The 2022 World Cup is finally upon us.

Qatar is prepared to take centre stage as the greatest tournament on earth commences today.

The hosts face Ecuador in the opening match. 

There's plenty of football to be played between now and the final on December 18, with many twists and turns surely to take place. 

Here, our writers give their predictions for what will unfold in the Middle East...

Matthew Lindsay

Winners: Brazil

Runners-up: France

Player of the tournament: Neymar

Top goalscorer: Harry Kane

Dark horse: Denmark

Christopher Jack

Winners: Argentina

Runners-up: France

Player of the tournament: Lionel Messi

Top goalscorer: Karim Benzema

Dark horse: Denmark

Graeme McGarry

Winners: Argentina

Runners-up: Brazil

Player of the tournament: Lionel Messi

Top goalscorer: Harry Kane

Dark horse: Portugal

James Cairney

Winners: Argentina

Runners-up: Germany

Player of the tournament: Lionel Messi

Top goalscorer: Lautaro Martinez

Dark horse: Uruguay

Liam Bryce

Winners: Argentina    

Runners-up: Brazil                     

Player of the tournament: Lionel Messi 

Top goalscorer: Lautaro Martinez

Dark horse: Uruguay

Kenneth Ward

Winners: Argentina

Runners-up: Brazil

Player of the tournament: Lionel Messi

Top goalscorer: Harry Kane

Dark horse: Denmark

Aidan Smith

Winners: Brazil

Runners-up: France

Player of the tournament: Vinicius Jr

Top goalscorer: Karim Benzema

Dark horse: Mexico

David Irvine

Winners: France

Runners-up: Brazil

Player of the tournament: Neymar

Top goalscorer: Karim Benzema

Dark horse: Mexico

Ewan Paton

Winners: Brazil

Runners-up: Spain

Player of the tournament: Vinicius Jr

Top goalscorer: Kylian Mbappe

Dark horse: Croatia