoddos.
However, the firepower of England, which includes Kane, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Jude Bellingham, and Jadon Sancho will be too much for Iran to contain.
England vs Iran Best Bets
➕ Over 2.5 Goals (-115) at BetMGM Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 unit
Iran has kept things close in recent international matches, but they have yet to face a team of England’s caliber. England can hit the Over on their own, but Iran will sneak one in to help hit the mark.
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➕ Both Teams to Score: Yes (+135) at BetMGM Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 unit
Getting both teams to score at plus odds seems like an offer too good to turn down.
England will come out strong to start this match, and after essentially securing the victory, they'll loosen up, allowing Iran to score on the counterattack and cash this bet.
- Place this scoring prop at BetMGM.
