2024 Soccer Futures & Preview
Even-Numbered Years Are Best
Busy 2024 in the Soccer World
Along with the top domestic leagues around the world, there are plenty of major international soccer tournaments in 2024. The AFC Asian Cup and Africa Cup of Nations kick off a busy schedule, which also includes the European Championships and Copa America. Of course, we’re all waiting to see who will win the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League as well. As we approach a new year filled with matches, we’ll cover the 2024 Soccer Futures and preview some significant events.
Major International Tournaments
In 2024, soccer fans and bettors will have plenty to get excited about. The AFC Asian Cup kicks off in Qatar in mid January and Japan enter as the soccer betting favorites. Simultaneously, African teams will contest the Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast. Players from some of Europe’s top leagues will miss their club matches to participate in the international competition.
Mo Salah will miss some Liverpool matches due to AFCON, and Tottenham’s Son Heung-min will play for South Korea at the AFC Asian Cup. Napoli’s Victor Osimhen is another big name who figures to play for Nigeria at AFCON. Senegal, who are the defending champions, are the current favorites. Sadio Mane and Senegal show +600 2024 Soccer Futures odds to defend their title.
In June, Germany will host the 2024 European Championships. The Euros only occur once every four years, and it’s one of the most important tournaments. It could be Cristiano Ronaldo’s last rodeo for Portugal, and there are plenty of strong contenders. France and England look to be the most likely winners as of now.
Kylian Mbappe, Olivier Giroud, Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann make for a formidable French frontline. Meanwhile, few teams can boast a midfield as strong as England’s Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice. England and France sit at +350 odds to win the tournament, while hosts Germany come in at +600.
Last but not least, June also features the Copa America. Usually reserved for South American teams, CONCACAF’s USA, Mexico, Panama and Jamaica will also take part in 2024. The USA is hosting the tournament, which Argentina are +175 favorites in. Lionel Messi won his first international trophy at the 2021 Copa America when Angel di Maria’s goal sunk Brazil in the final.
Premier League Up for Grabs
As of the morning of December 28th, only five points separate Premier League leaders Liverpool from fourth-placed Manchester City. City have won the Premier League three times in a row, but they have stiff competition this year. Liverpool are looking strong and Salah has been in excellent form. Meanwhile, Arsenal have kept up their strong play from last season, and the addition of Declan Rice has improved their squad.
The biggest surprise in the league so far is Aston Villa. Villa have amassed 39 points through 19 matches and will enter 2024 in at least third place if they can take down Burnley on Saturday. Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey have been key attacking pieces for Unai Emery’s side. Defending champions City haven’t been at their best this season, but their form should pick up when Kevin de Bruyne is again healthy. Currently, City are +150 favorites to win the Premier League, while Arsenal and Liverpool come in at +250 and +275 odds, respectively. Villa display +2800 odds.
Bayer Leverkusen Gunning for First Title
Bayer Leverkusen have been Bundesliga runners-up on five occasions. However, they’ve never once won the league and Bundesliga previews didn’t give them much of a shot to change that in 2023-24. Leverkusen’s preseason Bundesliga outright odds were +5000 in Xabi Alonso’s first full season as coach. Through 16 games, Bayer Leverkusen have been the Bundesliga’s best team, with a 13-3-0 record.
New additions, like Victor Boniface, Granit Xhaka, Alex Grimaldo, and Jonas Hofmann, have already played big roles in the team. Attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz and right wing back Jeremie Frimpong have also been two of the league’s most important players thus far. Bayer have gone 25 games unbeaten, in all competitions, to start the season and still show just +200 odds to win their first title.
Bayern Munich, 11-time defending champions, are still the favorites even though they’re currently four points behind Leverkusen. Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern have significantly benefited from the addition of Harry Kane, who leads the league with 20 goals. Bayern sit at -300 odds to win a record 12th straight title.
Can Girona Pull off the Unthinkable?
La Liga is another league with a surprise title contender. This is only Girona’s fourth top-flight season in their history, and they’ve never previously finished above 10th place in La Liga. Still, they’ve been an electric team to watch and are level on points with leaders Real Madrid through 18 matches. Girona have lost just once this season, and the City Group-owned club has sustained a breakneck pace through nearly half of the season. Artem Dovbyk leads the Catalan club, with 11 goals to this point, but it’s been a team effort.
Left back Miguel Gutierrez has been a standout, along with Savio, Yangel Herrera, Daley Blind, Aleix Garcia and Viktor Tsyhankov. It’d be an incredible feat if Girona can win the title, as no team not named Real Madrid, Barcelona or Atletico Madrid has won it for 20 years. Currently, the oddsmakers list Girona at +500 odds to win La Liga.
Real Madrid are the favorites, at -400, and it’s not difficult to see why. They have an all-world midfield with the likes of Luka Modric, Jude Bellingham, Toni Kroos, Fede Valverde, and Aurelien Tchouameni. Bellingham was Madrid’s big-money signing of the Summer and the 20-year old Englishman has delivered so far. Bellingham leads the La Liga stats with 13 goals from midfield.
Inter Setting Pace in Serie A
Inter Milan exceeded expectations last season to reach the Champions League final. The Nerazzurri have picked up where they left off and have been dominant thus far in Serie A. Simone Inzaghi’s side has conceded just seven goals through 17 matches, and their players are dominating the Serie A stats.
Striker Lautaro Martinez leads the league, with 15 goals, Marcus Thuram is joint-leader in assists, with six and Yann Sommer has kept a league-high 12 shutouts. Inter’s wingbacks, Federico Dimarco and Denzel Dumfries, are consistent nightmares for opposing defenses. Heading into Matchday 18, Inter lead second-placed Juventus by four points.
The Nerazzurri are -450 favorites to win the league, and Jose Mourinho famously said earlier this season that Inter should win the Scudetto with a 20-point gap. Juventus look to be their only potential challengers this season as the Bianconeri are priced at +380 2024 Soccer Futures odds.
Mbappe and PSG on Course for Another Title
Heading into Ligue 1’s Winter Break, Kylian Mbappe and PSG hold a five-point lead over second-placed Nice. PSG are unbeaten in their last 12 league games and are rounding into form under Luis Enrique. The Parisians also managed to qualify for the Champions League round of 16 from the Group of Death.
Mbappe has scored 18 goals in just 16 matches and 17-year old midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery has become a breakout star this campaign. PSG are massive -2800 favorites to win Ligue 1 for a third straight campaign, and second-placed Nice are priced at just +1600.
Champions League Update
The Champions League round of 16 matchups are all set and are as follows:
| Champions League Round of 16 |
|---|
| FC Copenhagen vs Manchester City |
| RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid |
| PSG vs Real Sociedad |
| Lazio vs Bayern Munich |
| PSV vs Borussia Dortmund |
| Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid |
| Porto vs Arsenal |
| Napoli vs Barcelona |
The UCL resumes in February, and there are a couple of high-profile games right off the bat. Inter vs. Atletico and Napoli vs. Barcelona could be incredibly competitive affairs, while there’s a clear favorite in most other fixtures. All fixtures are two-legged until June’s final in London. There are a few strong contenders to win this season’s Champions League including defending champs Man City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Arsenal.
City are +185 favorites to win back-to-back Champions Leagues and they finished the group stage with a perfect 6-0 record. They and Real Madrid were the only two teams to pull off that feat, and Real display +550 odds to win the UCL. Bayern went unbeaten in the group stage as well, and the Bavarians come in at +400 outright odds. Meanwhile, Arsenal are in the Champions League for the first time since 2016-17, but they’re the only other club with shorter than +1000 odds. The Gunners are priced at +600 odds to win the competition.
