Fantasy football has become increasingly popular in recent years as fans look to create the best teams containing star players from specific leagues.
These fantasy competitions give every game an extra edge as fans sweat on outcomes and results they otherwise wouldn't be too invested in.
With another FIFA World Cup upon us, everyone's fantasy attention will now turn to the international arena.
The Sporting News brings you all the details about World Cup fantasy in 2022.
MORE: Every 2022 World Cup squad | Top stars in Qatar
World Cup free fantasy game 2022
Football governing body FIFA have developed their own fantasy game for the 2022 World Cup.
The game can be accessed for free by fans from around the world with only a FIFA+ account required to save your team and enter leaderboards.
Despite being completely free to play, FIFA are offering users the chance to win two tickets to the World Cup final if they submit a team before the first match of the tournament.
Once you have created your team, you also have the option to create a free league for you and your friends to compete against one another.
Out of this world 🚀 👨🚀 #FIFAWorldCup | #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/FuwiXHCGyG
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 17, 2022
How to play FIFA World Cup Fantasy
The FIFA World Cup Fantasy website can be found here and this is where you can assemble your team.
This game is similar to the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) model with users given $100 million to spend on signing 15 players.
No more than that amount can be spent, with the following positions needing to be filled: two goalkeepers, five defenders, five midfielders and three forwards.
Once done, you then select your starting 11 with only these players eligible to earn you points on a matchday. You also select a captain whose points will be doubled.
Points are awarded for a range of outcomes including goals, assists and cleansheets with players given extra points for certain feats based on their position. Points can also be deducted for actions like red cards and own goals.
Like FPL, World Cup Fantasy also offers three boosters which can be used once each during the tournament:
- Wildcard: This can be used to make unlimited transfers in a single round (usual limit is two transfer during group stages).
- Power Captain: Rather than your captain earning double points, this booster will ensure your highest-scoring player in a round has their points doubled.
- 12th Man: This booster allows you to pick a player on your bench whose points will also be counted towards your team score.
Fantasy Football World Cup tips
1. Use your wildcard in the group stages
While in FPL it pays to sit on your wildcard, it's best to use it early on in World Cup Fantasy. That's because you'll be granted unlimited transfers once the round of 16 starts so there's no real point hanging on to it. If your team fails to fire after the first round of group matches, the wildcard could really help you turn things around before it's too late.
2. Sign the hidden gems
When it comes to fantasy, most fans will use the same big names like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, so if you can find a player flying under the radar but will still earn points they can be game-changers.
3. Don't waste all your money on one player
The best players in fantasy football tend to cost so much they are rarely worth the financial sacrifice. While they'll likely pull in plenty of points, your money could be made to work harder when spread more widely.
Best goalkeepers for World Cup Fantasy
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Alisson | Brazil | Cost: $6m
The Liverpool goalkeeper is guaranteed to start for a Brazil side that hasn't leaked many goals leading up to the 2022 World Cup. They also have a relatively kind group containing Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon where Alisson should keep a cleansheet or two.
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Thibaut Courtois | Belgium | Cost: $6m
Courtois has been in fine form for Real Madrid this season and like Brazil, his Belgium team should do well in the group stages against the likes of Canada, Croatia and Morocco. It's hard to see him conceding too many.
Best defenders for World Cup Fantasy
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Joao Cancelo | Portugal | Cost: $6m
FPL fans will know how valuable this man has been this season at club level and it's hard to see him not proving profitable for Portugal on the world stage.
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Nicolas Otamendi | Argentina | Cost: $5m
Argentina have been unstoppable heading into Qatar and very rarely leaking goals. Otamendi may be 34 but he's still featuring regularly for a team many expect could win this World Cup. At just $5m, he's well worth signing.
Best midfielders for World Cup Fantasy
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Kevin De Bruyne | Belgium | Cost: $11m
The most expensive midfielder by $1.5m and there's a very good reason why. De Bruyne has been on fire for Manchester City this season and he will be key if Belgium are to break their World Cup hoodoo. Equally capable of scoring or assisting, he is capable of backing up his big price tag.
🇧🇪 @KevinDeBruyne wasted no time getting to the assists on the #FIFAWorldCup stage. 🅰️
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 6, 2022
How many will he dish out in Qatar? pic.twitter.com/yigPd3SMvU
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Joshua Kimmich | Germany | Cost: $7m
A bargain buy on offer here with Kimmich likely to earn plenty of points if allowed to work his magic from set-pieces.
Best forwards for World Cup Fantasy
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Kylian Mbappe | France | Cost: $11.5m
The Frenchman is the most expensive player in World Cup Fantasy for 2022. He's already proven he can score on the biggest stages and will likely find the back of the net more than once in group stage play with games against Australia, Tunisia and Denmark.
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Harry Kane | England | Cost: $11m
The 2018 Golden Boot winner, Kane has a strong chance of defending that honour in Qatar - especially if England were to finally bring it home. The 29-year-old has scored 12 Premier League goals from just 15 matches this season so form will be no issue for him.
