Portugal vs. Ghana Predictions, Odds & Picks: World Cup 2022

Portugal kicks off its FIFA World Cup campaign against Ghana on Thursday, November 24.

This should be a simple opening fixture for Portugal, who face the lowest-ranked team in the competition. But could the drama surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo and a negative coach make this a trickier match than it should be?

Portugal vs. Ghana Prediction, World Cup:

The winning team model predicts Portugal will win this Group H game with 77% confidence. The model also predicts a 12% chance of a tie/draw.

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Portugal vs. Ghana Odds, Outrights, Over/Under

• Match Result: Portugal (-250) | Draw (+350) | Ghana (+775)
• Draw No Bet: Portugal (-1000) | Ghana (+525)
• Over/Under Goals: Over 2.5 (-115) | Under 2.5 (-125)

Portugal vs. Ghana Match Info

2022 World Cup — Group Stage (H)

Date: Thursday, November 24

Time: 11:00 AM ET 

Venue: Ras Abu Aboud Stadium

Coverage: FOX, Telemundo

Portugal vs. Ghana Analysis

With players like Bruno Fernandes, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Leao, and Bernardo Silva in the team, you’d expect a particularly creative Portugal to appear at the World Cup. That’s not the case, however, and much to the fans’ dismay, manager Fernando Santos shackles this team with a defensive setup.

This is still one of the strongest Portuguese teams I’ve seen in many years, and it’s stacked with talented players in almost every position. Unfortunately, Santos is just too conservative. He doesn’t get the best out of a generation of quick and creative players that could play mesmerizing soccer.

Still, you can’t deny that this team, on paper, is one of the best at the World Cup. They are overwhelming favorites to beat Ghana, who is ranked at a lowly 61 in the world, but the Black Stars are renowned for being pesky opponents on soccer’s grandest stage.

Ghana has advanced from the Group Stage twice in the World Cup and made it to the quarterfinals in 2010.

Otto Addo is at the helm, and he’s got two new arrivals that I think can make a huge difference to The Black Stars’ fortunes. Tariq Lamptey (Brighton) and Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao) changed allegiance from England and Spain, respectively, to represent Ghana.

Combined with an in-form Thomas Partey (Arsenal) and the lethal Mohammed Kudus (Ajax), you begin to see how Ghana is shaping up to be a team that might just over-deliver on what is expected of them.

My biggest concern for Ghana is discipline and mental brittleness. Winger Andre Ayew is particularly petulant, and against a Portugal team that has a penchant for theatrics at times, this match could get particularly unruly. So expect a few cards.

There’s already been a couple of surprise results, with Saudi Arabia beating Argentina the most notable, and I can’t help but feel that Ghana is going to surprise in this Group. 

The chances are that Portugal will win this game, as they are the vastly more experienced and talented squad. But I’m going against the odds with a shock 1-1 tie between the two.

Portugal vs. Ghana Game Result Odds

• Match Result: Draw (+350)
• Draw No Bet: Portugal (-1000)
• Over/Under Goals: Under 2.5 (-125)
• Both Teams to Score and Match to End in a Tie: (+550)