USA vs. Wales Odds, Props, Predictions: Should Bettors Anticipate Conservative Match?

Monday is the first full day of Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup play, and all of Group B is in action. Here, we discuss USA vs. Wales odds, props, and predictions as each club kicks off the tournament in a pivotal opening match. The USA are -105 to advance to the knockout stage, while Wales are +110, so Monday’s result carries significant weight.

Best Wales vs. USA Betting Odds & Lines: Moneyline & Total

Here are odds from various sports betting apps on the USMNT’s opening World Cup match. Remember, a bet on either side is a loss in the event of a tie. You may also bet on the draw on the three-way line.

Wales vs. USA Odds: Moneyline

Wales vs. USA moneyline odds paint the Red, White, & Blue as short favorites across top sportsbooks. A draw is priced as a reasonable possibility as well (+195, FanDuel). England is the favorite to win the group, leaving the USA and Wales to battle for the No. 2 spot. It won’t be a surprise to see each side play a cagey, conservative style, accept the point from a draw, and take aim at the final two matches.

Wales vs. USA Odds: Total

Neither the USA nor Wales enters the tournament as one of the most prolific attacking teams, so bettors should think conservatively in regard to Wales vs. USA totals. Sportsbooks offer bettors the opportunity to wager on exact scores in addition to the total number of goals scored.

Find a sportsbook: Best World Cup sports betting promos and bonuses at BetRivers

Wales vs. USA: World Cup History

Monday’s match is the first chapter of Wales vs. USA World Cup history. It is the first time they have met on the World Cup stage, but their third matchup overall.

The USA won an international friendly 2-0 in 2003, a year after they advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Cup hosted by South Korea and Japan. Wales, meanwhile, didn’t qualify for the tournament, suggesting the gap between the two countries was larger than it is in 2022.

Their second meeting was a 0-0 draw in 2020, another international friendly that featured a lot of young players on each side, some of whom will be on the pitch Monday.

It can be tricky to draw Wales vs. USA betting insight from a pair of international friendlies, including one nearly two decades ago, but we’ll take whatever information that’s available. At worst, we know the two teams have a modicum of familiarity with one another.

Go deeper: USA’s odds across several World Cup betting markets

Wales Injuries, Roster, & Betting News

Wales World Cup Betting Trends

Wales is making its second trip to the World Cup, so there’s not a lot of history to draw upon with this particular group or the program in general. It probably plays a part in why Wales is the underdog heading into this match. Experience matters, not only on the pitch, but behind the scenes as well.

Wales is not playing well at the moment. Their last match was Sept. 25 against Poland, a 1-0 loss. They’re winless in their last five matches overall, but they have scored at least one goal in 12 of their last 13 matches dating back to 2021.

Wales World Cup Injuries

• Joe Allen (midfield): Allen (hamstring) hasn’t played with Swansea since Sept. 17, but he’s expected to see the pitch in Qatar.
• Rhys Norrington-Davies (defense): Norrington-Davies, a full-back, suffered an injury with Sheffield United on Oct. 19 that ultimately knocked him out of World Cup selection.

Wales Players to Watch

• Gareth Bale (forward): Bale leads Wales in shots (25), goals (five), and assists (four) in 2022. He serves as the primary attacking threat. Even as Bale’s European club career waned to a close, he continued to deliver big performances on the national stage. He’s the player the USA can’t afford to let beat them.
• Daniel James (forward): James is a dangerous player thanks to his pace. He’s not a prolific goal-scorer, but he’s a player who can be part of a scoring sequence if Wales launches a counter-attack.

USA Injuries, Roster, & Betting News

USA World Cup Betting Trends

Americans are betting bullishly on the home team as a long-shot to win the World Cup. That’s more about adding a little skin to the game than it is a realistic outcome, particularly considering the USA’s recent form.

They’re 2-2-1 over their last five, but it hasn’t been pretty. They scored eight goals in their two wins — vs. Panama (home), vs. Morocco (neutral) — but mustered zero in the other three. The goal drought underscores one of the biggest challenges the USA faces as they enter the tournament without an in-form attacking presence, particularly one who’s centrally located.

The USA is favored nonetheless, thanks largely to the perceived talent advantage throughout their roster.

USA World Cup Injuries

• Miles Robinson (defender): Robinson (Achilles) was slated to pair with Walker Zimmerman in central defense, but was injured in May and won’t suit up for the World Cup.
• Weston McKennie (midfield): McKennie hasn’t played since being forced off after 45 minutes on Oct. 29 with Juventus. He still made the squad, but it’s worth keeping an eye on his fitness and how manager Gregg Berhalter uses him early in the tournament. He’s a vital piece in the USA’s setup.

USA Player(s) to Watch

• Christian Pulisic (forward): “Captain America” has a lot on his shoulders, both as the face of a USA, but to prove he’s better than the bit player he’s deployed as with his Premier League club, Chelsea.
• Gio Reyna (midfield/forward): Reyna, 20, is one of the most exciting players in the squad. He isn’t playing full matches with Borussia Dortmund as he builds after a 2021-22 season of injury. He’s the type of player who can deliver or set up a critical goal as a substitute.

More on Qatar: Mexico’s World Cup odds | World Cup Predictions – who will win it all? | Group odds and predictions

Wales vs. USA Prediction: Draw, +200 (DraftKings)

Our Wales vs. USA betting prediction is a draw. It’s not uncommon for teams to play not to lose in the early stages of a tournament. The last thing a side wants to do is give away a cheap, early goal that puts them behind the eight ball for the rest of the group stage.

We also mentioned that England is the heavy favorite to win Group B, leaving the USA and Wales (not to mention Iran) to gun for that No. 2 spot. While each team will likely have chances to put the ball in the back of the net, both managers may accept the point from a draw as a worthwhile result to kick off the tournament.

Wales vs. USA Game Props

Fans can make Wales vs. USA prop bets or place wagers on Wales vs. USA player props. There are plenty of options to consider across the industry’s top sportsbooks. Here are a few worth looking into.

Gareth Bale Anytime Goalscorer (+220, Fanduel)

Bale is priced with the shortest odds to score a goal in Monday’s match. He still has juice at 33, and he’s the primary player the USA will key on defensively.

Jesus Ferreira Anytime Goalscorer (+230, FanDuel)

It’s Ferreira, not Pulisic, priced as the most likely USA player to score. He scored 18 goals during the 2022 MLS season, so there’s an argument he’s in good form, but he last played Oct. 23.

Christian Pulisic Anytime Goalscorer (+400, Caesars)

Pulisic leads the USA with five goals across 12 international matches in 2022. He’s still the player the team will look to for dynamism and playmaking in the final third, so his relatively long odds are worth investigating. Pulisic will likely handle spot kick duties as well.